Workflows are a great feature in SharePoint 2010 that allows, for instance, your business rules to be performed in a consistent and repeatable manner.
And it is time to really check out what this great combination has to offer. The most obvious is that we can now use Visio to design the workflows, which then are imported to SharePoint via SharePoint Designer 2010.
Everyone with an intermediate level of knowledge with SharePoint knows that there are 3 ways to create workflows that act on SharePoint lists/libraries. In ascending order of complexity and flexibility they are: OOTB SharePoint workflows, SharePoint designer workflows and custom developed Visual Studio workflows.
One of the cool things about not being a total moron in SharePoint anymore is that I actually have the ability to help people. I’m always happy to lend a hand when I can, and it’s actually a great way for me to learn even more. However, sometimes it can be hard for me to give the proper advice/help because I don’t exactly know what a person is asking. There are so many different parameters that can affect any advice you get in SharePoint and it’s really hard for someone to be in your head. Sometimes it can take several back and forth emails just to fully understand the question being asked. So, I thought I’d type up a quick blog which will help you ask your questions more succinctly and make sure you get the best advice/help possible (not necessarily from me).
When working with a powerful tool like SharePoint, you always need to keep the big picture in mind and remember the 3 cardinal words : plan, plan, plan. You need to know what SharePoint 2010 will have to offer out of box so you don’t overcomplicate your current solution and do any custom development without an upgrade in mind. Just be aware, that’s all. And when the time comes, do the necessary research and get help if necessary.
SharePoint is not merely a web server. It is a large and complex application, with many moving parts. Some of them are easy to customize; others require a bit more finesse. Tools and guidance for that customization are few and far between. Fortunately for you, SharePoint Designer is such a tool, and this book provides the guidance. Together, they enable you to look your customer in the eye and answer with a resounding: “Yes!”
Yet SharePoint Designer can do far more than customize SharePoint sites. It is a fully-featured web design tool in its own right, with excellent support for many industry standards, as well as backward compatibility with a few nonstandard capabilities.
