SharePoint Designer Workflows - Nuts, Bolts and Examples
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This session will touch on all different aspects of SharePoint Designer workflows. Whether you are just getting started with your first workflow or want to see some cool complex examples, this session is for you! The key areas this session will cover are: • Differences between SharePoint 2010 and 2013 workflows • Getting started with SharePoint Designer workflows • Great workflow features you might not be using • My handy tips and tricks • Real world examples of when you can use workflows
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SharePoint Designer Workflows - Nuts, Bolts and Examples
- 1. SharePoint Designer Workflows Nuts, Bolts and Examples SharePoint Saturday St. Louis 2017
- 2. You can use the hashtag #SPSSTL & follow us @SPSStlouis Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Thank You Sponsors for participating in SPS St. Louis 2017!
- 3. Drew Madelung Email : [email protected] Twitter : @dmadelung Website : drewmadelung.com Technical Architect – SharePoint & Office 365
- 4. What are we going to talk about? A look back through the years How do I start? Not your basic workflow info Let’s see some examples!
- 5. Evolution of SharePoint Designer SP Designer 2007 • Will work with 2003 & 2007 SP Designer 2010 • Only 2010 SP Designer 2013 • 2013, 2016 and SP Online (Office 365) SP Designer 2016? • Not being created It’s a free download!
- 6. Upgrading from 2010 Workflows There is no in-place workflow upgrade 2010 workflows will run in SP 2013/2016 on-premises and Office 365 1. Migrate 2010 workflows and continue to use them in 2010 mode 2. Rebuild workflows using new 2013 actions 3. Rebuild workflows using ISV (Nintex, K2) 4. Rebuild using Flow or Logic Apps Options
- 7. Deprecated features – 2010 to 2013 Design View Content type association with reusable workflows Association columns Impersonation steps User Profile lookup as a data source Workflow visualization Multiple workflow actions
- 8. New features – 2010 to 2013 Ability to define stages and jump between them Stage level loops Dictionary variable App steps Ability to call SP 2010 workflows Task processes Multiple workflow actions
- 9. Workflow in SharePoint 2013+ Brings the workflow engine off SharePoint Allows execution of SharePoint 2010 workflows Powered by Windows Workflow Foundation 4
- 10. Workflow actions Different workflow actions are available depending on… • Version of workflow • Type of workflow • Location of action in a workflow
- 11. Workflow actions – 2010 to 2013 New in 2013 Assign a Task Start a Task Process Go to This Stage Call HTTP Web Service Start a List Workflow Start a Site Workflow Build Dictionary Get Property from Dictionary Count Items in Dictionary Trim String Find Substring in String Translate Document Set Workflow Status Create a Project from Current Item (MS Project) Set the current Project stage status to this value (MS Project) Wait for Project Event (MS Project) Set this field in the Project to this value (MS Project) Deprecated in 2013 • Add List Item Permissions • Assign a Form to a Group • Assign a To-do Item • Capture a version of the Document Set • Collect Data from a User • Copy List Item • Declare Record • Inherit List Item Parent Permissions • Lookup Manager of a User • Remove List Item Permissions • Replace List Item Permissions • Send Document Set to Repository • Set Content Approval Status • Set Content Approval Status for the Document Set • Set Workflow Status • Start Approval Process • Start Custom Task Process • Start Document Set Approval Process • Start Feedback Process • Undeclare Record Call HTTP Web Service • lets you specify any of several request methods, including GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE. This lets you tell the web services, specifically RESTful services, what to do on the service that you’ve specified with the URI property on the activity. Start a List Workflow • Starts a List workflow based on the SharePoint 2010 Workflow platform. Start a Task Process • Creates tasks on multiple users and enables the tasks to be taken through a customized process.
- 12. Office 365 – SharePoint Online Runs 2010 and 2013 workflows You connect just like on-premises farms Default and deeper integration with Flow
- 13. SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflows Built at Site level (not site collection) List/Library, Reusable, or Site Workflows Can be created using Visio Can be saved as a template Ran on a timer job These are all true for SharePoint 2016 & Online!
