MOSS Workflow Concepts

In this post, I will be covering MOSS workflows concepts, starting from What are workflows, categories, people involved, WWF. MOSS Workflows can be created using the following approaches:

-         Standard Workflow

-         SharePoint Designer Workflow

-         InfoPath Workflow

-         Custom Workflow

•          A workflow is a set of activities

•          Each activity is actually a class

–        It can be reused in multiple workflows

•          Activities can be provided by:

–        Microsoft

–        Anybody else

Core Categories of Workflow

•          Human Centric Workflow

•                    Participants are people

•                    Flexible control flow

•                    Ad-hoc

•          System Centric Workflow

•                      Participants are Services

•                      Apps Prescriptive control flow

•                      Transactional

Defining Windows Workflow Foundation

•          Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) is a framework for building workflow-based Windows applications

–        It’s targeted at developers, not information workers or business analysts

•          WF is now a standard part of Windows

–        The goal is to provide a common workflow framework for Windows applications

–        Including both system and human workflow

The Role of InfoPath Forms Services
85% of workflows use forms as the primary end user UI

Forms are used for:

•          Gathering Information

•          Configuring workflows

–        Out-of-the box workflow templates use InfoPath designed browser based forms

–        Add your own workflow templates with your own forms.

•          Starting Workflows

•          Completing tasks

•          Users are everyone using, interacting or designing workflows

The Role of SharePoint Designer
Workflow Design made easy

•          Customize SharePoint Sites

•          Design Page Layouts for Web Content Management [MOSS only]

•          Design and Create Workflows

•          Build Workflow enabled Composite SharePoint Apps

•          Users are Business IT and DEV

The Role of Visual Studio
Leverage Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)

•          Design complex workflows

–        Use the WF SDK and it’s graphical workflow designer

•          Develop and deploy your own workflow templates

–        Extend the available out-of-the-box workflows available to your SharePoint users

•          Extend WF with your own custom activities

–        Develop custom activities reusable in SharePoint Designer

•          Users are Developers

An Example WSS Workflow

I would be adding the links to the presentations & Workshops for 4 different approaches to create MOSS workflows in my next post.

Cheers!