Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0 Cookbook

Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0 (WF) is a significant part of .NET Framework 4.0. WF makes workflow technology available to every single programmer that uses the .NET Framework 4.0. It is easy to create long running and distributed programs using WF with the right knowledge. With this book, you will discover that working with workflows is easy.

This book provides both step-by-step recipes and relevant background information. It covers all the important aspects of Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0. The best thing about this book is that all recipes are based on real-world experiences of Andrew Zhu. Andrew is a global WF and BizTalk technology support engineer for Microsoft. This book covers everything you need to know, when working with workflows. Get to grips with flow control activities, messaging, and transaction processes with easy to understand steps followed by explanations. You will quickly learn to use collection and custom WF activities and WF services.

You will see recipes that illustrate integration of Windows Workflow with other applications such as WPF, ASP.NET, WCF service, SharePoint 2010, and Silverlight. Lastly, you will discover how easily you can customize W4 Designer with WF rule engine and others.

A fast-paced handbook with all that you wanted to know about working with workflows

Over 70 recipes with hands-on, ready to implement solutions for authoring workflows
Customize Windows Workflow 4.0 applications to suit your needs
A hands-on guide with real-world illustrations, screenshots, and step-by-step instructions
Explore various functions that you can perform using WF 4.0 with running code examples
A hands-on guide with real-world illustrations, screenshots, and step-by-step instructions

What you will learn from this book
Design and develop WF applications
Control the workflow of data using arguments and variables
Create a machine state style workflow using Flowchart
Explore and use the built-in activities of WF
Customize persistence and tracking extensions using WF
Create Windows Workflow as a WCF service
Host Windows Workflow in other applications (ASP.NET, WPF)
Create your own independent WF Designer
Tune WF applications to run steady and fast
Risk management solution using WF’s rule engine

Approach
This is a fast-paced and to-the-point handbook, it takes you through the important aspects that you need to know when working with Windows WF. The range of topics that we cover in this book is driven by what the working developer needs to know. It is neither a comprehensive reference to the whole WF architecture, nor a strategic guide to the complete application development lifecycle.

Who this book is written for
If you find yourself working with Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0 and you have basic knowledge of C#/.NET Framework/ VB and workflow, this book is for you. It will be best if you know both C# and VB, because WF 4.0 expression can only be written in VB (at the time of writing). With this book, you will be able to enhance your applications with flexible workflow capabilities using WF 4.0. To follow the recipes, you will need to be comfortable with .NET Framework, C# programming, basics of SOA, and how to develop them.