Workflow Development for Windows SharePoint Services

Saqib Ullah — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:24:20 GMT

Microsoft providers two Workflow development tool for Windows SharePoint Services.

First one is Visual Studio 2005 Extension
Second one is Office SharePoint Designer 2007

Visual Studio 2005	Office SharePoint Designer 2007
Visual Studio 2005 Designer for Windows Workflow Foundation	Office SharePoint Designer 2007
Can write workflows for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0	Can write workflows for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
Code-behind file enables developer to write custom Microsoft Visual C# or Microsoft Visual Basic code to express business logic	No code behind; workflow rules file declaratively encapsulates business logic instead
Generates workflow markup file	Generates workflow markup file
Workflow is authored as a template, which can be associated with multiple sites and lists	Workflow is authored against and data-bound to specific list at design time
Workflow markup file, or markup and code-behind files, compiled into workflow assembly	Workflow markup, workflow rules, and supporting file are stored, uncompiled, in a specific document library on the site
Workflow template must be associated with each list on which it is to be available.	Association happens when the workflow is authored against the specific list; no later association is necessary or possible
Workflow template can be associated with a site content type.	Cannot author workflows against content types.
Can use any forms technology. For example, Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 forms for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 workflows.	Automatically generates Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 forms, which you can then customize.
Can include workflow modifications	Workflow modifications are not available
Can author custom activities for inclusion in workflows	Must use activities provided
Package workflow assembly and workflow definition as a SharePoint Feature, and deploy to the site	Automatically handles deployment to specific list
Can use Initiation form to gather information from the user when they start the workflow	Can use Initiation form to gather information from the user when they start the workflow
Can use custom forms for users to interact with tasks in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0	Can use custom forms for users to interact with SharePoint tasks
Visual Studio debugging available	No step-by-step debugging available
Can author both sequential and state workflows	Can author only sequential workflows