diff --git a/components/process-flow/ProcessSettingsModal.vue b/components/process-flow/ProcessSettingsModal.vue
index 53511d6..b254a46 100644
--- a/components/process-flow/ProcessSettingsModal.vue
+++ b/components/process-flow/ProcessSettingsModal.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <template>
-  <RsModal v-model="showModal" title="Process Settings" size="xl" position="center">
+  <RsModal v-model="showModal" title="Process Settings" size="lg" position="center">
     <div>
       <RsTab :tabs="settingsTabs" v-model="activeTab">
         <!-- Process Info Tab -->
@@ -21,19 +21,6 @@
               rows="3"
             />
             
-            <FormKit
-              type="select"
-              label="Priority Level"
-              v-model="localProcess.priority"
-              :options="[
-                { label: 'Low Priority', value: 'low' },
-                { label: 'Normal Priority', value: 'normal' },
-                { label: 'High Priority', value: 'high' },
-                { label: 'Critical Priority', value: 'critical' }
-              ]"
-              help="Set the priority level for this process"
-            />
-            
             <FormKit
               type="text"
               label="Process Category"
@@ -41,27 +28,19 @@
               help="Category or department this process belongs to"
               placeholder="e.g., HR, Finance, Operations"
             />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="text"
-              label="Owner/Manager"
-              v-model="localProcess.owner"
-              help="Person responsible for this process"
-              placeholder="e.g., John Doe, HR Manager"
-            />
           </div>
         </template>
 
-        <!-- Execution Settings Tab -->
-        <template #execution>
+        <!-- Basic Settings Tab -->
+        <template #basic>
           <div class="p-4 space-y-4">
             <div class="bg-blue-50 border border-blue-200 rounded-lg p-4 mb-4">
               <div class="flex items-center mb-2">
                 <Icon name="material-symbols:info" class="w-5 h-5 text-blue-600 mr-2" />
-                <h4 class="font-medium text-blue-900">Execution Settings</h4>
+                <h4 class="font-medium text-blue-900">Basic Settings</h4>
               </div>
               <p class="text-sm text-blue-700">
-                Configure how this process should execute and handle different scenarios.
+                Configure the essential behavior of your process.
               </p>
             </div>
             
@@ -73,32 +52,11 @@
                 { label: 'Standard Process', value: 'standard' },
                 { label: 'Approval Workflow', value: 'approval' },
                 { label: 'Data Collection', value: 'data_collection' },
-                { label: 'Automated Task', value: 'automation' },
-                { label: 'Review Process', value: 'review' }
+                { label: 'Automated Task', value: 'automation' }
               ]"
               help="Type of process workflow"
             />
             
-            <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-              <FormKit
-                type="number"
-                label="Max Execution Time (minutes)"
-                v-model="localProcess.maxExecutionTime"
-                help="Maximum time allowed for process completion"
-                min="1"
-                max="10080"
-              />
-              
-              <FormKit
-                type="number"
-                label="Auto-Timeout (hours)"
-                v-model="localProcess.autoTimeout"
-                help="Automatically timeout after specified hours"
-                min="1"
-                max="168"
-              />
-            </div>
-            
             <FormKit
               type="checkbox"
               label="Allow Parallel Execution"
@@ -106,13 +64,6 @@
               help="Allow multiple instances of this process to run simultaneously"
             />
             
-            <FormKit
-              type="checkbox"
-              label="Enable Error Recovery"
-              v-model="localProcess.enableErrorRecovery"
-              help="Automatically retry failed steps before stopping"
-            />
-            
             <FormKit
               type="checkbox"
               label="Send Completion Notifications"
@@ -122,58 +73,6 @@
           </div>
         </template>
 
