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Task 2: Create the Simple Order Form Windows Form 

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In this task, you create the host application that is used in the tutorial. The application is a simple order form that uses Windows Forms for its user interface. It enables users to select an item from a list and add a quantity value.

After you perform this task, you will have an application that supports this functionality. Throughout the rest of the tutorial, you will add the remaining code that is required to invoke and communicate with the state machine workflow.

NoteNote

Although you are encouraged to follow the exercises in a linear manner, it is not required. You can start this exercise by opening the sample project and proceeding to the steps shown in the following section.

Creating the Windows Form Source Code File

Follow these steps to create the order form and add the code to the host application.

To create the Windows Form source code file

  1. In your project's directory, create a new file named Program.

    Give the file a .cs extension if you are creating a C# application, or a .vb extension if you are creating a Visual Basic application.

  2. In your main project file (StateMachineWorkflow), insert a new ItemGroup element before the Import element at the end of the file.

  3. In the ItemGroup element, add a new Compile element.

  4. Add a new attribute to the Compile element named Include using the file name that you created in step 1 as the attribute's value.

  5. Add a new child element to the Compile element named SubType.

    Give this element the value Form. Your ItemGroup node will appear as follows:

    <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="Program.vb">
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
</ItemGroup>

    <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="Program.cs">
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
</ItemGroup>

To add the Windows Form code to the host application

  • In the Program source code file, add the following code for the Windows Form application.

    Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Workflow.Runtime
Imports System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting
Imports System.Workflow.Activities

Namespace Microsoft.Samples.Workflow.Tutorials.StateMachineWorkflow
    Public Class MainForm : Inherits Form
        Private label1 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Private itemsList As System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox
        Private label2 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Private itemQuantity As System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown
        Private WithEvents submitButton As System.Windows.Forms.Button
        Private groupBox1 As System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox
        Private WithEvents ordersIdList As System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox
        Private label3 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Private orderStatus As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
        Private label4 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer = Nothing

        Private orderHistory As Dictionary(Of String, List(Of String))
        Private inventoryItems As String() = _
            {"Apple", "Orange", "Banana", "Pear", "Watermelon", "Grapes"}

        Private Delegate Sub ItemStatusUpdateDelegate _
            (ByVal orderId As Guid, ByVal newStatus As String)

        Public Sub New()
            InitializeComponent()
            ' Initialize the inventory items list
            For Each item As String In Me.inventoryItems
                Me.itemsList.Items.Add(item)
            Next item
            Me.itemsList.SelectedIndex = 0

            ' Initialize the order history collection
            Me.orderHistory = New Dictionary(Of String, List(Of String))
        End Sub

        Private Function GetOrderHistory(ByVal orderId As String) As String
            ' Retrieve the order status
            Dim itemHistory As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder()

            For Each status As String In Me.orderHistory(orderId)
                itemHistory.Append(status)
                itemHistory.Append(Environment.NewLine)
            Next status
            Return itemHistory.ToString()
        End Function

        Private Sub submitButton_Click(ByVal sender As Object, _
            ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles submitButton.Click
        End Sub

        Private Sub ordersIdList_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As Object, _
            ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles ordersIdList.SelectedIndexChanged
            Me.orderStatus.Text = GetOrderHistory(Me.ordersIdList.SelectedItem.ToString())
        End Sub

        Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
            If disposing AndAlso (Not components Is Nothing) Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
            MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
        End Sub

