Workflow applications have unique constraints:

• They often have to wait days, weeks, or months for events to occur, or for other activities to finish.


• They shouldn't consume processor cycles while waiting.


• They must survive machine resets.


• They often require asynchronous control flow.


• They often require the use of a compensation model, instead of traditional database transactions.



 

Meeting these requirements force developers to build a complex workflow infrastructure into their applications. Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) provides a workflow infrastructure. With this WF-supplied runtime engine and a framework for implementing workflows, you can focus on the business logic, rules, and policies that you understand, rather than building workflow infrastructure plumbing. In this 3 day course, you'll write several applications that will demonstrate how to build a range of workflow applications.


 

What you will learn

• Why did Microsoft create Windows Workflow Foundation


• The Windows Workflow Foundation architecture


• The relationships between host, activity, and workflow


• How to use the workflow compiler


• How to use XAML to design workflows


• How to design Workflows with and without Visual Studio.NET 2005


• How to use the Visual Studio.NET 2005 Workflow Designer


• How to use the features of the Windows Workflow Runtime class


• How to design and build a Workflow Host


• How to build Activities with Parallel Paths


• How to use the Built-in Flow Control Activities


• How to call External Methods from a Workflow


• How to handle Events in a Workflow


• How to use Composite Activities


• How to Pass Data in and out of Workflows


• How to use Workflow Rules Engine


• How the Workflow and the Runtime interact


• How to build Sequential Workflows


• How to build State Machine Workflows


• How to build Data or Policy Driven Workflows


• How to handle Errors in Workflow


• Understand Workflow Persistence


• How to use ACID Transactions in a Workflow


• How to use Compensation in a Workflow


• How to build Custom Workflow Activities


• How to track the state of your workflow



 

Course Outline

Overview of Workflow Foundation (WF)

• What is Workflow?


• What is Windows Workflow?


• When to use and when not to use WF


• Relationship between WF and BizTalk


• Windows Workflow Architecture


• Workflow Foundation Tools

Building Simple Workflows

• Workflows and Activities


• Windows Workflow Foundation Runtime


• Hosts and Workflow Instances


• Windows Workflows Foundation and XAML


• Windows Workflow Foundation Designer for Visual Studio 2005


• Passing Data in and Out of Workflows


• Composite Activities


• Basic Workflow Activities included with Workflow Foundation
  • Control Flow
  
  
  • Sequence and Parallel Activities
  
  
  • Calling External Methods
  
  
  • Events
  
  
• Workflow Runtime Interaction

Different Styles of Workflow

• Sequential Workflows


• State Machine Workflows


• Data or Rules Driven Workflows

Advanced Workflow Scenarios

• Workflow Error Handling


• Workflow Persistence


• Dynamic updates of running workflows


• Workflow Tracking


• Transactions and Compensation

Custom Activities

• Inadequacy of Basic Workflow Activities


• Custom Activities Reveal the Real Power of Windows Workflow