Workflows in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM)

Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 builds on and extends the workflow development framework in Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010. Workflow developers have access to the entire range of workflow development options in SharePoint Foundation 2010, as well as using Microsoft InfoPath 2010 to create forms that can be hosted inside of Microsoft Office 2010 system client applications—such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel—as well as on the server.

You can create workflows using the following two developer applications:

  • For workflows that include custom code and employ forms, use Visual Studio 2010 Workflow Designer.

    If you use Visual Studio, you can also use forms technologies, such as Microsoft ASP.NET, to create forms that can interact with and gather information from users. For more information, see Workflow Forms Overview in the Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Software Development Kit (SDK).

  • For declarative, rules-based workflows that contain no code, and that are developed against a specific SharePoint site, use Microsoft SharePoint Designer 2010.

For more information, see Workflow Development for SharePoint Foundation in the SharePoint 2010 SDK.

In addition, SharePoint Server 2010 enables developers to use InfoPath 2010 to create forms that can be hosted both within Microsoft Office system client applications, and on the server. InfoPath 2010 gives you the ability to create symmetrical forms—forms that look and operate exactly the same way whether they are displayed in the SharePoint Server 2010 Web interface, or within a Microsoft Office system client application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

For more information, see InfoPath Forms for Workflows (ECM).

See Also

Concepts

InfoPath Forms for Workflows (ECM)

Workflow Association and Initialization Forms in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM)

Workflow Modification Forms in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM)

Workflow Task Forms in SharePoint Server 2010 (ECM)