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Enabling Canvas app

This feature is currently available as a Public Preview only

During a Public Preview, only eligible customers can access this feature. Additionally, there may be minor updates to the functionality and design of these features when they are released in General Availability.

For more information about our Public Preview releases, including the level of Support offered with them, see: Feature release types.

Overview

The Canvas app is an improved modeling experience for process facets. It enables you to build BPMN 2.0 compliant diagrams more efficiently.

Model collaborations using pools, lanes, and message flows.

Work faster with inline text editing and clear visual indicators for element types and markers.

Add clarity with annotations.

Edit shape labels

Authors can edit shape labels faster than ever. Direct, click-to-edit functionality streamlines your modeling process.

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Enhanced task view

With the enhanced task view, authors can now see task types, markers, and related object information directly within the task itself.

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Draw edges between objects

Hover over the source object's port, click, drag to the target, and release to instantly visualize connections.

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Assign roles to swimlanes

Authors can assign existing roles to swimlanes to make the responsibility of activities clear.

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Edit labels for pools and lanes

Authors can edit labels for pools and lanes without using a reference. Double-click on the shape to provide a name.

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Draw message flows between different pools

Authors can draw message flows between objects in two different pools. The message flow can be configured further to be an initiating and non-initiating message flow. For this click on the message flow and change its type.

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Store annotations

Authors can store annotations to a specific shape to share relevant information.

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How to activate

This feature is only available to Celonis Process Management customers that already use Process Navigator. Admins can activate it by doing the following:

  1. Log into Process Designer. In the top navigation, click the gear icon to access the Admin area.

    Screenshot_2025-07-11_at_17_04_26.png

  2. Under Configure, click the Features tile.

    Screenshot_2025-07-11_at_17_05_00.png

  3. In the features list, search for Method: BPMN Pools; Diagram: External Layouting; and Diagram: Display of external layouts and set each one to Activated.

    Screenshot_2025-07-11_at_17_07_25.png

Note

Bulk editing, Navigation, Black Box Pools, Groups, and re-ordering gateway conditions are not yet supported.

Access the Canvas app

Once activated, log into Process Designer. Go to a subprocess and open the Graphics dropdown. You'll see a list of views. Those included as part of the Canvas app are labeled Public Preview.

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