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BPMN Import and Export

Pythmata supports importing and exporting BPMN diagrams, allowing you to share your process designs with other BPMN-compatible tools and import diagrams created in other tools.

Exporting BPMN Diagrams

You can export your process diagrams as standard BPMN files (.bpmn) that can be opened in other BPMN modeling tools.

How to Export a Diagram

  1. Open the process designer for the diagram you want to export
  2. In the toolbar, click the Export button
  3. The diagram will be downloaded as a .bpmn file with the process name as the filename

Export Format

The exported file is a standard BPMN 2.0 XML file that follows the BPMN specification. During export, Pythmata-specific extensions are converted to standard BPMN attributes where possible, ensuring maximum compatibility with other BPMN tools.

Importing BPMN Diagrams

You can import BPMN diagrams created in other tools into Pythmata.

How to Import a Diagram

  1. Open the process designer
  2. In the toolbar, click the Import button
  3. In the import dialog, either:
  4. Drag and drop a .bpmn or .xml file into the designated area
  5. Click "Select File" to browse for a file
  6. The imported diagram will be loaded into the modeler

Import Validation

When importing a BPMN file, Pythmata performs validation to ensure the file is a valid BPMN diagram. If any issues are detected, you'll see an error message with details about the problem.

Compatibility Notes

  • Pythmata supports standard BPMN 2.0 files
  • During import, standard BPMN attributes are converted to Pythmata-specific extensions where needed
  • Some advanced features from other BPMN tools may not be fully supported
  • Basic compatibility with Camunda BPMN is supported, but some Camunda-specific extensions may not be preserved

Troubleshooting

Export Issues

  • If you encounter issues with the exported file not opening in other tools, try using the "Copy XML" button to get the raw XML and save it manually as a .bpmn file

Import Issues

  • If an import fails with a validation error, check that the file is a valid BPMN 2.0 XML file
  • Some BPMN tools may use non-standard extensions that Pythmata doesn't recognize
  • If you're importing a file with custom extensions, you may need to modify the XML manually to remove or adapt those extensions

Best Practices

  • When sharing diagrams between different BPMN tools, focus on the core BPMN elements and avoid tool-specific extensions
  • Always validate imported diagrams to ensure they work as expected in Pythmata
  • Consider using the XML editor tab to make manual adjustments to imported diagrams if needed
  • Save your work before importing a new diagram to avoid losing changes