Overview
In ProcessMaker, a case is an instance of a process. In other words, a process represents the map of work to do and a case is a new instance that follows this map. A case runs through several activities (tasks or sub-processes) within the process. For example, inside an insurance process within a hospital, each insurance claim for the treatment of a patient is represented by a single case.
Each case in ProcessMaker has a unique ID which is a 32 digit hexadecimal number to uniquely identify the process, and a case number which counts cases starting from 1.
Note: To avoid overwriting issues, use a feature that prevents opening multiple browser instances of ProcessMaker. For more information about Blocking Multiple Browser Instances, please follow this link.
The Home tab displays the Main Menu at the left side of the screen, where you can manage your cases as well as view all the options available when running a case.
Main Menu
The main ProcessMaker Menu displays the following sections:
-
HOME
-
TASKS
-
SUPERVISOR TASKS
-
DOCUMENTS
Main Home Updates as of ProcessMaker 3.7.0
ProcessMaker 3.7.0 and later has a new view for the Home option. It is not available for ProcessMaker Mobile. The new Home view is similar to the Enhanced Home Experience (EHX) plugin, which is not compatible with ProcessMaker 3.7.0. However, the EHX plugin has features which are not available from the new ProcessMaker 3.7.0 Home view. If any of the EHX features that do not have corresponding features in the Home view are mission-critical to your ProcessMaker instance, then do not upgrade to ProcessMaker 3.6.0 until a compatible EHX plugin is available.
Then, ProcessMaker 3.7.0 and later has the following changes in the Main Home:
- The Main Menu can be collapsed by clicking the arrow
located in the right upside corner.
The case status trays available from ProcessMaker 3.2.x until ProcessMaker 3.5.x (Inbox, Draft, Participated, Unassigned, Paused) have been redesigned in the following way:
- In the My Cases, Advanced Search, Inbox, Paused and Unassigned trays, the Last Modified column was removed.
- The Participated tray in previous ProcessMaker versions has been redefined as My Cases (Started By Me, In Progress, and Completed).
- Access Task Metrics by clicking the Tasks with a cake in the left menu.
Search for a Case
Search cases for My Cases and Tasks trays. To search cases, click the search icon to access the Add Search Filter Criteria pop up screen.
Note: As of ProcessMaker 3.7.7, search cases by clicking the search icon. The tag container displays if it has a filter criteria, otherwise, it does not displays. Click the search tag container to see and set defined filter criterias.
The search options available are:
My Cases | Tasks |
---|---|
Select one of the following options and combinations:
- By Case #: Use search criteria organized by case number. As of ProcessMaker 3.7.0, search cases also by using the following rules:
- Search by a case number, a case range or the combination.
- If the value is empty, displays all cases.
- Search cases by using commas.
- Enter 3,7, the result is:
- Enter 1,3,7-15, the result is:
- Enter 1,3-6,11, the result is:
- Enter 1-3, the result is:
Note: If entering a case range, enter in ascending order like 3-6. Otherwise, 6-3 is considered invalid and the case list displays all cases. Use the Sort by Case Number for ascending or descending order.
- By Case Thread Title: It allows a search in all threads where the searching criteria organizes the search results by an alphanumeric filled field. By default, the search uses full-text search unless the
env.ini
setting is configured differently.
As of ProcessMaker 3.7.7, My Cases allows a search in open threads or the last index. Otherwise, it searches in the last index if the parallel threads were not completed. - By Delegation Date: It allows a search by the case routing date in a date range using a minimum and maximum date. Available just for the Tasks lists. If searching cases by the today date, it is recommended to search by using the today date in the From setting. For example if the today date is July 5, 2022, set it in the From setting as follows:
If searching cases by a specific date until the today date, it is recommended to search using a future date different to the today date in the To setting. For example if finding cases from July 1, 2022 until today July 5, 2022, set as follows:
- By Send By: It allows a search by the user name who route the case. Available just for the Tasks lists. For example if searching cases sent by the Admin, in the Filter: By Send By pop up, enter admin. It displays coincidences to select one as follows:
- By Task: It allows a search where the searching criteria organizes the search by tasks within a suggested field search. For example filter cases by entering paused, and all coincidences display:
- By Start Date: It allows a search by the case start date in a date range. Available just for the My Cases lists.
Note: If searching cases by the today date, it is recommended to search by using the today date in the From setting. If searching cases by a specific date until the today date, it is recommended to search using a future date different to the today date in the To setting.
- By Finish Date: It allows a search by the case finish date in a date range. Available just for the My Cases lists.
Note: If searching cases by the today date, it is recommended to search by using the today date in the From setting. If searching cases by a specific date until the today date, it is recommended to search using a future date different to the today date in the To setting.
- By Process Category: As of ProcessMaker 3.7.2, search cases by the process category. This is an option to combine with other search criteria, which helps to narrow the list, view the critical information and use the metrics drill-down options. For example, filter cases started on July 7th, 2022 with the Documentation Test process category.
- By Process Name: It allows a search where the searching criteria organizes the search by the name of the process. As of ProcessMaker 3.7.0, this is an option to combine with other search criteria, which helps to narrow the list, view the critical information and use the metrics drill-down options. For example, filter cases by number 1 to 5 with the test input doc process.
- By Review Status: As of ProcessMaker 3.7.7, search cases by the review status such as read or unread. Available just for the Tasks lists.
This is an option to combine with other search criteria, which helps to narrow the list, view the critical information and use the metrics drill-down options. For example, combine unread cases between the case 12256 and 12259.Note: The By Review Status filter is available in the Draft tray as read tasks, then, the By Review Status filter is not functional. The By Review Status filter is available in the Unassigned tray as unread tasks.
To add the filter criteria, after selecting filter options, then click Save.
The Filter pop up displays. Enter a value according to the available options. Then, click Save. To dismiss this search criteria option, close the Filter: pop up window or click Cancel.
The case list displays the filter results, otherwise, the results are not displayed.
Note: The search is restricted by the rule criteria determined by the selected options and the search is per user account.
Start a New Case
Users who are assigned to a task after a start event are able to see the list of processes that contain new tasks assigned to them. Start cases through the +New Case button in the My Cases, Advanced Search, Inbox, Draft, Paused and Unassigned trays.
Click the +New Case button, the list displays the tasks assigned to the current user.

To start a case click on the name of the process (which also includes the name of the first task).

Processes can also be searched by typing the name of the process and clicking the desired process in the filtered list.
Sort by Case Number
Available Version: As of ProcessMaker 3.7.0
In the My Cases, Advanced Search, Inbox, Draft, Paused and Unassigned trays, sort cases list by the case number (Case #) and it is saved for one user account.
Follow the next steps to order cases by number:
1. Go to one of the My Cases, Advanced Search, Inbox, Draft, Paused or Unassigned tray.
2. In the Case # column header, click the icon . The cases list displays in ascending order and the clear button displays.
3. In the Case # column header, click the icon for descending sort.
4. In the Case # column header, click the Clear button to reset the list order.