programming the power behind sharepoint designer workflow by chris beckett - sptechcon

info@newsteplearning.comwww.newsteplearning.com(425) 522-3727

Understanding and ExtendingSharePoint Designer Workflows

About Chris Beckett

24+10MCMMCT

MCSEMCPD

Solution ArchitectLearning Consultant

and Trainer

chris@newsteplearning.com

@sharepointbits

blog.sharepointbits.com

Agenda

TechnicalArchitecture

Workflow Features and Capabilities

Extending Workflow withCustom Activities and

Web Services

SharePoint 2010 Workflow Architecture

Custom SharePointWorkflow Runtime

Host

Built upon.NET 3.51 Workflow

Foundation

Workflow Architecture Workflow Execution now uses Windows

Azure Workflow (WAW)

Workflow Interop BridgeAzure Workflow

can invoke a SharePoint 2010

Workflow

Activating Workflow Features

2010 workflows are not activated by

default

There are no 2013 Mode Workflows

included with SharePoint 2013

Agenda

TechnicalArchitecture

Workflow Features and Capabilities

Extending Workflow withCustom Activities and

Web Services

Platform Type

Choice of 2010or 2013 Workflow

Architecture

Workflow Types

• Published directly to a list or library

• No reusability

• Full access to list content types and fields

• Manual or Auto-Start

• Published to a content type

• Reusable across lists or libraries supported by content Type

• No visibility of list-specific fields like Created or Modified

• Manual or Auto-Start

• Not bound to a specific list or library

• No content item context

• Can only be started manually

List Reusable Site

Reusable Workflow Content Type

Reusable workflows only

boundto generic

content type

StagesStage names can now be used for Workflow Status

Stages support transitioning

to other Stages

App Steps

App Step requires activation

of Site Feature

App Steps can benested anywhere

inside a Stage or Step

Task-Related Actions

SharePoint 2010 SharePoint 2013

SharePoint 2010 Task Events

Process Events Task Events

SharePoint 2013 Task Dialog

Optional Sync or Asynch Behavior

CustomizeEmails

Reminder Notifications

No AssignmentStages

Types ofTask Completion

Customize TaskOutcomes

Association and Initiation Forms

SharePoint 2010 SharePoint 2013

Task Forms

SharePoint 2010 SharePoint 2013

Workflow Notifications

Still not great!

Dictionaries

Collection of Name and Value

Pairs

Dictionaries can contain other Dictionaries

Loops and Dictionaries

Loop ‘n’ TimesOr

Loop Until If

Dictionaries are collections of

Name/Value Pairs

Call HTTP Web Service Action

RESTful Web Services are

supported

HTTP Verbs support REST Operations

Calling a Web Service

UsesDictionary

Parameters

Agenda

TechnicalArchitecture

Workflow Features and Capabilities

Extending Workflow withCustom Activities and

Web Services

Workflow Extension Options

Full-Trust Code Activities (2010/2013)

Sandbox Code Activities (2010)

Pluggable Workflow Services (2010)

Declarative Workflow Activities (2013)

Call HTTP Web Service Action (2013)

Actions and Activities

• Activity is a reusable unit of workflow execution• Typically parameter driven• Declarative or Coded• Declarative recommended

for SharePoint 2013• Coded only supported On-

Premises – Requires Custom Deployment

• Wraps an activity with sentence interface• Maps activity parameters to

SharePoint designer types• Many workflow actions can

map to a single workflow activity• Located under:..\##\Template\1033\Workflow

Activity Actions

Activity Types

Custom Activities

SharePoint Activities(Microsoft.SharePoint.WorkflowServices.Activities)

Project Activities(Microsoft.Office.Project.Server.WorkflowActiviti

es)

Workflow Manager Activities(Microsoft.Activities)

Workflow Foundation 4.5 Activities(System.Activities)

Workflow Actions Element

Add parameter to indicate Sandbox

Rule Designerdefines User Experience

Parameters map to Fields and Method

Interface

Workflow Extensions Platform Support

On-Premises 2010

On-Premises 2013 Office 365 SharePoint

Apps

Full Trust Code Activities

Sandbox Code Activities

Pluggable Workflow Services

Declarative Activities

Call HTTP Web Service Action

Code Activity (2010)Subclass of

Workflow ActivityBase

Public Properties for Parameters

Override Execute Method

Code Activity (2013)Subclass of

Workflow ActivityBase

In and Out Arguments for

Parameters

Override Execute Method

Sandbox Activity (2010)

Context andadditional

Parameters

Hashtable is used for return values

Public Classand Static Methods

Pluggable Workflow Services

• Introduced in SharePoint 2010• Allows workflow to send and

receive asynchronous messages from external services• Full Trust Solution• Fairly Complex to Code / Test• Requires web.config

modification• Supported for 2010 Mode

Workflows on SharePoint 2013• No longer supported in

SharePoint 2013 Workflow

Declarative Activity (2013)

Rich Set ofNative

Activities

DynamicValuesupports

complex dataexchange

Call WebServices to

Extend

Recommended Extensibility Model

Web Services

Activities

Full Trust 2010Declarative 2013

More InformationTechNet Workflow Resource Centerhttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/sharepoint/jj556245

What’s New in SharePoint 2013 Workflowhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj163177.aspx

How to work with Web Services in SharePoint Designer 2013http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/fp179912.aspx

SharePoint 2013 Workflows and the HTTP Accept Headerhttp://www.fiechter.eu/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=35&mobile=0

How to: Build and Deploy Custom Workflow Actionshttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj163911.aspx

Workflow Actions Schema Referencehttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj583378(v=office.15).aspx

Connect with New Step Learning

Course Curriculums and Training Programshttp://www.newsteplearning.com

Webinar and Conference Presentationshttp://www.slideshare.net/newsteplearning

News, Events and Training Announcementshttp://www.newsteplearning.com/blog

Free Step-By-Step Demos and Tutorialshttps://www.youtube.com/user/newsteplearning

Questions

Thank you for attending!

Please complete your evaluations. Your feedback is appreciated

chris@newsteplearning.

com

(425) 522-3727

@sharepointbits

blog.sharepointbits.co

m