-        <!-- Variables & Data Tab -->
-        <template #variables>
-          <div class="p-4 space-y-4">
-            <div class="bg-purple-50 border border-purple-200 rounded-lg p-4 mb-4">
-              <div class="flex items-center mb-2">
-                <Icon name="material-symbols:data-object" class="w-5 h-5 text-purple-600 mr-2" />
-                <h4 class="font-medium text-purple-900">Variable Configuration</h4>
-              </div>
-              <p class="text-sm text-purple-700">
-                Configure data handling and variable persistence settings.
-              </p>
-            </div>
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="select"
-              label="Data Persistence"
-              v-model="localProcess.dataPersistence"
-              :options="[
-                { label: 'Session Only', value: 'session' },
-                { label: 'Temporary (24 hours)', value: 'temporary' },
-                { label: 'Short Term (7 days)', value: 'short_term' },
-                { label: 'Long Term (30 days)', value: 'long_term' },
-                { label: 'Permanent', value: 'permanent' }
-              ]"
-              help="How long should process data be stored"
-            />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="checkbox"
-              label="Log Variable Changes"
-              v-model="localProcess.logVariableChanges"
-              help="Keep a log of all variable modifications during execution"
-            />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="checkbox"
-              label="Encrypt Sensitive Data"
-              v-model="localProcess.encryptSensitiveData"
-              help="Automatically encrypt variables marked as sensitive"
-            />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="textarea"
-              label="Data Retention Policy"
-              v-model="localProcess.dataRetentionPolicy"
-              help="Describe how data should be handled after process completion"
-              rows="3"
-              placeholder="e.g., Delete personal data after 30 days, archive business data for 7 years"
-            />
-          </div>
-        </template>
-
         <!-- Permissions Tab -->
         <template #permissions>
           <div class="p-4 space-y-4">
@@ -183,59 +82,80 @@
                 <h4 class="font-medium text-green-900">Access Control</h4>
               </div>
               <p class="text-sm text-green-700">
-                Define who can execute, modify, and view this process.
+                Define who can execute and modify this process.
               </p>
             </div>
             
-            <FormKit
-              type="select"
-              label="Execution Permission"
-              v-model="localProcess.executionPermission"
-              :options="[
-                { label: 'Anyone', value: 'public' },
-                { label: 'Authenticated Users', value: 'authenticated' },
-                { label: 'Specific Roles', value: 'roles' },
-                { label: 'Process Managers Only', value: 'managers' },
-                { label: 'Administrators Only', value: 'admin' }
-              ]"
-              help="Who can start and execute this process"
-            />
+            <!-- Loading State -->
+            <div v-if="loadingPermissions" class="flex justify-center items-center py-8">
+              <div class="text-center">
+                <Icon name="material-symbols:progress-activity" class="w-6 h-6 animate-spin text-green-500 mx-auto mb-2" />
+                <p class="text-gray-500">Loading permissions...</p>
+              </div>
+            </div>
             
-            <FormKit
-              type="text"
-              label="Allowed Roles"
-              v-model="localProcess.allowedRoles"
-              help="Comma-separated list of roles that can execute this process"
-              placeholder="e.g., manager, hr_admin, finance_user"
-              v-if="localProcess.executionPermission === 'roles'"
-            />
+            <!-- Error State -->
+            <div v-else-if="permissionsError" class="bg-red-50 border border-red-200 rounded-lg p-4">
+              <div class="flex items-center">
+                <Icon name="material-symbols:error-outline" class="w-5 h-5 text-red-500 mr-2" />
+                <p class="text-sm text-red-700">{{ permissionsError }}</p>
+              </div>
+            </div>
             
-            <FormKit
-              type="select"
-              label="Modification Permission"
-              v-model="localProcess.modificationPermission"
-              :options="[
-                { label: 'Process Owner Only', value: 'owner' },
-                { label: 'Process Managers', value: 'managers' },
-                { label: 'Administrators', value: 'admin' },
-                { label: 'Anyone with Edit Rights', value: 'editors' }
-              ]"
-              help="Who can modify this process"
-            />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="checkbox"
-              label="Require Approval for Changes"
-              v-model="localProcess.requireApproval"
-              help="Changes to this process must be approved before taking effect"
-            />
-            
-            <FormKit
-              type="checkbox"
-              label="Enable Audit Trail"
-              v-model="localProcess.enableAuditTrail"
-              help="Keep detailed logs of who accessed and modified this process"
-            />
+            <!-- Permissions Form -->
+            <div v-else class="space-y-4">
+              <FormKit
+                type="select"
+                label="Execution Permission"
+                v-model="localProcess.executionPermission"
+                :options="executionPermissionOptions"
+                help="Who can start and execute this process"
+              />
+              
+              <!-- Role-based Assignment -->
+              <div v-if="localProcess.executionPermission === 'roles'" class="bg-blue-50 p-4 rounded-md border border-blue-200">
+                <div class="flex items-center mb-3">
+                  <Icon name="material-symbols:group" class="text-blue-600 mr-2" />
+                  <h5 class="text-sm font-medium text-blue-900">Select Allowed Roles</h5>
+                </div>
+                
+                <div class="space-y-3">
+                  <!-- Role Dropdown -->
+                  <div class="relative">
+                    <FormKit
+                      type="select"
+                      v-model="selectedRoleId"
+                      :options="filteredAvailableRoles"
+                      placeholder="Select a role to add..."
+                      :classes="{ outer: 'mb-0' }"
+                    />
+                    <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-blue-700">Select roles that will be able to execute this process</p>
+                  </div>
+                  
+                  <!-- Selected Roles Pills -->
+                  <div v-if="localProcess.allowedRoles && localProcess.allowedRoles.length > 0" class="mt-3">
+                    <label class="block text-sm font-medium text-blue-700 mb-2">Selected Roles</label>
+                    <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 p-2 bg-white border border-blue-100 rounded-md min-h-[40px]">
+                      <div v-for="(role, index) in localProcess.allowedRoles" :key="'role-' + role.value" 
+                           class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-1 rounded-full text-xs bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 border border-blue-200">
+                        <span class="mr-1">{{ role.label }}</span>
+                        <button @click="removeAllowedRole(index)" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800">
+                          <Icon name="material-symbols:close" class="w-4 h-4" />
+                        </button>
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              
+              <FormKit
+                type="select"
+                label="Modification Permission"
+                v-model="localProcess.modificationPermission"
+                :options="modificationPermissionOptions"
+                help="Who can modify this process"
+              />
+            </div>
           </div>
         </template>
 
