Asynchronous Messaging With SharePoint Workflows

1. BB47 Asynchronous Messaging With SharePoint Workflows  Alexander Malek Lead Program Manager SharePoint Microsoft Corporation

2. Agenda • SharePoint in the Microsoft Workflow Ecosystem • Async Messaging in SharePoint Overview • Using WCF and Azure Services Platform • Scenario Overview • Demo!

3. SharePoint Workflow • Part of Microsoft Workflow Ecosystem • Office SharePoint Server for IW document- process applications • Windows Server (Dublin) for custom business applications • BizTalk Server for data orchestration applications • SharePoint Scenarios: • Document Approval, Content Publishing, Document Assembly, Change Tracking

4. UnifiedCommunicationsAnd Collaboration BusinessIntelligence Enterprise ContentManagement WebsiteAndSecurityFramework BusinessDataCatalog OpenXML FileFormats ExtensibleUI Search Workflow Secured, Well-Managed Infrastructure Overall SharePoint Platform

5. Asynchronous Human WF Scenarios • Tasks are the core building block of human workflow • Tasks in SharePoint • Item in a SharePoint tasks list • Acts as a proxy for the actual work • Change events to the item are correlated back into the correct workflow instance for evaluation

6. Asynchronous Messaging With External Systems • Characteristics of the SharePoint 2007 workflow host • .net 3.0-based – no support for .net 3.5 Send/Receive activities • EDES-based messaging not extensible • Recommendation: Use “Business Task” pattern • Create an item in “business tasks” list • Pass ID of item to external system as callback function • Wait on changes to item • Build a WCF service to receive the callback

7. Business Task Pattern

8. Using WCF In SharePoint • Possible to host a WCF service in the SharePoint application • Requires asp.net compatibility mode • Good post on the topic by Michael Washam • Recommendation: Create a separate asp.net application for the service • Cleaner separation for your custom code • Downside… no context web

9. Creating B2B Applications using Azure Services Platform • As part of .net Services, there is a new Service Bus offering • Makes it easy to connect applications together over the Internet • Services register on the “bus”, and can then be easily discovered and accessed, across any network topology

10. demo Employee Onboarding  Alexander Malek Lead Program Manager SharePoint Designer

11. Scenario Walkthrough • Contoso Consulting – Remote Employee Onboarding • Onboarding workflow: • Assign a task • Once approved • Submit to external business system • Wait for completion message before completing workflow

12. Employee Onboarding – Process Diagram Update BizTask

13. Dev Machine • Single machine • Three web applications • SharePoint for approval workflow • Windows App Server for back-end process • Windows App Server for SharePoint proxy service

14. Development Overview • Build SharePoint approval workflow • Create and bind InfoPath forms • Build WCF Service for Remote System • Connect workflow to service • Build WCF Service for SharePoint, published to Azure-based Service Bus • Connect remote system service to SharePoint service via cloud

15. Part 1: Assign a Human Task • Add set of activities to represent approval Update BizTask

16. Part 1 Summary • Use CreateTask, OnTaskChanged, and CompleteTask Activities to define a human task • Hints: • Correlation is defined by Correlation Token and TaskIDGuid • CompleteTask Activity required to update task list status

17. Part 2: Create Remote WCF Endpoint • Show using workflow to represent a service Update BizTask

18. Part 2 Summary • Demonstrated using a workflow to model a web service • Hints: • Update getters/setters to match service contract

19. Part 3: Assign a Business Task • Add business task and code call-out to web service Update BizTask

20. Part 3 Summary • Demonstrated calling a WCF service from a SharePoint workflow, and using a business task to coordinate the work • Hints: • Make sure to add end-point reference in web.config

21. Part 4: Create Local WCF Endpoint • Create a local service, accessible via the Internet Update BizTask

22. Part 4 Summary • Demonstrated creating a WCF service published to the Azure-based Service Bus • Hints: • Make sure to add end-point reference in web.config

23. Summary • Use Tasks for Human and System messaging • Host WCF services as a separate app from SharePoint • Azure Service Bus for cross-enterprise communication • Reference: Building Workflow Forms

24. Appendix

25. Evals & Recordings Please fill out your evaluation for this session at: This session will be available as a recording at: www.microsoftpdc.com

26. Q&A Please use the microphones provided

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