Beginner's Guide to Windows Workflow Foundation

This page contains resources to help developers get up to speed on developing with Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). There have been significant changes in the model for developing workflows in WF 4 (part of .NET Framework 4) from prior versions of the framework. If you are new to WF we encourage you to develop using WF 4. If you are already developing on previous versions of the framework or you are using WF within Sharepoint we have resources for you as well.

Beginner's Resources for Workflow Foundation 4
Beginner's Resources for Workflow Foundation 3.x

For more resources see the Learning Resources page.

Workflow Foundation 4 Resources

Introductory Videos

In this video series, DevelopMentor instructor, freelance developer and MVP Maurice de Beijer demonstrates how to get started with Windows Workflow Foundation 4.

Screencast
Creating Your First Sequential Workflow

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Executing workflows

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Working with data in workflows

More WF Videos...

Introductory Hands-on-Labs

Introduction to Windows Workflow 4
Learn how to create, run, and test activities in this interactive lab. This series also covers how to use expressions, variables, sequences, and if/else logic, as well as dynamic workflows.

Introduction to State Machine
Learn how to build workflows using Windows Workflow 4 and the State Machine activity in this interactive lab. A State Machine is a workflow activity that is best for scenarios where the workflow responds to events outside of itself. This lab also includes a WPF UI that uses the Model-View-ViewModel pattern and unit tests that verify the behavior of the State.

Introductory Articles & Samples

The Workflow Way: Understanding Windows Workflow Foundation
Like any technology, applying Windows Workflow Foundation requires understanding what it is, why it’s useful, and when it makes sense to use it. The goal of this overview is to make these things clear: why it is the way it is, and how it can improve a developer’s life. In other words, you’ll begin to understand the workflow way.

A Developer's Introduction to Windows Workflow Foundation (WF4) in .NET 4
An overview of the most important new features and improvements in WF, with enough technical detail and code to help you as a developer understand how to use them.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) Samples for .NET Framework 4
This package contains samples for exploring the new features in Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) for .NET Framework 4.

WF Scenarios Guidance Series
This article series describes the most common scenarios using WF: showing the choices involved in their selection, their implementation, and answering common questions that may arise during development.

Product Documentation

Books on WF 4

Beginning WF: Windows Workflow in .NET 4

Pro WF: Windows Workflow in .NET 4

Samples & Downloads

Windows Workflow Foundation 4 Samples
Find a series of easy to understand samples and solutions to quickly ramp up on Workflow Foundation in .NET 4.

Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Training Kit
The Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs, and demos. This content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the Visual Studio 2010 features and a variety of framework technologies

Tail Spin Travel
Tailspin Travel is a sample travel booking application that was born on the stage of PDC09. It is meant to highlight some of the most exciting features of the .NET Framework 4, Visual Studio 2010, and the Windows Server AppFabric.

Workflow Foundation 3.x Resources

Tutorials & Articles

Introducing Windows Workflow Foundation
This article describes Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), a component of the .NET Framework 3.0 and 3.5, that provides a common foundation for building workflow-based applications on Windows.

Hands on Labs for Windows Workflow Foundation
This download is a set of 10 Hands-on Labs for Windows Workflow Foundation in C# and VB.NET versions.

Product Documentation

Additional Resources

Virtual Lab: A Server Scenario Lab with Windows Workflow Foundation

In this lab you will learn to use Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) to model a business process and business rules. You will also learn how to use the tracking services of WF and how it can be used to monitor running workflows as well provide history on completed workflows. Finally, you will be shown the extensible nature of Windows Workflow Foundation through custom activities and services.

Webcast: Introduction to Windows Workflow Foundation

This webcast introduces you to Windows Workflow Foundation by examining, modifying, and extending the workflow components of the DinnerNow sample solution. Learn to create custom activities, manage workflow persistence and tracking, and take some time to understand how Windows Workflow Foundation was applied in this application.

Instructor-led Training: Visual Studio 2008: Windows Workflow Foundation (2 days)

This two-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to build and configure a Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) solution.

Self-paced Training: Visual Studio 2008: Windows Workflow Foundation (12 hours)

In this 12-hour on-line collection, application developers will learn how to build and configure a Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation solution.

Samples & Downloads

Hands on Labs for Windows Workflow Foundation
This download is a set of 10 Hands-on Labs for Windows Workflow Foundation in C# and VB.NET versions.

Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit
The Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs, and demos. This content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the Visual Studio 2008 features and a variety of framework technologies including: LINQ, C# 3.0, Visual Basic 9, WCF, WF, WPF, ASP.NET AJAX, VSTO, CardSpace, SilverLight, Mobile and Application Lifecycle Management.

Books on WF 3.x

Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation Step by Step

Beginner's Guide to Windows Workflow Foundation

Workflow Foundation 4 Resources

Workflow Foundation 3.x Resources

Workflow Pages

Related links