Newbie Questions

Re: Gettting started with WSS Workflow?

Sailor — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:02:52 GMT

Hello Patrick,

I did not have time to work on this project last week. Is it possible you have a sample form that I can look at to see what process you use for this?

Re: Gettting started with WSS Workflow?

Patrick Halstead — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 06:59:15 GMT

Hi Darcy,

I'd be happy to spend 30 minutes and show you how to do this. I could send you the sample we create. Just sent me email. Wednesday AM is good.

Re: Gettting started with WSS Workflow?

Sailor — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:30:33 GMT

Hi Patrick,

Thank you so much for your reply. Very good information. I looked all day for a sample template so I could see this in action, but came up empty! Anything you are willing to share is very much appreciated.

Darcy

Re: Gettting started with WSS Workflow?

Patrick Halstead — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:13:37 GMT

Hi Sailor,

I suggest using rules and separate views in your InfoPath form to do the workflow. This is simple and will handle a 3-stage workflow. You don't need WSS Workflow since it will force users to go to SharePoint to approve forms and/or add a bunch of custom logic to the form anyway to access the WSS workflow.

Just add user roles to the form for Submitter, Approver, and Reader. Set Submitter to be Initiator and set Reader to be default. Approver should be set to a field in the form that contains the alias of the approver, or you can hardcode a list of people or Active Directory groups.

Next, add a group node to the main data source root node called "Status" and under that add fields for "State" and "AssignedTo".

Create three views: Submit, Approve, and Read-Only.

Add Open Rules that compare user roles and State and/or AssignedTo to switch views.

Submit view has a submit button that sets Status\State to Submit, submits form and sends email notification to next person (you can optionally add an assignedTo field to your view and allow them to set it). Approve view has an approve button that sets Status\State to Approved, submits form and sends email to Submitter saying it was approved. Read-Only view has no buttons.

Pretty simple stuff but does take some setup. I could demo this for you in 10 minutes. I'm assuming you are using the InfoPath rich client (not browser) since you said you have WSS 3 and that means you don't have InfoPath Form Services. User Roles don't work in the browser forms, but you can simulate them using an active directory web service to set a CurrentUser field in your form and then compare that in your rules.

Good luck!

Gettting started with WSS Workflow?

Sailor — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:53:34 GMT

Hello,

I have created a few basic forms quite successfully, some with Sharepoint integration. The new form I need to build will require a 3-stage workflow (WSS 3) and I have never dealt with this. Can anyone suggest a good resource or sample template that might help me with this? I am building a Meal Order form where a user will submit the form, it will be reviewed (Pending) and the the food ordered (Confirmed).

This is completely new, so any resource would be helpful!

Thanks!