bpmn-io · barmac · Feb 28, 2025 · Feb 28, 2025
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ All notable changes to [bpmnlint](https://github.com/bpmn-io/bpmnlint) are docum
 
 ___Note:__ Yet to be released changes appear here._
 
+## 11.4.1
+
+* `FIX`: make `link-event` rule check only BPMN compliance
+
 ## 11.4.0
 
 * `FEAT`: rework message on elements that should not be used ([#173](https://github.com/bpmn-io/bpmnlint/pull/173))

diff --git a/docs/rules/examples/link-event-correct.png b/docs/rules/examples/link-event-correct.png
diff --git a/docs/rules/examples/link-event-incorrect.bpmn b/docs/rules/examples/link-event-incorrect.bpmn
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xmlns:modeler="http://camunda.org/schema/modeler/1.0" id="Definitions_1x7j8t1" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/schema/bpmn" exporter="Camunda Modeler" exporterVersion="5.20.0-nightly.20240107" modeler:executionPlatform="Camunda Cloud" modeler:executionPlatformVersion="8.4.0">
+<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xmlns:modeler="http://camunda.org/schema/modeler/1.0" id="Definitions_1x7j8t1" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/schema/bpmn" exporter="Camunda Modeler" exporterVersion="5.23.0" modeler:executionPlatform="Camunda Cloud" modeler:executionPlatformVersion="8.4.0">
   <bpmn:process id="Process_0im3pgs" isExecutable="true">
     <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="Event_0fvzchs" name="JUMP">
       <bpmn:incoming>Flow_0w6huzu</bpmn:incoming>
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
       </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
       <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_1v2vhxj" sourceRef="Event_022ctsn" targetRef="Event_0q5xos0" />
     </bpmn:subProcess>
-    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="Event_0rw1f16">
+    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="Event_0rw1f16" name="&#60;no link name&#62;">
       <bpmn:outgoing>Flow_1m6xxsl</bpmn:outgoing>
       <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_00e5m7a" name="" />
     </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
@@ -40,12 +40,6 @@
       <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_19sw7x6_di" bpmnElement="Event_19sw7x6">
         <dc:Bounds x="142" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_17pzlw3_di" bpmnElement="Event_0rw1f16">
-        <dc:Bounds x="442" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
-      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0rn7sje_di" bpmnElement="Event_0rn7sje">
-        <dc:Bounds x="532" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
-      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
       <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_0jz3rxz_di" bpmnElement="Activity_0jz3rxz" isExpanded="true">
         <dc:Bounds x="200" y="190" width="278" height="150" />
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
@@ -65,6 +59,15 @@
         <di:waypoint x="298" y="260" />
         <di:waypoint x="372" y="260" />
       </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_17pzlw3_di" bpmnElement="Event_0rw1f16">
+        <dc:Bounds x="442" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
+        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
+          <dc:Bounds x="417" y="125" width="86" height="14" />
+        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
+      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0rn7sje_di" bpmnElement="Event_0rn7sje">
+        <dc:Bounds x="532" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
+      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
       <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_0w6huzu_di" bpmnElement="Flow_0w6huzu">
         <di:waypoint x="178" y="100" />
         <di:waypoint x="232" y="100" />

diff --git a/docs/rules/examples/link-event-incorrect.png b/docs/rules/examples/link-event-incorrect.png
diff --git a/docs/rules/link-event.md b/docs/rules/link-event.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 A rule that checks that link events are used in accordance with the BPMN specification:
 
-* A link event must be named
+* A link event definition must be named
 * For every link throw event there exists a matching catch event in the same scope
 
 

diff --git a/rules/link-event.js b/rules/link-event.js
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ module.exports = function() {
     const links = (node.flowElements || []).filter(isLinkEvent);
 
     for (const link of links) {
-      if (!link.name) {
-        reporter.report(link.id, 'Link event is missing name');
+      if (!getLinkName(link)) {
+        reporter.report(link.id, 'Link event is missing link name');
       }
     }
 
-    const names = groupBy(links, (link) => link.name);
+    const names = groupBy(links, link => getLinkName(link));
 
     for (const [ name, events ] of Object.entries(names)) {
 
@@ -53,22 +53,20 @@ module.exports = function() {
       if (events.length === 1) {
         const event = events[0];
 
