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Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos

This is the series of "How to" Document Workflow with SharePoint using Visual Studio 2008 (using the .NET Framework 3.0 for backward compatibility to Visual Studio 2005). I have created video's that show the most common requests that I have seen around MOSS/SharePoint 2007 workflow & document workflow.

I plan to continue to release additional videos like these as I hear or can think of additional scenario's to build content for, that might be useful to SharePoint Developers who are interested in learning about SharePoint Workflow.

If you want to be notified when I release new videos, then Subscribe to my blog, if you already haven't.

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Enjoy,

~ Robert Shelton

Enabling incoming/outgoing email for MOSS 2007	Extracting Document Details with SharePoint Workflow's
Click here to see it	Click here to see it
Extracting email addresses & Sending emails with SharePoint Workflow	Programmatically creating user tasks with SharePoint Workflow
Click here to see it	Click here to see it
Programmatically escalating Overdue Tasks	Building Basic Approval Workflow
Click here to see it	Click here to see it
Building a Multilevel Approval Workflow	Using Active Directory Searching/Lookup in a SharePoint/MOSS 2007 Workflow
Click here to see it	Click here to see it

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Technorati Tags: Sharepoint,Video,How to,MOSS 2007

Sunday, November 04, 2007 8:08 PM

Your Comments.

# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. They are definitely helping me out a ton.

Left by Justin at 11/5/2007 10:23 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Justin, you are very welcome and I am very happy that you are finding them helpful. I really appreciate hearing comments like yours, and thank you for taking the time to send it to me.

~ Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 11/5/2007 8:28 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Dude, you're awesome. These videos really helped me out a lot. Keep up the good work!

Left by Karam at 11/7/2007 10:30 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Rob, thanks for sharing the videos! Btw, the presentation you gave here at Booz Allen on Sharepoint 2007 and Visual Studio 2008 with Workflow was awesome-- we learned a lot from it!

I think a presentation on Silverlight and Expressions would be pretty cool!

Looking forward to seeing you and Dave next time!

Left by Bobby Beckner at 11/7/2007 10:52 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Karam and thank you as well Bobby, I really appreciate your feedback. I am working on some new video's now, but the idea well is starting to go dry, so I need to get out a bit more to see what kinds of new videos I need to create. :)

~ Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 11/7/2007 11:51 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
WebParts maybe?

Left by Karam at 11/7/2007 12:21 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
WebParts sounds like a good idea. I will start thinking about it. Maybe I will start posting on them in December after I come up with some scenarios for them.

Left by Robert Shelton at 11/7/2007 1:52 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
There are some great videos called Workflow Nuggets here: http://wf.netfx3.com/files/folders/screencasts/default.aspx. If you could do something similar for the SharePoint activities that would be terrific. I can't seem to find any examples for some of the less-common sharepoint workflow activities such as InitializeWorkflow, OnWorkflowItemChanged, RollbackTask, and SharePointSequentialWorkflowActivity.

Thanks!

Left by Greg at 11/9/2007 4:32 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks for the suggestion Greg, I will keep that in mind. I am working on some other ideas at the moment, but I am always looking for good suggestions for content.

Robert

Left by Robert Shelton at 11/9/2007 5:56 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
This is a fantastic resource. I have been avoiding going beyound using Sharepoint Designer till I saw your presentation this morning and watched some of these videos.

Today I actually created my own workflow using Visual Studio 2008. Your stuff is pure gold.

Thanks mate

Left by Kallan at 11/14/2007 6:22 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Kallan,

Thanks for your note and I am very, very happy that my videos help you do something that you weren't able to do prior to watching them. It's this kind of encouragement that helps me fight through the process of creating the content and then recording them.

Good luck with your continued efforts, and I hope that you find the new stuff that I post just as useful to you.

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 11/14/2007 6:27 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
It has helped me out a lot too. With the poor development experience that developers have with sharepoint and with very inadequate documentation, videos and materilas like yours definitely helps.

Left by Sabin at 12/14/2007 4:20 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Sabin, for your positive feedback. The state of the documentation and available books on the subject are not in the best shape now, but hopefully both will improve. In the meantime, I will continue to try to come up with new things to record/post.

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 12/14/2007 9:50 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
I agree, this has been a great resource for Sharepoint developers.
Was wondering if you will be adding any examples on workflow tracking and reporting. A central place for users to view workflows and tasks that span multi-lists and sites within a site collection.

Left by Dave at 1/10/2008 4:16 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Dave,

Thanks Dave for your positive comments. I can honestly say that the response to the videos and workshops have been a bit overwhelming. I have a list of suggestions to produce other content, and I will add your suggestions to my list. Unfortunately, this isn't a part of my "day job" but I am planning to find some time over the next month or so, to push out a few more videos on SharePoint.

