Windows Workflow Foundation

BySam Nasr, MCAD

October 23, 2007

www.ClevelandDotNet.info

Introduction Windows WorkFlow Foundation Break MOSS 2007 Workflow Q&A Survey

Windows Workflow Foundation is the programming model, engine and tools for quickly building workflow enabled applications on Windows.

In-process workflow engine, and designers for Visual Studio 2005.

New namespace in .Net 3.0

.NET Framework 3.0 (aka WinFX) .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Windows CardSpace

A set of activities stored as a model that describe a real world process.

Work passes through the model from start to finish and activities might be executed by people or by system functions.

provides a way of describing execution

Programmed with code or graphically.

Available for both client and server versions of Windows.

Once a workflow model is compiled it can be executed inside any Windows process console apps Forms-based apps Windows Services ASP.NET web sites Web services.

Flowchart State Diagram Sequential Workflow Not an application; must be hosted. Activities are the building blocks Override Activity.Execute() Utilizes XOML

Persistence Service (via SQL Server) Tracking Service (via SQL Server) Scheduler Service Transaction Service

Demo

MOSS Workflow

Expands on WF

Does NOT use pluggable services in WF.

MOSS “dehydrates” the workflow.

SharePoint Designer workflows are stored as source files in WSS (1 Doc Library/Site) WF Markup file (.XOML) WF rules WF configuration .ASPX if any

Expands on FrontPage 2003 Author WF against a list or Library at

Design Time. Cannot associate WF to content type. WSS 3.0 WF are forms agnostic. “No-code” workflows Does not allow creation of custom

activities. Works with pre-deployed activities.

Demo

WF is embedded in MOSS Project Server Navision (NAV) CRM BizTalk Server (vNext)

Client apps start workflow by calling into SP API’s.

Collect Feedback on a document using a Workflow.http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA102178531033.aspx#2

Demo

Windows Workflow Foundationhttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa663328.aspx

.Net Frameworkhttp://wf.netfx3.com/

Integrating Windows Workflow Foundation and Windows Communication Foundationhttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb266709.aspx

Use the ActivityExecutionContext (AEC) in Windows Workflow Foundationhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/07/06/foundations/default.aspx