Paul Grenier, Lead Moderator
cepes
Member
Hi:
I am doing bulk importing of data into a List and I have several WF's that are triggered when new items are added.
Is there a way to go into SharePoint Designer and put a temporary pause (or suspense) on a workflow until the import is done?
Thanks-
You could just uncheck the "start options" for the workflow. Once you open the workflow in SPD, it'll default to the "Steps" screen since it's already been defined, so click the "Back" button to return to the "Definition" screen and uncheck the start options to temporarily disable it (the workflow wont literally be disabled, but it wont run since nothing will be set to initiate it).
- Dessie
cepes
Member
Ok... now I feel stupid... That's too simple. Thanks Dessie.
Happy New Year!
Charlie
You're most welcome....and dont feel bad, it's normally the simple things that wind up giving us the most trouble (I've certainly had my fair share).
Happy New Year to you too :)
- Dessie
If you're going to be wanting to start/stop this on a regular basis, you could also add another list in the site named something like "workflow control".
Add another Yes/No column called something like "Workflow enabled".
Add just one list item with a specific title and a then have your workflow find that item using the known title and immediately stop as per the value of the Yes/No column.
cepes
Member
Paul, that's brilliant!... like a workflow dashboard.
Thanks Paul. Happy New Year!
Charlie
Even better idea...nice one Paul.
- Dessie
cepes
Member
I just wanted to dredge up this old solution because I finally created a "Workflow Dashboard" as suggested by Paul Galvin. It works like a charm!!
I needed a dashboard for administrators (without SharePoint Designer) to enable or disable a workflow. Paul suggested a separate List with Items named for the workflows and a Yes/No field. The first workflow condition in SPD checks to make sure the field is "Yes" before proceeding. Brilliant!!
I even included a picture field so I can include a screenshot of the workflow parameters.
Thanks again Paul!!
Charlie Epes
Buffalo, NY
minionlab
Member
Ok, so this thread really intrigued me.... but there's one little detail I may be missing.
At the beginning of the thread Cepes mentioned he was doing a bulk import and wanted to postpone the workflow. I'm assuming this means his goal is to run the workflow for all the items in the list after the import. While the workflow dashboard is a great idea or Dessie's original suggestion would also have yielded the same overall result ... I don't understand how re-enabling the workflow makes it execute for every item of the bulk import. So far the only way I can see to re-initiate the workflow after and item has been added is manually. ... which is proving to be a nightmare on long lists.
Is there a setting to initiate the workflow for all the list items?? Or to automatically execute a workflow for all items in an existing list?
Regarding that last question. Here's the only way I know how, and I've had to do this several times:
Using just a temporary field in the list, put the list in datasheet view, and quickly edit every single item in the list by just changing something ini that temporary field. Just put a value in one field, an drag it down to all the other records. That way, the workflow will get kicked off for every item.
Laura Rogers
KClassen
Member
I've done what Laura mentions often. Usually to trigger a newly created workflow on pre-existing items.
But to pause a workflow for an new added item what about using the SPD actions Pause Until Date or Wait for Field Change in Current Item.
You could either enforce a pause for batch entry, or a field such as the checkbox mentioned by Laura is cleared or set.
minionlab
Member
Thank you .... such a simple solution, yet so practical.
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