Some basic questions about Workflow Foundation 4 and SharePoint integration

Question

Hi there,

We are planning to implement parts of our software release process in an electronic system (so kind of an ALM process, but with very specific requirements in a heterogeneous environment).

As we already use SharePoint (2010) for document collaboration I came across the idea of using that for implementing the release process as well.

The process itself will require some more complex tasks and having a first look at SharePoint Designer and SharePoint workflows lets me worry that it is quite limited in implementing such tasks.

Workflow Foundation 4 on the other hand does look really powerful but it seems as if it lacks of integration and reporting features (at least ‘out of the box’).

 

So I wonder if it’s possible to combine the strengths of both of the frameworks (design and implementation in VS/WF4, user interface/execution/reporting in SP2010).

Could someone provide me with some basic ideas about this whole topic?

 

Kind regards,

Daniel Lemke

 

PS: Yes, I know of TFS as a really powerful system for exactly this purpose (ALM) but as said, we have a quite heterogeneous environment where using the integration features of TFS is just not possible.

Answer 1

Hi,

->So I wonder if it’s possible to combine the strengths of both of the frameworks (design and implementation in VS/WF4, user interface/execution/reporting in SP2010).

You can write custom Workflow activity in Visual Studio for SharePoint 2010. For the detailed information, please refer to:

Workflow Development in Visual Studio

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms461324.aspx

Thanks.

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Leo Tang [MSFT]
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Answer 2

But there is no chance to create a SharePoint project that uses the notations and activities of Workflow Foundation 4? I was hoping that with VS11 and .NET4.5 I would be able to create WF4 compliant workflows as WF3 is already marked deprecated.

Answer 3

Hi,

->But there is no chance to create a SharePoint project that uses the notations and activities of Workflow Foundation 4?

You are right. Currently, SharePoint2010 only support .NET Framework3.5. I don't know the time that SharePoint support .NET4.x yet, but I believe it will come soon. You may open a thread at SharePoint for further information. Thanks.

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Leo Tang [MSFT]
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Answer 4

Ok, thank you for the feedback!