The complete video training kit for developers who want to apply the power of Windows Workflow Foundation in their own apps.

This is the eBook version of the printed book. Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) is Microsoft's programming model for building workflow-enabled applications in the Windows operating system. It includes a namespace, a workflow engine, and design tools that can be used with Visual Studio .NET. Workflow is an extremely important type of application that has been difficult to build on the Microsoft platform. Workflow Foundation is a major element of the .NET Framework 3.0 platform that enables application developers to build these types of applications. In Building Applications with Windows Workflow Foundation: State Machine and Rules-Driven Workflows , author, MVP, speaker, and leading consultant Michael Stiefel introduces readers to the two of the basic Windows Workflow foundation patterns. The other parts of this series include Basics of Windows Workflow Foundation Advanced Workflow Features Extended Workflow Example

In Essential Windows Workflow Foundation, two WF lead architects–Dharma Shukla and Bob Schmidt–offer an under-the-hood look at the technology, explaining the why and not just the how of WF’s key concepts and architecture. Serious WF developers seeking details about how to effectively utilize and extend the framework by writing activities will find cogent explanations and answers here. With simple and illustrative examples, the authors demonstrate exactly how to leverage WF’s extensible programming model to craft domain-specific programs. Drawing on their unique vantage point in designing and developing WF, Shukla and Schmidt deliver authoritative coverage of The core concepts and ideas that form the heart of WF’s programming model The execution model for activities, with details of the activity automaton, bookmarking, scheduling, and the threading model of the WF runtime Advanced execution concepts, including activity execution contexts, transactions, persistence points, passivation, fault handling, cancellation, compensation, and synchronization Hosting the WF runtime in applications The activity component model, with details of validation, compilation, serialization, and visualization Databinding, XAML, dependency properties, and WF program metadata Declarative conditions and rules, activity designers, and designer hosting Custom control flow patterns ranging from simple sequencing and iteration to more complex graphs and state machines Dynamic editing of running WF program instances Essential Windows Workflow Foundation is the definitive resource for developers seeking an in-depth understanding of this novel technology.

Windows Workflow Foundation is a ground-breaking addition to the core of the .NET Framework that allows you to orchestrate human and system interactions as a series of workflows that can be easily mapped, analyzed, adjusted, and implemented. As business problems become more complex, the need for a workflow-based solution has never been more evident. WF provides a simple and consistent way to model and implement complex problems. As a developer, you focus on developing the business logic for individual workflow tasks. The runtime handles the execution of those tasks after they have been composed into a workflow. Beginning WF demonstrates, in an eminently readable and accessible style, how Microsoft's Workflow Foundation (WF) technology can be used in a wide variety of applications. Loaded with lots of simple yet demonstrative sample projects Very hands-on with practical "how-to" information Indexed by feature so specific questions are easily answered

Windows Workflow Foundation is part of a bundle of new products that update .NET 2.0 into .NET 3.0. This book is one of the first to cover this important addition to .NET, and aims to provide the reader with a solid grounding in how workflows are implemented, executed, maintained and customized. By comprehensively covering WF from setup through implementation to customization readers are given a ‘one stop’ grounding in the subject. Given the importance of this technology release, the fact that WF is a free add-on, and the book’s broad appeal, it will be useful to almost all existing or migrating .NET 2.0 developers.

Over 70 recipes with hands-on, ready to implement solutions for authoring Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0 workflows with this book and eBook.

Get hands-on guidance for using Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation to create process-managed applications for Microsoft Windows—one step at a time. Understanding Windows Workflow Foundation is essential for every developer who works with multiple applications and services that must exchange data or results. Windows Workflow Foundation defines a process flow amongst people, applications, and services—mapping dependencies and sequences to allow automation of tasks across previously stand-alone programs. With STEP BY STEP, you work at your own pace through hands-on, learn-by-doing exercises to understand the core capabilities and fundamental techniques for working with Windows Workflow Foundation. New-to-topic developers can take a sequential approach to understanding workflows and learning how to create Windows Workflow Foundation–enabled applications and services. This book includes a CD with practice exercises and code samples to help developers accelerate their productivity. A Note Regarding the CD or DVD The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [email protected].