Maybe with enough requests, I can get Microsoft to give me some time off just to produce more videos. That would be great! :)

~ Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 1/10/2008 4:28 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Robert, absolutely fantastic tutorials - thank you very much.

Here's a personal wish list of future videos (if you happen to find the time):

- State machine workflow using InfoPath forms and the Contact Selector (People Picker) control.

- Rather than creatins separate task forms, how to use the same InfoPath Task form but change the list of selectable next state values in a dropdown, based on its current state. For instance, if the current state is Draft, the drowpdown would contain the options 'Review' and 'Archive'. If the current state is 'Review', the options would be 'Draft', 'Archive', or 'Approved'. To make things even more interesting - how to do this based on the document's content type, i.e. if it's a Technical Specification content type it may have an entirely different set of options per state, vs. if it's a Proposal content type.

Again, many thanks, absolutely superb.

Left by Dan Russell at 1/27/2008 10:50 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Dan for your postive feedback and for your suggestions for future videos. The request for State Machine workflow with/without InfoPath and the general request for InfoPath-related workflows have come up quite a bit. So, when I get sometime, I plan to do some videos around both. I have my head burried into a few other projects (non-SharePoint related) at the moment, but I plan to get back to SharePoint videos in the not to distant future.

Thanks again for your comment and your suggestions.

~ Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 1/27/2008 10:56 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Tehse vedios are very useful to me thanks allot

Left by VISHNU at 3/14/2008 3:04 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Can you tell where can i find the videos on creating custom type and custom aspx pages for the workflow

Left by Danya at 3/26/2008 3:22 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
I just watched a webcast from MSDN you did and was floored at how helpful it was compared to other webcasts or in-person events I've seen. Your content is extremely helpful and has given me hope with our faltering, "doomed" SharePoint implementation. Thank you so much!!

Future video wishlist:

Custom Web Part Development (VS 2008)

Real World scenarios - I still can't find much on what people have done with MOSS, I keep seeing the same "approval document workflow" example over and over...

Project Management using SharePoint (I know there's more you can do with those Gantt web parts!). We've already spent a ton trying to get MOSS off the ground so I know I won't be able to sell the idea of purchasing Project Server 2007...

Again, great stuff and very helpful. Thank you!!

Matt

Left by Matt at 4/2/2008 7:42 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Matt,

I am happy that you found my Webcast to be useful. I also appreciate your wishlist, as I have heard from others similar requests. I have not had much time to do anything new, but I will keep your suggestons in mind.

As far as "real world scenarios" check out my How to video section of my blog (see navigation for link). You will see a group of videos (also shown on this page above) that give more realistic workflow examples.

Thanks again,

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 4/3/2008 7:19 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
i need to learn shearpoint technology please

Left by pillo at 4/30/2008 3:50 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
I have just started implementing workflows for clients, and so this resource will be very helpful. I have been hitting the SharePoint Designer vs Visual Studio dilemma.

I have not yet succeeded in tying a VS workflow to my SharePoint environment (being a bit intimidated by the VS requirements). However, I have been trying to stretch the SPD capabilities by doing things like having a loop back with approvals (done with secondary lists and workflows), and also sending a Task requiring input to a variable number of Approvers (to be done with a custom action created in VS).

I have a corporate client who need to do several workflows, and I am trying to set up the right working environment and method for them (while trying to learn the ropes myself). The simplicity of SPD (?!) is attractive for their non-programmers. But maybe I will see from your videos that VS is a practically viable approach if we can pin down the "recipes" for getting the job done.

Left by Mike Atkins at 5/7/2008 4:15 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Mike,

You are very right! SharePoint Designer is great for certain types of workflows, but they need to fit within the "Box of capabilities" for the product. In my experience, it can accomodate most of the "Basic" Worfklow scenarios without a problem, but some of the more advanced stuff is almost impossible without resorting to Visual Studio.

That being the case, most developers who learn how to build workflows in Visual Studio, default to it, because it can do everything from very easy to very complex workflows.

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 5/7/2008 9:06 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Shelton,

Is it possible to configure the SMTP service on my VPC(running on my laptop) to simulate the incoming/outgoing email for MOSS?

If so how do I do this?

Thanks,
Sanju

Left by Sanju at 6/10/2008 2:03 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Sanju,

Yes, that's what I did. I installed the SMTP service built into Windows Server 2003 and configured it. I can't remember where, but I used a short "How to" example on someones blog back when I did it. You might want to do a Search on Configuring SMTP for Windows Server. The example that I found was for Windows Server 2000, but worked just the same for 2003.

