Predefined process symbol (subprocess)
The predefined process symbol is a rectangle with an extra vertical bar inside each end. It stands for a whole process that is charted somewhere else: "Run the credit check", "Onboard the supplier". The main chart shows that the subprocess happens and where; the detail lives on its own chart.
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Large processes become unreadable when every step of every sub-process is on one page. The fix is levels: a top chart where each major stage is one box, and a separate chart for each stage. The predefined process symbol is the box that says "this stage has its own chart".
The result reads at two speeds. A manager follows the top chart in a minute; the person doing the work opens the detailed chart for their stage.
Using it well
Name the box exactly as the subprocess chart is titled, so nobody has to guess which chart it means. Keep the subprocess to one entry and one exit where you can; a sub-chart with five ways out is hard to call as a single step.
- Name it after the subprocess chart: "Run credit check".
- Say where the detail lives, in the label or a note.
- Use it for repeated routines too: chart them once and reference them.
- Do not use it for a single action. A single action is a plain rectangle.
Subprocesses in ProcessFlowchart.app
Set a row's Shape column to Subprocess for a predefined process. Each step can also carry a note and a link, which is a simple way to point the box at the chart that holds the detail.
Frequently asked questions
What does a rectangle with double lines on the sides mean?
It is the predefined process symbol: a subprocess that is charted separately. The box shows the subprocess as one step in the bigger flow.
Is a predefined process the same as a subprocess?
Yes. Predefined process, subprocess and subroutine all name the same symbol and the same idea: a process defined somewhere else and referenced here.
When should I split a flowchart into subprocesses?
When the chart has more steps than a reader can follow in one go, or when one stage has detail only some readers need. Around 15 to 20 steps per chart is a good ceiling.
How do I link a subprocess to its chart?
Name the box exactly as the other chart is titled, and add a link or note pointing to it. Off-page connectors are another way to show where the flow continues.
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