SharePoint Designer 2013 provides the capability to save a
workflow as a template. Saving a workflow as a template is also known
as packaging the workflow. After the workflow is saved as a template, it
can then be imported into other SharePoint Server 2013 environments and
used without the need to redevelop the workflow. Not all workflow types
can be saved as a template. The following matrix shows the workflow
types that can be saved as a template.
Support, by platform, for saving a workflow as a template
|
Workflow type |
SharePoint 2010 Workflow platform |
SharePoint 2013 Workflow platform |
|---|---|---|
|
List Workflow |
No |
Yes |
|
Site Workflow |
No |
Yes |
|
Reusable Workflow |
Yes |
Yes |
The process for packaging a workflow involves saving the
workflow to a template file by using SharePoint Designer 2013. A
workflow package is in the form of a Web Solution Package (WSP) file and
has a .wsp extension. To package a workflow follow these steps.
Package a workflow
-
Open an existing workflow, or develop a new workflow, in SharePoint Designer 2013.
-
On the Workflow Settings tab in the ribbon, click the Save as Template button in the Manage section as shown in the figure.
Figure: Save workflow as template
-
An informational dialog box appears to let you know the template has been saved to the Site Assets library.
-
Click the Site Assets library to view the workflow template as shown in the figure.
Figure: A workflow template in Site Assets
| *Tip: |
|---|
|
A workflow template automatically saves to the Site Assets library of the site collection in which the workflow resides. |
You can deploy a workflow package to a SharePoint farm or
site that is different from the farm or site in which it was developed.
In order for a workflow deployment to be successful two items must be
fulfilled:
Before you can deploy a workflow you must first export the workflow template from the source SharePoint Server 2013 farm. To export a workflow template, follow this procedure.
To deploy a workflow package follow this procedure.
After a workflow solution has been activated for a site
collection, it is available as a feature for all sub-sites. To activate
the workflow feature for a sub-site, follow this procedure.
-
All workflow dependencies such as lists, libraries, columns, and content types must already exist on the new site.
-
Each dependency must have the exact name of the source dependency.
Before you can deploy a workflow you must first export the workflow template from the source SharePoint Server 2013 farm. To export a workflow template, follow this procedure.
Export a workflow template
-
Open SharePoint Designer 2013 and navigate to the Site Assets library where the template is located.
-
Select the workflow template you want to export by clicking it.
-
Click the Export File button to save the template file to your local computer or a network drive, as shown in the figure.
Figure: Export workflow template from SharePoint Designer 2013
Deploy a workflow solution
-
Open Internet Explorer and navigate to the SharePoint Server 2013 site collection where you want to deploy the workflow.
-
Click Site Actions and select Site Settings.
-
In the Web Design Galleries section click Solutions.
* Note: You must be on the Site Settings page for the site collection in order to see the Solutions gallery. If you are on the Site Settings page for a sub-site then the Solutions gallery is not visible.
-
Click the Upload Solution button to upload the solution as shown in the figure.
Figure: Upload Solution button
-
Activate the solution by clicking the Activate button as shown in the figure.
Figure: Activate Solution dialog and button
Activate the workflow feature
-
Open Site Settings on the site where you wish to activate the workflow feature.
-
In the Site Actions group, click Manage site features.
-
Click Activate next to the workflow feature as shown in the figure.
Figure: Activate workflow feature for site
0 comments:
Post a Comment