Good luck,

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 6/10/2008 3:30 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Very useful Sharepoint Workflow Videos ...

Left by Decatec at 6/24/2008 8:04 AM
# How to create mysite portal in sharepoint?
i need answer for this...

Left by Esther at 6/24/2008 11:41 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
www.gjgsoftware.com

Robert , you are the best, excellent videos,the most usefull , thanks for share your knowledge.

gabriel

Left by Gabriel at 6/25/2008 8:07 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Gabriel, I appreciate the compliment.

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 6/25/2008 8:22 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Hi Robert,

These videos are exremely beneficial, thank you very much for making them.

Ideas for more vidoes...Invoking sharepoint web services from within a workflow would round this series off nicely.

Oh and if you do decide to to do a video about invoking sharepoint web services could you make it the copy web service!!!...please!

Left by Mat Symes at 6/30/2008 4:57 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks Mat, for the kind words. I am researching some ideas around SharePoint Web Services as we speak. I haven't decided if they are going be videos, or workshops as of yet.

Keep tuned in.

~Robert Shelton

Left by Robert Shelton at 7/1/2008 11:58 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
By far the best ressources on the web regarding this topic. Thank you very much. IMHO theres is no point in using SharePoint Designer for workflows any longer after watching your videos. If you consider producing any additional material an example how state machine workflows operate in contrast would be great.

Left by grubi at 7/6/2008 3:02 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thank you so much for putting so much effort to make all the videos and documentations !! They have helped me alot as a beginner Sharepoint Developer.

The best resources so far on the web indeed.

Left by Di at 7/31/2008 5:18 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thank you very much. IMHO theres is no point in using SharePoint Designer for workflows mp3 any longer after watching your videos.

Left by xvz at 8/6/2008 4:14 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Hi Shelton

Thanks a lot for your time and effort,
Like to see the use of replicator to send same task to multiple people.
in sequential workflow.

Left by Muralee at 8/22/2008 7:46 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks for this tutorial! It is very helpfull. Sorry? but i didnt understand how to deploy the form to get feedback from a user. When you create the workflow, you have allready done the form. How did you do that?:)
Thanks for your Help!!!

Left by Taras at 9/8/2008 2:27 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Robert, great stuff!
Thanks!

Also, I noticed in another thread that you were going to take look at creating a wf for multiple approvers. Have you done that yet?

Left by Lou Farho at 9/18/2008 1:32 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Hi Robert,
Thanx for the Nice videos.

Is there any Video of Sharepoint State Machine workflow ?

regards

Left by Saurabh at 9/23/2008 2:46 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
I am working with Workflows and using this as reference for a lot many things. Thank you so much Rob. Expecting more Videos which would be definitely helpful...Thanks in Advance....

Left by Vignesh at 11/11/2008 5:58 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Hi Rob,

You have been a wonderful help for me. I was really starving for the workflow videos and finally got it solved through ur workspace. Thanks a ton.

I would be really pleased if you could post some videos on StateMachine workflow and also on List/Site customization.

Left by Senthil Kumar S at 11/25/2008 7:47 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
as interesting as we like! Thank You very nice topic! || sony ericsson converter || blackberry video converter

Left by screensaver maker at 11/27/2008 9:05 PM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Great videos and workshops. I am new to SharePoint and was assigned the task of creating workflows that involved multiple steps, multiple approvals, escalations, etc and after weeks of reading and searching I was still lost as to how to go about it. Now that I have watched some of your videos and walked through some of the workshops its finally starting to click.

Thanks for your time and effort in producing all of this.

Left by Brian at 12/3/2008 11:35 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
You are my hero!
Keep the good work.

Left by DS at 12/5/2008 8:33 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
hi robert,
I have created a workflow as steps are described in the example but i am able to attach the workflows to only library and list. If i want to attach the workflow at site content type level (ex:for a page or article page) then it will throw error.
How i can achieve this or where i need to change the code.
Regards
Setu

Left by setu at 12/23/2008 5:14 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Hi Robert,

Thanks for the videos i want to run the sharepoint site via internet can you please help me out with the system and hardware requirements if possible step by step procedure for this

Left by jagadish at 1/13/2009 2:58 AM
# re: Free Series of SharePoint Workflow How-to Videos
Thanks for these videos Robert!! These are really helpful...

I am a beginner on Sharepoint and trying to create a simple approval workflow (For review, approval of a document). I think there are standard workflow available that can be used to create one without using visual Studio.

Kindly share if you have any video that can guide me to create the same. Thanks

Left by Alpa at 1/14/2009 12:49 AM