Presenting Windows Workflow Foundation is a premium reference that provides information on a key part of WinFX, providing universally accessible and consistent workflow technology for the Windows platform. Windows Workflow Foundation delivers an API as part of WinFX and a workflow designer hosted in Visual Studio 2005.

The Windows Workflow Foundation supports development of both sequential and state-based workflow involving both human and system interaction. Sequential workflow is a map of activities that may be in series or parallel. State-based workflow is a state machine where events cause transitions. Rules can be specified that drive decision making in a workflow and can be updated easily at runtime. Workflow can be created as a model and executed inside many host applications including Windows Forms, console applications, or Web applications.

• Key Scenarios that can be developed with Windows Workflow Foundation include:

• Document management: The steps involved in the review and approval of shared documents or other content.

• Line of business application: The processing flow or business logic in an extensible part of the application.

• Website page flow: The flow of state variables between web pages.

• IT management: Handling of common systems management processes.

• Decision making logic: Where complex business logic is well described by a sequential or state diagram.

• Consumer: A common series of steps for consumer PC usage.

Download the source code from the book at www.samspublishing.com

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

OK, but Not Relevant Introduction to WWF - 2006-03-31
Reviewer Rating:
If you are looking for high-level concepts and architecture of Windows Workflow Foundation, then this book is good. However, many of the concepts and APIs featured in the book are not present in the current beta (2.0).

Do not get this book if you are JUST looking for relevant code samples. Instead, visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/workflow. Get this book if you need to understand basic WWF concepts.

Good overview, but has VB Code samples - 2006-01-24
Reviewer Rating:
Good overview of the beta framework. My fault however for assuming code samples would be in C# and was really annoyed to find the authors chose to go with the more verbose VB.Net. Not that I'm a C# fanatic, but VB.Net gets in the way when used in technical books: That's why you don't see it that often and it was really unexpected. (4 stars if C# had been used or publisher would have added disclaimer to cover: "Warning: Code samples in VB.Net")

Yes, the code for the WF book is available and it's not out of date - 2005-12-17
Reviewer Rating:
The sample code for this book is available in C# and VB.NET. The download is listed on the right of my blog page. Just search for these three words if you can't find it.

Paul Andrew Blog

Also the code is up to date with Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) Beta 1 and WF Beta 1.2. We intend to publish updated sample code for the book once WF Beta 2 is released.

If you want to read an introductory programmer text about Windows Workflow Foundation before it is released then I'd recommend this book for you. Of course I'm rating it 5 stars as one of the authors :-)

The only available book on windows workflow -- unfortunately - 2006-03-31
Reviewer Rating:
The book presents Windows Workflow Foundation. It covers all aspects of this new framework, from using out-of-the-box activities to creating new ones or creating a new hosting environment.

You should read this book for the high level information, not the code. The API in the newer versions of WWF has changed substantially and most of the code is obsolete.

The biggest problem I have with this book is the quality (or lack thereof) of the English. The book is filled with spelling and grammatical errors.

I would recommend waiting for a better book unless you need to know more about WWF immediately.

Good complement to the SDK - 2006-01-05
Reviewer Rating:
I found this book a very good complement to the SDK, because the SDK doc lacks explanation on many areas, and the book gives good background info on many topics.

The only thing I don't like is the use of VB.Net as examples in the book.

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