@@ -303,7 +223,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, computed, watch } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, watch, onMounted, nextTick } from 'vue'
 import { useProcessBuilderStore } from '~/stores/processBuilder'
 
 const props = defineProps({
@@ -323,39 +243,160 @@ const showModal = computed({
   set: (value) => emit('update:modelValue', value)
 })
 
-// Settings tabs configuration
+// Settings tabs configuration - simplified to only essential tabs
 const settingsTabs = [
   { key: 'info', label: 'Process Info', icon: 'material-symbols:info-outline' },
-  { key: 'execution', label: 'Execution', icon: 'material-symbols:play-circle-outline' },
-  { key: 'variables', label: 'Variables & Data', icon: 'material-symbols:data-object' },
+  { key: 'basic', label: 'Basic Settings', icon: 'material-symbols:settings' },
   { key: 'permissions', label: 'Permissions', icon: 'material-symbols:security' },
   { key: 'json', label: 'Source', icon: 'material-symbols:code' }
 ]
 
 const activeTab = ref('info')
 
-// Local process data (copy of current process)
+// Available roles and permissions from database
+const availableRoles = ref([])
+const availablePermissions = ref([])
+const loadingPermissions = ref(false)
+const permissionsError = ref(null)
+
+// Role selection for pill design
+const selectedRoleId = ref('')
+const filteredAvailableRoles = ref([])
+
+// Local process data - simplified to only essential settings
 const localProcess = ref({
   name: '',
   description: '',
-  priority: 'normal',
   category: '',
-  owner: '',
   processType: 'standard',
-  maxExecutionTime: 60,
-  autoTimeout: 24,
   allowParallel: false,
-  enableErrorRecovery: true,
   sendNotifications: true,
-  dataPersistence: 'short_term',
-  logVariableChanges: true,
-  encryptSensitiveData: false,
-  dataRetentionPolicy: '',
   executionPermission: 'authenticated',
-  allowedRoles: '',
-  modificationPermission: 'managers',
-  requireApproval: false,
-  enableAuditTrail: true
+  allowedRoles: [],
+  modificationPermission: 'managers'
+})
+
+// Load permissions and roles from database
+const loadPermissionsFromDatabase = async () => {
+  try {
+    loadingPermissions.value = true
+    permissionsError.value = null
+    
+    // Load available roles
+    const rolesResponse = await $fetch('/api/roles')
+    if (rolesResponse.success) {
+      availableRoles.value = rolesResponse.roles || []
+      // Update filtered roles (exclude already selected ones)
+      updateFilteredRoles()
+    } else {
+      console.error('Failed to load roles:', rolesResponse.message)
+      permissionsError.value = 'Failed to load roles from database'
+    }
+    
+    // Load available permissions
+    const permissionsResponse = await $fetch('/api/permissions')
+    if (permissionsResponse.success) {
+      availablePermissions.value = permissionsResponse.data?.permissions || permissionsResponse.permissions || []
+    } else {
+      console.error('Failed to load permissions:', permissionsResponse.message)
+      permissionsError.value = 'Failed to load permissions from database'
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error loading permissions:', error)
+    permissionsError.value = 'Failed to load permissions and roles'
+  } finally {
+    loadingPermissions.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+// Update filtered roles (exclude already selected ones)
+const updateFilteredRoles = () => {
+  const selectedRoleIds = localProcess.value.allowedRoles?.map(role => role.value) || []
+  filteredAvailableRoles.value = availableRoles.value
+    .filter(role => !selectedRoleIds.includes(role.roleID))
+    .map(role => ({
+      label: role.roleName,
+      value: role.roleID
+    }))
+}
+
+// Watch for changes to selectedRoleId to handle role selection
+watch(selectedRoleId, (newRoleId) => {
+  if (newRoleId) {
+    console.log('Role selected:', newRoleId, typeof newRoleId);
+    
+    // Convert roleId to string to ensure consistent comparison
+    const roleIdStr = String(newRoleId);
+    
+    // Find the selected role from available roles
+    const selectedRole = availableRoles.value.find(role => String(role.roleID) === roleIdStr);
+    
+    if (selectedRole) {
+      console.log('Found role:', selectedRole);
+      
+      // Initialize the array if needed
+      if (!localProcess.value.allowedRoles) {
+        localProcess.value.allowedRoles = [];
+      }
+      
+      // Check if role already exists
+      const roleExists = localProcess.value.allowedRoles.some(role => String(role.value) === roleIdStr);
+      
+      if (!roleExists) {
+        // Add the role to the allowed roles
+        localProcess.value.allowedRoles.push({
+          label: selectedRole.roleName,
+          value: String(selectedRole.roleID)
+        });
+        
+        // Update filtered roles
+        updateFilteredRoles();
+      }
+    } else {
+      console.warn('Selected role not found in available roles', roleIdStr);
+    }
+    
+    // Reset the selection
+    selectedRoleId.value = '';
+  }
+})
+
+// Remove allowed role
+const removeAllowedRole = (index) => {
+  if (localProcess.value.allowedRoles && localProcess.value.allowedRoles[index]) {
+    localProcess.value.allowedRoles.splice(index, 1)
+    // Update filtered roles
+    updateFilteredRoles()
+  }
+}
+
+// Computed properties for form options
+const roleOptions = computed(() => {
+  return availableRoles.value.map(role => ({
+    label: role.roleName,
+    value: role.roleID
+  }))
+})
+
+// Computed properties for permission options
+const executionPermissionOptions = computed(() => {
+  return availablePermissions.value
+    .filter(permission => permission.category === 'execution')
+    .map(permission => ({
+      label: permission.name,
+      value: permission.id,
+      help: permission.description
+    }))
+})
+
+const modificationPermissionOptions = computed(() => {
+  return availablePermissions.value
+    .filter(permission => permission.category === 'modification')
+    .map(permission => ({
+      label: permission.name,
+      value: permission.id,
+      help: permission.description
+    }))
 })
 