-        reporter.report(event.id, `Link ${isThrowEvent(event) ? 'catch' : 'throw' } event with name <${ name }> missing in scope`);
-      }
-
-      const throwEvents = events.filter(isThrowEvent);
-
-      if (throwEvents.length > 1) {
-        for (const event of throwEvents) {
-          reporter.report(event.id, `Duplicate link throw event with name <${name}> in scope`);
-        }
+        reporter.report(event.id, `Link ${isThrowEvent(event) ? 'catch' : 'throw' } event with link name <${ name }> missing in scope`);
+        continue;
       }
 
       const catchEvents = events.filter(isCatchEvent);
-
       if (catchEvents.length > 1) {
         for (const event of catchEvents) {
-          reporter.report(event.id, `Duplicate link catch event with name <${name}> in scope`);
+          reporter.report(event.id, `Duplicate link catch event with link name <${name}> in scope`);
+        }
+      } else if (catchEvents.length === 0) {
+
+        // all events in scope are throw events
+        for (const event of events) {
+          reporter.report(event.id, `Link catch event with link name <${ name }> missing in scope`);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -96,6 +94,10 @@ function isLinkEvent(node) {
   );
 }
 
+function getLinkName(linkEvent) {
+  return linkEvent.get('eventDefinitions').find(def => is(def, 'bpmn:LinkEventDefinition')).name;
+}
+
 function isThrowEvent(node) {
   return is(node, 'bpmn:ThrowEvent');
 }

diff --git a/test/rules/link-event.mjs b/test/rules/link-event.mjs
@@ -27,44 +27,36 @@ RuleTester.verify('link-event', rule, {
       moddleElement: readModdle(__dirname + '/link-event/invalid.bpmn'),
       report: [
         {
-          'id': 'THROW_NO_NAME',
-          'message': 'Link event is missing name'
+          'id': 'CATCH_NO_NAME',
+          'message': 'Link event is missing link name'
         },
         {
-          'id': 'CATCH_NO_NAME',
-          'message': 'Link event is missing name'
+          'id': 'THROW_NO_NAME',
+          'message': 'Link event is missing link name'
         },
         {
           'id': 'NO_CATCH',
-          'message': 'Link catch event with name <NO_CATCH> missing in scope'
+          'message': 'Link catch event with link name <NO_CATCH> missing in scope'
         },
         {
           'id': 'NO_THROW',
-          'message': 'Link throw event with name <NO_THROW> missing in scope'
+          'message': 'Link throw event with link name <NO_THROW> missing in scope'
         },
         {
           'id': 'SCOPE_BOUNDARY_THROW',
-          'message': 'Link catch event with name <SCOPE_BOUNDARY> missing in scope'
-        },
-        {
-          'id': 'DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_1',
-          'message': 'Duplicate link throw event with name <DUPLICATE_NAME> in scope'
-        },
-        {
-          'id': 'DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_2',
-          'message': 'Duplicate link throw event with name <DUPLICATE_NAME> in scope'
+          'message': 'Link catch event with link name <SCOPE_BOUNDARY> missing in scope'
         },
         {
           'id': 'DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_1',
-          'message': 'Duplicate link catch event with name <DUPLICATE_NAME> in scope'
+          'message': 'Duplicate link catch event with link name <DUPLICATE_LINK_NAME> in scope'
         },
         {
           'id': 'DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_2',
-          'message': 'Duplicate link catch event with name <DUPLICATE_NAME> in scope'
+          'message': 'Duplicate link catch event with link name <DUPLICATE_LINK_NAME> in scope'
         },
         {
           'id': 'SCOPE_BOUNDARY_CATCH',
-          'message': 'Link throw event with name <SCOPE_BOUNDARY> missing in scope'
+          'message': 'Link throw event with link name <SCOPE_BOUNDARY> missing in scope'
         }
       ]
     }

