Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

hEAD — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:31:13 GMT

how about examples workflow on aspx forms?

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Ford Prefect — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:47:32 GMT

Thank you for such a great set of posts, its really been very helpful. I do have one question regarding IP and ASPX forms.

My understanding is that WSS v3 doesn't support using IP forms for the WF process steps (Assoc, Init, Task & Mod) out of the box.

Can IP forms be used with WSS if the server is running Form Server? If so, are the canned IP forms that house the XMLHost control available separately anywhere?

thanks,

ford

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Mark Arend — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 07:13:41 GMT

Eilene, fantastic series on workflow; this is much needed information! Two requests: where is the link to the attachment, and I second the motion for tutorial using aspx forms instead of InfoPath... we need that technique too! Many thanks, Mark.

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Jorge — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 06:50:04 GMT

I need to make a state machine WF where every task assign to a user must provide info to the same form, how can i do that? Thx

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Eilene Hao — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:06:22 GMT

Oops, attached the doc;)

hEAD and Mark, I will try to put together a post on aspx pages:) But the point I was hoping to convey in the forms section (perhaps unsuccessfully;))was that it's really not all that different from IP. I mean, in reality, IP forms are basically just UI for some oob aspx pages, so the only real extra things you need to if you're doing your own aspx pages is use asp.net controls and call the correct workflow OM function (and redirect I suppose). This is kinda tedious, but conceptually straight forward and similar to InfoPath, which is why we don't have a whole lot of samples on it. The Collect Feedback provides most of the base forms, so it's a matter of taking that and tweaking the UI.

Jorge, I'm not sure I know what you mean by same form, but if you're referring to having the same data in every task form, perhaps you can update all tasks after someone submits their form, and it will appear to all be the same.

OnePage Workflow in SharePoint 2007

SharePoint, SharePoint and stuff — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:40:58 GMT

OnePage : der einfache Blick auf das Wesentliche - die wichtigsten Informationen zu einem Thema auf einer

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Jennifer — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:17:28 GMT

Thanks for the set of blogs. They have been very informative. I have been looking at customizing the built-in SharePoint Approval workflow such as modifying the default Workflow Status page (~/_layouts/WrkStat.aspx) with different messages and hints for the user. Is there an easy way I can do this within SharePoint itself or do I need to create a new workflow? If I do need to create a new workflow, how do I associate my custom workflow to use a custom Workflow Status page? If you have any insight into this I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Jennifer

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Eilene Hao — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:31:49 GMT

Hi Jennifer,

Just create a custom page and stick it in the LAYOUTS directory (parallel to FEATURES). In the workflow template xml file for the Approval workflow (in the ReviewWorkflows directory), underneath ModificationsUrl, add a StatusUrl="_layouts/yourpage.aspx". You'll want to uninstall and reinstall the feature so that it uses the new changes.

-Eilene

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Jad — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:26:27 GMT

Dev working with Information Services

Creating Workflows with Visual Studio 2005 (Walkthrough)

Bob Fox's Sharepoint Blog — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 20:25:24 GMT

Im not sure how many have found this yet but Eileen Hao has put together a Seven Part walkthrough with...

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Bo George — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:14:57 GMT

Eilene,

Thanks for the blogs and the attached pdf. The information you've given has helped me tremendously when developing custom SharePoint workflows. I am writing a custom workflow right now and I initially created an IP form for the initiation of the workflow but have just hit that IP functionality wall where it's time to start adding custom code to it. Are there any tips when adding custom code to workflow forms? Should I publish the form and install/activate like I would a normal form now or will the installation/activation of the workflow handle this for me? Do you have a recommendation/guidance as to when it's time to go to aspx forms from IP?

Thanks,

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Eilene Hao — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:09:12 GMT

Hey Bo,

If you've got code behind your IP form, you might need give it full trust. Deploying the workflow will deploy the form (you might need to GAC the assembly separately? I haven't tried it, so if it doesn't work, give this a try).

In terms of going to aspx, you'll want to do this if you if you have special aspx controls that don't exist in InfoPath, or you find that a limitation in the code you write in the IP form. But other than that, I guess it's a matter of preference for the developer.

Hope this helps,

Eilene

Site update and new links...

Andrew Connell [MVP MCMS] — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:49:01 GMT

Site update and new links...

SharePoint 2007 workflow development

Miguel Isidoro — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 04:23:47 GMT

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Cynthia — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:35:48 GMT

Bo,

Were you able to deploy your forms with custom code? I am trying to do that and I haven't had any luck. I gave the form (an edit task form) full trust and signed it, but when I try to edit the task in the workflow it doesn't open and I get the error "The form has been closed." Any advice?

