BPM - Business Process Analysis > Processes > Using Shared Objects > Using Data Stores
Using Data Stores
Objects that are shared, supplied or used in processing can be stored in a data store.
*A data store provides a mechanism to update or consult data that will persist beyond the scope of the current process. It enables storage of input message flows, and their retransmission via one or several output message flows.
Prerequisites to using data stores 
HOPEX Business Process Analysis provides several types of data store:
• Process data store, associated to a business information area.
*A business information area is a sub-set of elements of a subject area that reduces the scope of a field. For more information, see the HOPEX Data Architecture guide.
• Process logical data store, associated to a logical data area.
*A logical data area is used to define a logical data structure made up of classes and data views. For more information, see HOPEX Data Architecture.
To activate these options:
1. In the workspace, open the Options navigation window.
2. In the tree on the left, select HOPEX Solutions > Business Process Analysis.
3. Select the check boxes that interest you in the following fields:
• Activate former BPMN data stores (HOPEX V3 and lower)
*If you cannot see the Data Store button in your diagram, click the diagram Views and Details button and select the "Data Stores" view.
• Activate BPMN data stores for conceptual, logical and physical layers (from HOPEX V3.1)
*If the Process Data Store and Logical Process Data Store buttons are not visible in process diagram, click the diagram Views and Details button and select the “Process Data Stores view”.
Creating a process data store 
To create a process data store:
1. Click the Process Data Store button in the insert toolbar.
*If the button is not visible by default, click the diagram Views and Details button and select the "Data Stores" view.
2. Click in the diagram to position the object.
The Add Business Information Area dialog box appears.
3. Select the name of the Business Information Area connected to the process data store.
4. Click OK.
In the same way you can create:
• Process data stores, associated to a business information area.
*A business information area is a sub-set of elements of a subject area that reduces the scope of a field. For more information, see the HOPEX Data Architecture guide.
• Process logical data stores, associated to logical data area.
*A logical data area is used to define a logical data structure made up of classes and data views. For more information, see HOPEX Data Architecture.
Describing exchanges with a Process data store 
You can specify that informations are exchange between a process data store and an operation.
For example, to describe that information are read by an operation in a process data store:
1. Click the link button .
2. Connect the data store to the operation.
The link appears in the diagram.
*The reading or writing access is determined by the direction of the link.