 // Computed properties for metadata
@@ -375,37 +416,24 @@ const variableCount = computed(() => {
   return Object.keys(processVariables).length
 })
 
-// JSON export functionality
+// JSON export functionality - simplified
 const formattedJson = computed(() => {
   const exportData = {
     processInfo: {
       id: localProcess.value.id,
       name: localProcess.value.name,
       description: localProcess.value.description,
-      priority: localProcess.value.priority,
-      category: localProcess.value.category,
-      owner: localProcess.value.owner
+      category: localProcess.value.category
     },
     settings: {
       processType: localProcess.value.processType,
-      maxExecutionTime: localProcess.value.maxExecutionTime,
-      autoTimeout: localProcess.value.autoTimeout,
       allowParallel: localProcess.value.allowParallel,
-      enableErrorRecovery: localProcess.value.enableErrorRecovery,
       sendNotifications: localProcess.value.sendNotifications
     },
-    dataSettings: {
-      dataPersistence: localProcess.value.dataPersistence,
-      logVariableChanges: localProcess.value.logVariableChanges,
-      encryptSensitiveData: localProcess.value.encryptSensitiveData,
-      dataRetentionPolicy: localProcess.value.dataRetentionPolicy
-    },
     permissions: {
       executionPermission: localProcess.value.executionPermission,
       allowedRoles: localProcess.value.allowedRoles,
-      modificationPermission: localProcess.value.modificationPermission,
-      requireApproval: localProcess.value.requireApproval,
-      enableAuditTrail: localProcess.value.enableAuditTrail
+      modificationPermission: localProcess.value.modificationPermission
     },
     workflow: {
       nodes: processStore.currentProcess?.nodes || [],
@@ -426,15 +454,40 @@ const formattedJson = computed(() => {
 // Watch for changes to current process and sync with local data
 watch(() => processStore.currentProcess, (newProcess) => {
   if (newProcess) {
+    // Handle roles conversion - convert string to array if needed
+    let allowedRoles = newProcess.settings?.allowedRoles || []
+    if (typeof allowedRoles === 'string' && allowedRoles.trim()) {
+      // Convert comma-separated string to array
+      allowedRoles = allowedRoles.split(',').map(role => role.trim()).filter(role => role)
+    } else if (!Array.isArray(allowedRoles)) {
+      allowedRoles = []
+    }
+    
     localProcess.value = {
       ...localProcess.value,
       id: newProcess.id,
       name: newProcess.name || '',
       description: newProcess.description || '',
-      ...newProcess.settings
+      category: newProcess.category || '',
+      processType: newProcess.settings?.processType || 'standard',
+      allowParallel: newProcess.settings?.allowParallel || false,
+      sendNotifications: newProcess.settings?.sendNotifications !== false,
+      executionPermission: newProcess.settings?.executionPermission || 'authenticated',
+      allowedRoles: allowedRoles,
+      modificationPermission: newProcess.settings?.modificationPermission || 'managers'
     }
+    
+    // Update filtered roles after setting the data
+    updateFilteredRoles()
   }
-}, { immediate: true, deep: true })
+}, { immediate: true })
+
+// Load permissions when modal opens
+watch(() => showModal.value, (isOpen) => {
+  if (isOpen && availableRoles.value.length === 0) {
+    loadPermissionsFromDatabase()
+  }
+})
 