- 14. Creating a SharePoint 2013 Workflow Open Designer and connect to your site • Click one of the New workflow options in the ribbon • Click Workflows in the Site Objects navigation to view all current workflows
- 15. Creating a SharePoint 2013 Workflow • Enter a Name and Description • Pick the 2013 platform type for your new workflow
- 16. Creating a SharePoint 2013 Workflow Add new conditions Add new actions Add new loops Create variables Add new steps Add new stages
- 17. What cool things can I do? Custom Actions Workflow Stages App Steps Utilize REST Services
- 18. Custom Actions 5 different actions available • Dictate where they appear • List Item Menu • Display Form Ribbon • Edit Form Ribbon • New Form Ribbon • View Ribbon Configured on library or a list Available in SharePoint 2010, 2013, 2016 and SharePoint Online
- 19. Custom Actions - Continued Actions can do 1 of 3 things 1. Navigate to form 2. Initiate a workflow 3. Navigate to URL You can add images to the actions You can set the Rights Mask • Security When to use them? Adding a link for a print function Link to supporting list that contains related data Start an approval or review workflow Link to a custom edit form that shows more fields for the item Link to an upload or insert item on a related list Start a workflow to create an item
- 20. Workflow Stages Eases ability to build more advanced logical workflows Uses IF/Else statements to transition between stages 2010 -> Just steps 2013 -> Steps in Stages
- 21. App Steps • No more impersonation step from 2010 3 steps to configure 1. Allow workflow to use app permissions • Done via activation of Site Feature “Workflows can use app permissions” 2. Grant full control permission to workflow • Multiple step process to set trust for the Workflow app • Detailed steps here 3. Develop the workflow to wrap actions inside an App Step • App step will now be available in SP Designer ribbon • Allows the ability to run a workflow that requires elevated permissions
- 22. REST Service • REST allows ability to remotely interact with SharePoint objects • To access a specific site collection, use the following construction: • http://server/site/_api/site • To access a specific site, use the following construction: • http://server/site/_api/web
- 23. REST Service - Continued • Call HTTP Web Service & Dictionary actions 1. Build Dictionary(s) 2. Call REST service • GET, POST, PUT, DELETE 3. Get Items in Dictionary (If necessary)
- 24. REST Service - Continued • Can be used to… • Manage content across site collections • Create content (items, lists, sites, etc…) • Retrieve content to be looped through • Retrieve user profile information • And lots more! • Use Postman or Advanced REST client Chrome extension
- 25. Any other tips? Advanced Properties SharePoint Designer Cache Copy & Paste Debugging
- 26. Advanced Properties Certain settings are only visible in action Properties Right click on action -> click Properties… Important in Task Process actions Can set BCC for Send Email actions
- 27. Clearing SharePoint Designer Cache 1. Close SPD 2. Use File Explorer to navigate to: • %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWebsiteCache 3. Delete everything in this folder 4. Use File Explorer to navigate to: • %APPDATA%MicrosoftWeb Server ExtensionsCache 5. Delete everything in this folder
- 28. Copy & Paste You can copy & paste within the text-based designer in 2013 • Use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V or use Right-click functionality Actions can copy but conditions and steps don’t always work Copying between workflows can cause crashes No support for Undo Cannot copy content between workflow versions Make sure you check all variables/lookups after copying!
- 29. Debugging Log to history list • Review workflow history list - /Lists/Workflow%20History/AllItems.aspx • Send an email action for Dictionary variables due to large size Add a comment If/Else checks on major milestones & error handling Hidden column to track data points Fiddler (On-Premises) Debugging isn’t just for when the workflow application is created, but includes all issues that arise at a later time.
- 30. This all sounds cool, but what should I build? Let’s look at some examples
- 31. Good starting workflow ideas More complex workflow ideas • Vacation approval • Equipment Reservation • IT request task creation • New project site creation • New employee onboarding • Finance invoice approval
- 32. Do you like demos? I like demos Let’s do a demo
- 33. Super Helpful links SharePoint Community SharePoint Designer 2013 Download What’s changed in SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflow actions quick reference – SharePoint 2013 Workflow actions quick reference – SharePoint 2010 Get started with workflows in SharePoint 2013 Create a workflow with elevated permissions (app step setup) Get to know the SharePoint REST service Advanced REST Client Chrome Extension Calling the SharePoint 2013 REST API from a SharePoint Designer Workflow SharePoint 2013 workflow recursion prevention Install and configure workflow for SharePoint 2013 Workflow Manager Farms for SharePoint 2013 – harbar.net SharePoint Designer Custom Actions
- 34. Questions? Email: [email protected] Twitter: @dmadelung Website: drewmadelung.com Slides: http://bit.ly/DrewSlides
- 35. SharePoint Designer Workflows Nuts, Bolts and Examples SharePoint Saturday St. Louis 2017