Using SharePoint to Bring All Together, from Legacy Applications to the Cloud

Larry MeadMicrosoft Corp.

Jon FlandersSession Code: INT203

Session objectives

Have an understanding of how SharePoint can be used for application compositionOverview of SharePoint 2010 workflow featuresOverview of building workflows in SharePoint 2010

AgendaThe problem with legacy migrated systemsUsing SharePoint for end to end integrationWorkflow and application compositionWhat’s new with Workflows in SharePoint Server 2010?

Support for .NET 3.5SPD -> Export -> Visual Studio -> ImportSite WorkflowsCustom Local ServicesWorkflow Event Receivers

Migration Without IntegrationDEMO

SharePoint Integration Points

Why use SharePoint for Integration?Already commonly used by Microsoft enterprise customers

What types of applications can be brought together with SharePoint?

Just about anything from legacy applications and applicatins to the cloud

What’s Missing?Workflow capabilities of WF!

SharePoint Workflow Composition

SharePointWorkflow Services

SharePoint Portal

WCF Services

LegacyPrograms

Cloud Applicatoins

.NET Services

Windows Azure

BizTalk Server

OtherEnterprise

Applications

Mainframe integration Approach Presentation layer

BATCH

DWH

CICS

TSOHIS

MigatedCICS Communiti

es

Search

Sites

Composites

ContentInsights

WPF

.NET framework version

SharePoint 2010 has a dependency on .NET 3.5Workflows in SharePoint Server 2010 are *not* WF 4.0 Workflows.NET Framework release schedule doesn’t align with SharePoint Server 2010

Would have delayed SharePoint Server 2010 significantly to take a dependency on WF 4.0

File system

SPD Workflow Import

SPD has a new reusable declarative Workflow templateOnce deployed it can be saved to a template (.wsp)Template can be imported into Visual Studio 2010 and modified

WSP

Deploy Package

Save to File System Create New ProjectImport WSP

NEW!

SPD Export – Visual Studio 2010 ImportDEMO

Site Workflows

In SP 2010, Workflows don’t have to be associated with a List instance

No need to create a “dummy” list just to get a workflow to run

Potential usesAccessing External Data - BCSGeneral Business LogicManaging Site permissionsManaging Site or Item (across Lists) creation

NEW!

Creating a Site Workflow

Pick “Site” when creating Workflow in Visual Studio 2010Manage via “Site Workflows” under “Site Actions”Workflow must be started manually

Requires instantiation form

Workflow Forms

Visual Studio 2010 SharePoint tools have templates for

Workflow Initiation FormWorkflow Association Form

Add them at Workflow node level in Solution Explorer and the Elements.xml is automatically modified

Building and Deploying a Site WorkflowDEMO

SPS/Workflow communication

Workflow communication in SharePoint is done via ExternalDataExchange (EDS)

Built on top of Workflow Queue InfrastructureEDS uses an interface definition for workflow/host communication“Local Service” implements interface

HandleExternalEvent triggered by firing interface eventCallExternalMethod calls interface method

SPS communication Activities are strongly-typed versions of HEE, CEM

WF Communication

Host

WF Runtime

LocalServic

e

Workflow RestoredFrom Storage

Workflow

Activity

Activity

MSG

Queue

Workflow PersistedTo Storage

Some Time May Elapse

MSG

Local Service extensibility

Before SP 2010, only the SP-defined Local Service could be usedSPS 2010 enables adding custom Local Services

Can use CEM/HEE orwca.exe tool to create strongly-typed Activities (e.g. OnWorkflowActivated/CreateTask)

NEW!

Building a custom Local Service

Define an EDS interfaceCreate a class that derives from the SPWorkflowExternalDataExchangeService base classImplement the EDS interfaceNeed to add an entry to the web.config

WorkflowServices configuration section

Using Local Services

Configure Activities that use Local ServiceHandleExternalEvent/CallExternalMethodOr use WCA.exe to generate strongly-typed versions

Building and Deploying a Custom Local Service for Legacy & External Integration

DEMO

Workflow Event Receivers

SharePoint’s WorkflowRuntime is “closed”No way to hook into WorkflowRuntime events

Workflow Event Receives in SharePoint Server 2010 are code-based Event Receivers

Similar to List Event ReceiversSupport built into Visual Studio 2010 SharePoint tools

EventReceiver Project or Item template

NEW!

SPWorkflowEventReceiver

New SPEventReceiverBase-derived class for 2010Derived and override methods for needed functionality

StartingStartedPostponedCompleted

Register as EventReceiver for a listAssociates with list workflows automatically

Workflow Event Receiver

public class MyWorkflowEventReceiver : SPWorkflowEventReceiver{ public override void WorkflowStarting(SPWorkflowEventProperties p) { base.WorkflowStarting(properties); } public override void WorkflowStarted(SPWorkflowEventProperties p) { base.WorkflowStarted(properties); } public override void WorkflowPostponed(SPWorkflowEventProperties p) { base.WorkflowPostponed(properties); } public override void WorkflowCompleted(SPWorkflowEventProperties p) { base.WorkflowCompleted(properties); }}

Building and Deploying a Workflow Event Receiver

DEMO

Summary

Workflows are (have been) a powerful way to model functionality in SharePointImprovements to the engine and tools in SharePoint Server 2010/Visual Studio 2010 make Workflow an even more attractive way to develop in SharePoint

SPD ExportEventReceiversLocal ServicesVisual Studio

Related Content

Workflow in SharePoint 2010: OverviewOverview: Creating Workflows With SharePoint Designer 2010, InfoPath, And VisioIntroduction To SharePoint Designer 2010: Top 10 great things to know

© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS,

IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

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© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS,

IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.