Transcript Slide 1

Windows Workflow
Foundation
By
Sam 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 Foundation
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa663328.aspx

.Net Framework
http://wf.netfx3.com/

Integrating Windows Workflow Foundation and
Windows Communication Foundation
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb266709.aspx

Use the ActivityExecutionContext (AEC) in Windows
Workflow Foundation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/07/06/foundations/default.aspx