Visual Studio 2008: Windows Workflow Foundation

• COURSE OVERVIEW

This two-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to build and configure a Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) solution.

• AUDIENCE

This course is intended for application developers who know how to create applications in Visual Studio 2005 or 2008. The course does not require previous experience creating workflow-based solutions.

• OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Explain Windows Workflow Foundation concepts and features
• Create sequential workflows
• Create state machine workflows
• Modify workflows at run time
• Implement conditional branching in a workflow
• Define and execute rule sets
• Forward chain rules
• Change rules at run time
• Call methods on the host process
• Handle events from the host process
• Consume services from a workflow
• Publish a workflow as a service
• Create a custom activity
• Create a custom composite activity
• Define custom activity layout
• Customize activity serialization
• Create a custom runtime service
• Hydrate and dehydrate workflows
• Monitor workflows
• Track workflows
• Handle faults in a workflow
• Handle cancellations in a workflow
• Create and manage transactions in a workflow
• Create and handle compensations

• PREREQUISITES

Before attending this course, students should have intermediate experience developing applications by using previous versions of Microsoft Visual Studio at an intermediate level.

• COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: Creating and Hosting Workflows

This module explains how to create and host Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) workflows.

Lessons

• Overview of Windows Workflow Foundation
• Creating Sequential Workflows
• Creating State Machine Workflows
• Modifying Workflows at Runtime

Lab: Creating and Hosting Workflows

• Creating and hosting a simple sequential workflow
• Passing parameters into a workflow
• Creating a state machine workflow
• Hosting the state machine workflow

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explain Windows Workflow Foundation concepts and features.
• Create sequential workflows.
• Create state machine workflows.
• Modify workflows at run time.

Module 2: Applying Conditions and Rules

This module explains how to apply conditions and rules in a workflow.

Lessons

• Implementing Flow Control
• Defining and Executing Rule Sets
• Forward Chaining of Rules
• Changing Rules at Run Time

Lab: Applying Conditions and Rules

• Making Decisions
• Performing Iteration
• Defining Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Implement conditional branching in a workflow.
• Define and execute rule sets.
• Forward chain rules.
• Change rules at run time.

Module 3: Communicating with Workflows

This module explains how to communicate between workflows, host processes, and services.

Lessons

• Calling Methods on the Host Process
• Handling Events from the Host Process
• Consuming Services from a Workflow
• Publishing a Workflow as a Service

Lab: Communicating with Workflows

• Invoking a Method on the Host Process
• Handling Events from the Host Process
• Consuming Services from a Workflow
• Publishing a Workflow as a Service

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Call methods on the host process.
• Handle events from the host process.
• Consume services from a workflow.
• Publish a workflow as a service.

Module 4: Creating and Configuring Custom Activities

This module explains how to create and configure custom activities.

Lessons

• Creating Custom Activities
• Creating Custom Composite Activities
• Customizing Activity Serialization
• Defining Custom Activity Layout

Lab: Creating and Configuring Custom Activities

• Creating a Custom Activity
• Validating a Custom Activity
• Developing a Custom Activity Designer
• Creating a Custom Composite Activity

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a custom activity.
• Create a custom composite activity.
• Define custom activity layout.
• Customize activity serialization.

Module 5: Creating and Managing Runtime Services

This module explains how to create and manage runtime services.

Lessons

• Creating a Custom Runtime Service
• Hydrating and Dehydrating Workflows
• Monitoring Workflows
• Tracking Workflows

Lab: Creating and Managing Runtime Services

• Creating a Custom Runtime Service
• Hydrating and Dehydrating Workflows
• Monitoring Workflows
• Tracking Workflows

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a custom runtime service.
• Hydrate and dehydrate workflows.
• Monitor workflows.
• Track workflows.

Module 6: Managing Faults, Cancellations, Transactions, and Compensations

This module explains how to manage faults, cancellations, transactions, and compensations in a workflow.

Lessons

• Handling Faults
• Handling Cancellations
• Creating and Managing Transactions
• Creating and Handling Compensations

Lab: Managing Faults, Transactions, and Compensations

• Handling Faults
• Implementing Transactional Behavior
• Implementing Compensation Behavior

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Handle faults in a workflow.
• Handle cancellations in a workflow.
• Create and manage transactions in a workflow.
• Create and handle compensations.