diff --git a/test/rules/link-event/invalid.bpmn b/test/rules/link-event/invalid.bpmn
@@ -1,36 +1,30 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:modeler="http://camunda.org/schema/modeler/1.0" id="Definitions_1x7j8t1" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/schema/bpmn" exporter="Camunda Modeler" exporterVersion="5.20.0-nightly.20240107" modeler:executionPlatform="Camunda Cloud" modeler:executionPlatformVersion="8.4.0">
+<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:modeler="http://camunda.org/schema/modeler/1.0" id="Definitions_1x7j8t1" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/schema/bpmn" exporter="Camunda Modeler" exporterVersion="5.23.0" modeler:executionPlatform="Camunda Cloud" modeler:executionPlatformVersion="8.4.0">
   <bpmn:process id="Process_0im3pgs" isExecutable="true">
     <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="NO_CATCH" name="NO_CATCH">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0l1hwet" name="" />
+      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0l1hwet" name="NO_CATCH" />
     </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
     <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="NO_THROW" name="NO_THROW">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_08twe44" name="" />
+      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_08twe44" name="NO_THROW" />
     </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
     <bpmn:subProcess id="Activity_1l5hieb">
       <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_CATCH" name="SCOPE_BOUNDARY">
-        <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0neehpv" name="" />
+        <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0neehpv" name="SCOPE_BOUNDARY" />
       </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
     </bpmn:subProcess>
     <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_THROW" name="SCOPE_BOUNDARY">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_1h4v9pq" name="" />
+      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_1h4v9pq" name="SCOPE_BOUNDARY" />
     </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
-    <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_1" name="DUPLICATE_NAME">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0yclygy" name="" />
-    </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
-    <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_2" name="DUPLICATE_NAME">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0ftn1rm" name="" />
-    </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
-    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_1" name="DUPLICATE_NAME">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_1fy2jsp" name="" />
+    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_1" name="DUPLICATE_LINK_NAME">
+      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_1fy2jsp" name="DUPLICATE_LINK_NAME" />
     </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
     <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_2" name="DUPLICATE_NAME">
-      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0qdvq9n" name="" />
+      <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0qdvq9n" name="DUPLICATE_LINK_NAME" />
     </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
-    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="THROW_NO_NAME">
+    <bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="CATCH_NO_NAME" name="NO LINK NAME">
       <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_0l8clut" name="" />
     </bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>
-    <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="CATCH_NO_NAME">
+    <bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent id="THROW_NO_NAME" name="NO LINK NAME">
       <bpmn:linkEventDefinition id="LinkEventDefinition_112gmrg" name="" />
     </bpmn:intermediateThrowEvent>
   </bpmn:process>
@@ -48,22 +42,25 @@
           <dc:Bounds x="309" y="125" width="65" height="14" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0l0jzrg_di" bpmnElement="DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_1">
-        <dc:Bounds x="212" y="502" width="36" height="36" />
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_1l5hieb_di" bpmnElement="Activity_1l5hieb" isExpanded="true">
+        <dc:Bounds x="165" y="210" width="350" height="200" />
+      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0mpcq3t_di" bpmnElement="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_CATCH">
+        <dc:Bounds x="322" y="292" width="36" height="36" />
         <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="190" y="545" width="83" height="27" />
+          <dc:Bounds x="298" y="335" width="85" height="27" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="BPMNShape_1qknzzi" bpmnElement="DUPLICATE_NAME_THROW_2">
-        <dc:Bounds x="212" y="612" width="36" height="36" />
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="BPMNShape_1thzuaq" bpmnElement="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_THROW">
+        <dc:Bounds x="452" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
         <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="190" y="655" width="83" height="27" />
+          <dc:Bounds x="429" y="125" width="85" height="27" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
       <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0gvpdhn_di" bpmnElement="DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_1">
         <dc:Bounds x="422" y="502" width="36" height="36" />
         <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="400" y="545" width="83" height="27" />
+          <dc:Bounds x="403" y="545" width="77" height="27" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
       <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0qgwzkc_di" bpmnElement="DUPLICATE_NAME_CATCH_2">
@@ -72,28 +69,16 @@
           <dc:Bounds x="400" y="655" width="83" height="27" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="BPMNShape_15n0rzr" bpmnElement="CATCH_NO_NAME">
-        <dc:Bounds x="692" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
-        <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="669" y="125" width="85" height="27" />
-        </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_196apoc_di" bpmnElement="THROW_NO_NAME">
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_196apoc_di" bpmnElement="CATCH_NO_NAME">
         <dc:Bounds x="582" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
-      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_1l5hieb_di" bpmnElement="Activity_1l5hieb" isExpanded="true">
-        <dc:Bounds x="165" y="210" width="350" height="200" />
-      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0mpcq3t_di" bpmnElement="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_CATCH">
-        <dc:Bounds x="322" y="292" width="36" height="36" />
         <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="298" y="335" width="85" height="27" />
+          <dc:Bounds x="563" y="125" width="79" height="14" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
-      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="BPMNShape_1thzuaq" bpmnElement="SCOPE_BOUNDARY_THROW">
-        <dc:Bounds x="452" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
+      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="BPMNShape_15n0rzr" bpmnElement="THROW_NO_NAME">
+        <dc:Bounds x="692" y="82" width="36" height="36" />
         <bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
-          <dc:Bounds x="429" y="125" width="85" height="27" />
+          <dc:Bounds x="671" y="125" width="79" height="14" />
         </bpmndi:BPMNLabel>
       </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
     </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>