MC Modeler runs entirely in the browser. No account, no download, and no configuration is needed to get started. This guide walks you through creating a complete, valid BPMN 2.0 process from a blank canvas, all the way to exporting a file you can open in Bizagi or Camunda.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/Aston2710/mc-modeler/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Steps
Open MC Modeler in your browser
Navigate to your MC Modeler URL. You land on the Diagrams screen, which shows all diagrams saved in your browser. On first visit it will be empty.No sign-in prompt appears — local mode is active by default. Diagrams are saved automatically to IndexedDB in your browser.
MC Modeler works fully offline after the first page load. The JavaScript bundle is cached by the browser, so you can open it without an internet connection.
Create a new diagram
Click the + New diagram button in the top-right corner of the Diagrams screen. A modal dialog asks for a name.Type a name for your diagram (for example,
Purchase Order Approval) and confirm. MC Modeler creates the diagram, saves an empty BPMN process, and immediately opens the canvas editor.You can also click the large + card in the diagram grid — it does the same thing.Add BPMN elements to the canvas
The left panel is the element palette, organized into five groups: Events, Activities, Gateways, Connections, and Containers. Drag elements from the palette onto the canvas, or click an element to place it at the canvas center.For a minimal valid process, you need at least one Start Event, one Task, and one End Event:
- Start Event — In the Events group, drag the plain circle (Start Event — None) onto the canvas. A green-bordered circle appears.
- Task — In the Activities group, drag the plain rectangle (Task) next to the Start Event.
- End Event — Drag the thick-bordered circle (End Event — None) to the right of the Task.
Connect elements with Sequence Flows
To draw a Sequence Flow (the arrow that shows process order):
- Hover over the Start Event on the canvas. Blue connection handles appear on its edges.
- Click and drag from one of those handles to the Task. A Sequence Flow arrow is created.
- Repeat the same action from the Task to the End Event.
Start Event → Task → End Event — a complete, valid process path.Sequence Flows can only connect elements within the same Pool. To connect elements across different Pools, use a Message Flow from the Connections group instead.
Edit element properties
Click the Task on the canvas to select it. The Properties Panel on the right side of the screen updates to show the element’s editable properties.Under the General tab:
- Name — Type a meaningful name, such as
Review Purchase Request. The label updates live on the canvas as you type. - Documentation — Add a longer description or notes for this activity (visible in the Properties Panel; not rendered on the canvas).
Validate the diagram
Click the Validate button (checkmark icon) in the top toolbar. MC Modeler runs a set of BPMN 2.0 rules against your diagram and opens the Validation panel with the results.Common things the validator checks:
Clicking an entry in the Validation panel zooms to and selects the offending element on the canvas, letting you fix issues immediately.
| Rule | Severity |
|---|---|
| Process has no Start Event | Error |
| Process has no End Event | Error |
| Element has no connections | Warning |
| Sequence Flow crosses Pool boundary | Error |
| Exclusive gateway has only one outgoing flow | Warning |
Validation runs on demand, not continuously. It does not block saving or exporting — you can export a diagram that has warnings.
Export the diagram
Click the Export button (download icon) in the top toolbar to open the Export modal. MC Modeler offers four formats:Select your format and click Export. The file downloads immediately through the browser’s standard download mechanism.
- BPMN XML
- PNG
- SVG
- PDF
Exports a
.bpmn file — standard BPMN 2.0 XML using the OMG namespace. This file opens without conversion in Bizagi Modeler, Camunda Modeler, and any other tool that supports the OMG standard..bpmn files exported from MC Modeler are fully round-trip compatible with Bizagi and Camunda. If you import a Bizagi file that contains proprietary bizagi: extension attributes, MC Modeler preserves them in the XML so they are intact when the file is reopened in Bizagi.Auto-Save Behavior
MC Modeler saves your work automatically — you never need to click a Save button during modeling.Auto-save uses a 2-second debounce for continuous edits (dragging elements, typing in properties). It saves immediately on discrete operations such as importing a file, deleting an element, or creating a new diagram. The status bar at the bottom of the screen always shows the current save state:
● Saved, Saving…, or ● Unsaved changes.Keyboard Shortcuts Reference
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z | ⌘ + Shift + Z |
| Save (force immediate) | Ctrl + S | ⌘ + S |
| Delete selected element | Delete or Backspace | Delete or Backspace |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | ⌘ + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Fit diagram to screen | Ctrl + Shift + H | ⌘ + Shift + H |
| Zoom reset (100%) | Ctrl + 0 | ⌘ + 0 |
| Open shortcuts modal | Ctrl + ? | ⌘ + ? |
What’s Next
Canvas & Navigation
Learn pan, zoom, snap-to-grid, multi-select, and the minimap.
BPMN Elements
Full reference for every event, activity, gateway, connection, and container type.
Export & Import
In-depth guide to all export formats and importing
.bpmn files from Bizagi and Camunda.