IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Developing business processes > Building business state machines > Create a business state machine > Adding a transition to a business state machine
Designating a self transition
Most transitions are from one state to another. This is not the case with self-transitions.
A self-transition, is one in which the source state and the target state are the same. There are two kinds of self-transitions.
- External transition
- In an external transition, all entry and exit actions are invoked during processing, and a change of state is registered.
- Internal transition
- An internal transition does not allow the exit and entry actions to be executed. The triggering event of an internal transition must be either a call event or a timer event. Also, composite states cannot define internal transitions.
Procedure
- Drop a state onto the canvas.
- Move the cursor over the state until the yellow circle
appears above it as shown in this image.
- Hold the left mouse button. The cursor will change appearance, and will look like a crossed out circle.
- Drag the cursor out over the canvas. When you hover over a valid target, the crossed out circle disappears.
- Click the same state from which you are linking. A triangular transition will appear that indicates that you are creating a loop, and linking back into the same state.
- By default, this is considered to be a external transition. To make it an internal transition, click the Description tab in the Properties area, and select the Internal check box.