 // Methods
 const closeModal = () => {
@@ -442,31 +495,25 @@ const closeModal = () => {
 }
 
 const saveSettings = () => {
-  // Update the process in the store
+  // Update the process in the store with simplified settings
   if (processStore.currentProcess) {
+    // Convert roles array to string for storage (for backward compatibility)
+    const allowedRolesString = Array.isArray(localProcess.value.allowedRoles) 
+      ? localProcess.value.allowedRoles.join(', ')
+      : localProcess.value.allowedRoles
+    
     const updatedProcess = {
       ...processStore.currentProcess,
       name: localProcess.value.name,
       description: localProcess.value.description,
+      category: localProcess.value.category,
       settings: {
-        priority: localProcess.value.priority,
-        category: localProcess.value.category,
-        owner: localProcess.value.owner,
         processType: localProcess.value.processType,
-        maxExecutionTime: localProcess.value.maxExecutionTime,
-        autoTimeout: localProcess.value.autoTimeout,
         allowParallel: localProcess.value.allowParallel,
-        enableErrorRecovery: localProcess.value.enableErrorRecovery,
         sendNotifications: localProcess.value.sendNotifications,
-        dataPersistence: localProcess.value.dataPersistence,
-        logVariableChanges: localProcess.value.logVariableChanges,
-        encryptSensitiveData: localProcess.value.encryptSensitiveData,
-        dataRetentionPolicy: localProcess.value.dataRetentionPolicy,
         executionPermission: localProcess.value.executionPermission,
-        allowedRoles: localProcess.value.allowedRoles,
-        modificationPermission: localProcess.value.modificationPermission,
-        requireApproval: localProcess.value.requireApproval,
-        enableAuditTrail: localProcess.value.enableAuditTrail
+        allowedRoles: allowedRolesString, // Store as string for compatibility
+        modificationPermission: localProcess.value.modificationPermission
       }
     }
     
@@ -480,7 +527,6 @@ const saveSettings = () => {
 const copyToClipboard = async () => {
   try {
     await navigator.clipboard.writeText(formattedJson.value)
-    // You might want to show a toast notification here
     console.log('JSON copied to clipboard')
   } catch (err) {
     console.error('Failed to copy JSON:', err)
diff --git a/server/api/permissions/index.get.js b/server/api/permissions/index.get.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bcb59e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/api/permissions/index.get.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  try {
+    // Define standard permission types for process management
+    const permissions = [
+      {
+        id: 'public',
+        name: 'Anyone',
+        description: 'Public access for all users (including guests)',
+        category: 'execution'
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'authenticated',
+        name: 'Authenticated Users',
+        description: 'Only logged-in users can access',
+        category: 'execution'
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'roles',
+        name: 'Specific Roles',
+        description: 'Users with specific roles can access',
+        category: 'execution'
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'admin',
+        name: 'Administrators Only',
+        description: 'Only system administrators can access',
+        category: 'execution'
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'owner',
+        name: 'Process Owner Only',
+        description: 'Only the process creator can modify',
+        category: 'modification'
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'managers',
+        name: 'Process Managers',
+        description: 'Process managers and administrators can modify',
+        category: 'modification'
+      }
+    ];
+    
+    return {
+      success: true,
+      data: {
+        permissions: permissions
+      }
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error fetching permissions:', error);
+    
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Failed to fetch permissions'
+    };
+  }
+}); 
\ No newline at end of file