Exercise 1: Hello Workflow
Workflows execute a business process. Each step in that process is implemented by an Activity.
In this exercise, you will create and test a simple “Hello World” process using Windows Workflow Foundation 4.
Task 1 – Creating a Simple Hello Workflow Application
In this task you will create a very simple workflow that will be the equivalent to this code:
private static void SayHello() { Console.WriteLine("Hello Workflow 4"); }
Private Shared Sub SayHello() Console.WriteLine("Hello Workflow 4") End Sub
- Start Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 from Start | All Programs | Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.
Select File / New Project Ctrl+Shift+N and set the project options
- Installed Templates: select either Visual C# or Visual Basic then select Workflow under the language
- Template: Workflow Console Application
- Name: HelloWorkflow.
- Location: %TrainingKitInstallFolder%\Labs\IntroToWF\Ex1-HelloWorkflow\Begin
- Solution: HelloWorkflow
Figure 1
Creating a new Workflow Console Application (C#)
Figure 2
Creating a new Workflow Console Application (Visual Basic)
Since your business process is a 1-step process, you can simply add a WriteLine activity to implement the process. From the Toolbox, drag a WriteLine activity and drop it on the design surface.
Figure 3
Adding a WriteLine activity
If the Toolbox window is not visible, select Toolbox from the View menu.
Set the WriteLineText property to "Hello Workflow 4".
Figure 4
Setting the Text property
WriteLine Activity
The
WriteLine activity is a simple activity that will display a message on the console. The text property is an
Expressionwhich could be the result of calling a function or evaluating the property of an object. In this case, the expression is a literal string so you must quote the string.
Next Step
Exercise 1 Verification