Thanks,

Cynthia

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

mozaki — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:03:02 GMT

Dear Eilene,

I know this comment is too late, but i noticed that in the demos the initiation form and the association form are always refer to the same formUrn (IP Forms) i tried to write my own workflow and used different forms for initiation and association, but i got error while trying to initiate the workflow, the error was saying it cannot find the schema (the schema mentioned is the Association form schedma).

so how can i use 2 different forms for Association and initiation.

Also how can i make a workflow without initiation or association forms ?

i tried to remove the element from the xml file but it didn't work.

Start Learning Workflows!!

Code Eater — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:47:09 GMT

Wow such an exciting topic to learn!! its nice and fun yet its a bit difficult to grasp easily,,, This

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

the schema (the schema mentioned is the Association form schedma). — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 01:05:27 GMT

the schema (the schema mentioned is the Association form schedma).

so how can i use 2 different forms for Association and initiation.

Also how can i make a workflow without initiation or association forms ?

i tried to remove the element from the xml file but it didn't work.

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Amit — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:45:09 GMT

Hi Eilene,

I have read all your 7 post on workflow, all are very informative.

Based on post I have created a sequential workflow with InfoPath form and it is executing correctly. Now I want to extend this sequential workflow where if the first approver is not approving the form in stipulated time than the workflow task should divert to other user for approval.

I have used Delay activity/Policy control but with both I am not able to divert my task to different approver.

Can you provide any pointer to this problem?

TIA,

Amit

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SDK April 2007 Revision

Raul Ribeiro — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:27:13 GMT

There is a new Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SDK April 2007 Revision available. Site: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms441339.aspx

How do you update a item string field to null/empty?

bbarthel — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:52:36 GMT

I'm trying to update a string field (e.g. comments)in a list to be empty (I use this field for testing)... the best I can do is set it to a space .... any thoughts? If you do not set a value for a field in "Update List Item", it does not update the field

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

nw — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:06:47 GMT

Although aspx forms are "basically like InfoPath forms", it would be helpful to have a step-by-step guide to craeting a workflow with just aspx code (no MOSS pages or short cuts).

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Simon Thompson — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:28:19 GMT

Hello all, thank you for looking at this post

Scenario:

I need to create an 'Absence Request' system which needs to do all of the following:

Allow all users to see when anyone is on holiday (I understand how to create a calendar view of data in a list)

When a request is submitted to the list ONLY their immediate manager and the submitter should be able to see the request.

An approval workflow should then be started to submit to their manager for approval

If approved then the item should be visible to all

The Problem:

Imagine this structure in the IT department:

Jay and John report into steve (Steve can approve their Holidays), Sally and Jane report into Andy (Andy can approve their Holidays), Andy and Steve report into Ian (Who can approve their holidays)

I have created a form library in sharepoint and published an infopath form to it for users to fill in. This automatically is populated with data from a database (using a web service) with such things as their name and their managers name and email address... so far so good.

They are then able to submit this form to the library and relevant metadata in the list is created, namely their ManagersEmail address.I am able to get an email fired off to the correct manager for approval.

The problem is is because Andy, Steve and Ian have 'Approver' rights in the form library, they can all approve anyones submission, even their own!

It is impractical to create a library for each approval level (as this is just one dept and there are 30 ish).

My thoughts

I thought about trying to filter the list to only show items where the ManagerEmail field is equal to the users who is looking at the list. I tried the web parts but none seemed to allow me to specify which field i wanted to compare against.

Tried to make it aso only the Manager could open entries where he was in the ManagerEmail column

Thought about audiences but got nowhere

The Big Question(s)

Is it possible to have a different level of approval for each item in a list? (set programatically)

Could i filter the list so only items with the current users email in the ManagersEmail field show?

Can i only allow the user in the ManagerEmail field to approve the request

Either i am missing something here or lots of people must be having this problem.

Thanks in advance.

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Dominic — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:20:00 GMT

Hi Eilene,

One portion of your post that is not covered is the management of workflow version as it evolves in time.

Thanks in advance.

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Shrikant — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:02:26 GMT

Thanks man, It really helpful for beginners like me.

re: Developing Workflows in VS: Part 7 - Summary and Final Thoughts

Mark Fendley — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:55:54 GMT

RE: Simon

I have *exactly* the same problem. Has anyone any solutions?

I *also* have the problem where on another workflow, I have the valid need for someone with 'Approver' status to not have to approve their own entries (in a timesheet calendar). ie: *their* entries are automatically approved (because they are an approver...)

Any thoughts?

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