General Questions

M-Files Process Maps 2.0 is called the ‘Universal add-on for visual thinkers’. It helps to deliver information in a visual context, making it easier to understand. Graphical process maps combine and connect process flowcharts with relevant data and documents. Maps can offer Job aids, home maps for visual navigation and workload dashboards to provide insight and guidance, when users need it.

Process Maps is a regular MFAPPX application. It consists of a server-side vault application and two client-side modules, the map designer to create the maps and the map preview to consume them.

Visual process flow graphics for process documentation can be created with the built-in “Visio-like” designer and different process methodology toolsets (BPMN, FLOW, VCD, EPC). They can be enhanced with links to rules, views, documents and other M-Files content. Job aids and Home Maps are maps that are dynamically provided along the way, guiding users to the right content, context sensitively and at the right time. Dynamic Workflow Maps give M-Files Workflows a new visual representation. Commands offer direct access and interaction with the vault content. Workload Charts can be combined to interactive dashboards. They show the content of M-Files views transformed into 14 chart types, where content is suitable. Smart Nodes group and aggregate data and documents and allow interactive access with just one click.

There are more than 100 new features with V2.0 as the application received a complete overhaul. Weighting them is difficult as it really depends on the desired use case. Powerful enhancements that come with V2.0 are the Workload Charts which you can combine to powerful interactive dashboards and the workplace support functions, like the home maps or the job aids, which you can regard as an interactive help system that provides guidance. All customers will love the speed improvements over previous releases. M-Files Workflows and Process Maps – what is the relation between the two? M-Files has its own workflow engine, which is managed in M-Files Admin. Workflows in M-Files are visually arranged with states and state change operations, conditions and actions that happen. All of this is managed in M-Files Admin and therefore the end-user only sees a simple status and a drop-down in the MetaCard. Now here Process Maps makes the difference: Process Maps allows to create visualizations of the M-Files Workflows and it states. M-Files Process Maps now enables visual presentation and interaction (of the already configured M-Files Workflows) within the client user interface. Therefore, now end users can receive a graphical representation of a workflow, the current state, and the potential next steps. The Process Map can be used to switch the workflow state of an object by clicking into the map. Finally, It is important to understand that M-Files Process Maps is not about designing workflows for execution within M-Files.

Process Maps can be added to any vault. There are no specific prerequisites. The system makes use of all the information in the vault. For the specific use case of process documentation, the system can add new objects that simplify the job. Also, it allows a mapping of existing objects (think of departments, sites, people, roles) with the symbols of the flowcharting methodology. Process Map can (if desired) add such objects through the configuration. Is Process Maps translated into different languages? Maps content with Symbols, Labels, Tooltips and Command indicators etc.. can be created in any language. This includes double-byte characters for Hebrew, Korean, Cyrillic, Thai etc. Process Maps default is English. The user interface of the designer is in English language. The user interface of the maps preview is English and uses icons.

The full documentation can be found in this extended wiki. It covers all topics and includes an eLearning section with learning videos for process modellers.

Licensing is per user and vault. It must be licensed for all users. It is available to all users. There is no difference between map design or map consumption. As a benefit all users can receive the right to create process maps. They can use the Visio-like designer for any purpose. What is the license cost? See M-Files price list and licensing guide. It varies by region. Talk to your M-Files consultant or partner.

Yes. Process maps can be viewed interactively with M-Files Classic Web. Support for M-Files New Web is not yet available.

M-Files New Web Client is not yet supported. For web access use the classic web client. M-Files mobile clients cannot offer interactive maps. Offline capabilities are not supported due to the wiki-oriented integrated nature, where maps relate to each other and give access to so much different content.

The partner vault contains a license for download (M-Files Demo license). If you need a license for a specific vault or for a proof of concept in a customer vault, please ask your partner manager.

Yes, M-Files provides trial licenses. M-Files partners and consultants can explain and demo the software. Installation, configuration and integration with your specific vaults need a little bit of consulting, so please address your M-Files contact for that.

Yes, M-Files Process Maps can be used with any existing vault structure. The required objecttypes, aliases and classes are created automatically during the installation of the add-on.

No, M-Files Process Maps does not require any, but it is compatible and works with the Compliance Kit. Therefore it can be used together with M-Files QMS or M-Files GDPR and it supports use cases in regulated environments. Since the process map is an M-Files object, it can travel on workflows, is version-controlled and can carry metadata tags. Also, the rights management functionalities work just alike.