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Form Support in Workflows

Visual Studio 2010

Visual Studio 11

Four types of forms can be used in a workflow: association, initiation, task, and modification. These form types can be based on either an ASPX form or an InfoPath form. The level of support that Visual Studio provides for a particular form depends on several factors, which are described in the following tables. For more information about workflow form types, see Workflow Forms Overview on the MSDN Web site.

XML Refactoring

When you add an ASPX association or initiation form to a Visual Studio workflow project item, Visual Studio automatically refactors the XML in the workflow's Elements.xml file to keep the attribute that refers to the association or initiation form in sync whenever the form name or deployment path is updated or the form is deleted. However, when you use other form types in a workflow, such as a task or modification form, the Elements.xml file is not refactored.

Form Support in New Visual Studio Workflows

The following table lists Visual Studio support for different form types on either ASPX or InfoPath forms in workflows that are created in Visual Studio.

Form Type	Workflow created in Visual Studio with an ASPX Form	Workflow created in Visual Studio by using an InfoPath Form
Association	An ASPX association form can be added to the workflow by using the Workflow Association Form item template. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is refactored when the form is added, renamed, or deleted, or when its deployment path changes. For more information, see Walkthrough: Creating a Workflow with Association and Initiation Forms.	There is no InfoPath association form template in Visual Studio. There is no integration between Visual Studio and InfoPath Designer. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.
Initiation	An ASPX initiation form can be added to the workflow by using the Workflow Initiation Form item template. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is refactored when the form is added, renamed, or deleted, or when its deployment path changes. For more information, see Walkthrough: Creating a Workflow with Association and Initiation Forms.	There is no InfoPath association form template in Visual Studio. There is no integration between Visual Studio and InfoPath Designer. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.
Task	No ASPX task form template is available in Visual Studio. You must create an application page and add code to it. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored. For more information, see Workflow Task Forms (SharePoint Foundation)	There is no InfoPath task form template in Visual Studio. There is no integration between Visual Studio and InfoPath Designer. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.
Modification	No ASPX modification form template is available in Visual Studio. To add a modification form, you must create an application page and add code to it. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored. You must manually edit it as appropriate. For more information, see Workflow Modification Forms (SharePoint Foundation)	There is no InfoPath modification form template in Visual Studio. There is no integration between Visual Studio and InfoPath Designer. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.

Form Support in Imported SharePoint Reusable Workflows

The following table lists Visual Studio support for different form types on either ASPX or InfoPath forms in SharePoint reusable workflows that are imported into Visual Studio.

Form Type	Reusable workflow that has an ASPX form imported from SharePoint Designer	Reusable workflow that has an InfoPath form imported from SharePoint Designer
Association	The form is referenced in the Elements.xml file of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is refactored when the form is renamed or deleted, or when its deployment path changes.	The form is imported, but not referenced in the Elements.xml of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.
Initiation	The form is referenced by the workflow in the Elements.xml file of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is refactored when the form is renamed or deleted, or when its deployment path changes.	The form is imported, but not referenced in the Elements.xml of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored. Note Rules and properties must be added and changed for this scenario to work.
Task	The form is referenced in the Elements.xml file of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored.	The form is imported, but not referenced in the Elements.xml of the workflow. The Elements.xml file of the workflow is not refactored. Note Rules and properties must be added and changed for this scenario to work.
Modification	Not applicable. ASPX modification forms cannot be created in SharePoint Designer.	Not applicable. InfoPath modification forms cannot be created in SharePoint Designer, except for the built-in SharePoint Server workflow, which is not included in the .wsp file when the workflow is exported.

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