        Private Sub InitializeComponent()
            Me.label1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
            Me.itemsList = New System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox()
            Me.label2 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
            Me.itemQuantity = New System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown()
            Me.submitButton = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
            Me.groupBox1 = New System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox()
            Me.orderStatus = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
            Me.label4 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
            Me.ordersIdList = New System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox()
            Me.label3 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
            CType(Me.itemQuantity, System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize).BeginInit()
            Me.groupBox1.SuspendLayout()
            Me.SuspendLayout()
            ' 
            ' label1
            ' 
            Me.label1.AutoSize = True
            Me.label1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(12, 9)
            Me.label1.Name = "label1"
            Me.label1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(23, 13)
            Me.label1.TabIndex = 0
            Me.label1.Text = "Item"
            ' 
            ' Me.itemsList
            ' 
            Me.itemsList.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
            Me.itemsList.FormattingEnabled = True
            Me.itemsList.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(13, 26)
            Me.itemsList.Name = "itemsList"
            Me.itemsList.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(161, 21)
            Me.itemsList.TabIndex = 0
            ' 
            ' label2
            ' 
            Me.label2.AutoSize = True
            Me.label2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(12, 50)
            Me.label2.Name = "label2"
            Me.label2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(42, 13)
            Me.label2.TabIndex = 2
            Me.label2.Text = "Quantity"
            ' 
            ' Me.itemQuantity
            ' 
            Me.itemQuantity.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(13, 67)
            Me.itemQuantity.Minimum = New Decimal(New Integer() {1, 0, 0, 0})
            Me.itemQuantity.Name = "itemQuantity"
            Me.itemQuantity.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(80, 20)
            Me.itemQuantity.TabIndex = 1
            Me.itemQuantity.Value = New Decimal(New Integer() {1, 0, 0, 0})
            ' 
            ' submitButton
            ' 
            Me.submitButton.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(99, 64)
            Me.submitButton.Name = "submitButton"
            Me.submitButton.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(100, 23)
            Me.submitButton.TabIndex = 2
            Me.submitButton.Text = "Submit Order"
            ' 
            ' groupBox1
            ' 
            Me.groupBox1.Controls.Add(Me.orderStatus)
            Me.groupBox1.Controls.Add(Me.label4)
            Me.groupBox1.Controls.Add(Me.ordersIdList)
            Me.groupBox1.Controls.Add(Me.label3)
            Me.groupBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(13, 93)
            Me.groupBox1.Name = "groupBox1"
            Me.groupBox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(247, 193)
            Me.groupBox1.TabIndex = 3
            Me.groupBox1.TabStop = False
            Me.groupBox1.Text = "Order Status"
            ' 
            ' Me.orderStatus
            ' 
            Me.orderStatus.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(7, 82)
            Me.orderStatus.Multiline = True
            Me.orderStatus.Name = "orderStatus"
            Me.orderStatus.ReadOnly = True
            Me.orderStatus.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(230, 105)
            Me.orderStatus.TabIndex = 3
            ' 
            ' label4
            ' 
            Me.label4.AutoSize = True
            Me.label4.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 65)
            Me.label4.Name = "label4"
            Me.label4.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(35, 13)
            Me.label4.TabIndex = 2
            Me.label4.Text = "History"
            ' 
            ' Me.ordersIdList
            ' 
            Me.ordersIdList.DropDownStyle = _
                System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
            Me.ordersIdList.FormattingEnabled = True
            Me.ordersIdList.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(7, 37)
            Me.ordersIdList.Name = "ordersIdList"
            Me.ordersIdList.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(230, 21)
            Me.ordersIdList.TabIndex = 0
            ' 
            ' label3
            ' 
            Me.label3.AutoSize = True
            Me.label3.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(7, 20)
            Me.label3.Name = "label3"
            Me.label3.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(41, 13)
            Me.label3.TabIndex = 0
            Me.label3.Text = "Order Id"
            ' 
            ' MainForm
            ' 
            Me.AcceptButton = Me.submitButton
            Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0F, 13.0F)
            Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
            Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(272, 298)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.groupBox1)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.submitButton)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.itemQuantity)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.label2)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.itemsList)
            Me.Controls.Add(Me.label1)
            Me.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.Fixed3D
            Me.MaximizeBox = False
            Me.MinimizeBox = False
            Me.Name = "MainForm"
            Me.Text = "Simple Order Form"
            CType(Me.itemQuantity, System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize).EndInit()
            Me.groupBox1.ResumeLayout(False)
            Me.groupBox1.PerformLayout()
            Me.ResumeLayout(False)
            Me.PerformLayout()
        End Sub
    End Class

    Friend Class Program
        Private Sub New()
        End Sub
        <STAThread()> _
        Shared Sub Main()
            Application.EnableVisualStyles()
            Application.Run(New MainForm())
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

    using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Workflow.Runtime;
using System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting;
using System.Workflow.Activities;

namespace Microsoft.Samples.Workflow.Tutorials.StateMachineWorkflow
{
    public class MainForm : Form
    {
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox itemsList;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label2;
        private System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown itemQuantity;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button submitButton;
        private System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox groupBox1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox ordersIdList;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label3;
        private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox orderStatus;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label4;
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;

        private Dictionary<string, List<string>> orderHistory;
        private string[] inventoryItems = { "Apple", "Orange", 
            "Banana", "Pear", "Watermelon", "Grapes" };

        private delegate void ItemStatusUpdateDelegate(Guid orderId, string newStatus);

        public MainForm()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            // Initialize the inventory items list
            foreach (string item in this.inventoryItems)
            {
                this.itemsList.Items.Add(item);
            }
            this.itemsList.SelectedIndex = 0;

            // Initialize the order history collection
            this.orderHistory = new Dictionary<string, List<string>>();
        }

        private string GetOrderHistory(string orderId)
        {
            // Retrieve the order status
            StringBuilder itemHistory = new StringBuilder();

            foreach (string status in this.orderHistory[orderId])
            {
                itemHistory.Append(status);
                itemHistory.Append(Environment.NewLine);
            }
            return itemHistory.ToString();
        }

        private void submitButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
        }

        private void ordersIdList_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.orderStatus.Text = GetOrderHistory(this.ordersIdList.SelectedItem.ToString());
        }

        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (disposing && (components != null))
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
            base.Dispose(disposing);
        }

        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.itemsList = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
            this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.itemQuantity = new System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown();
            this.submitButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.groupBox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox();
            this.orderStatus = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.label4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.ordersIdList = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
            this.label3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.itemQuantity)).BeginInit();
            this.groupBox1.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // label1
            // 
            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 9);
            this.label1.Name = "label1";
            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(23, 13);
            this.label1.TabIndex = 0;
            this.label1.Text = "Item";
            // 
            // this.itemsList
            // 
            this.itemsList.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
            this.itemsList.FormattingEnabled = true;
            this.itemsList.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(13, 26);
            this.itemsList.Name = "itemsList";
            this.itemsList.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(161, 21);
            this.itemsList.TabIndex = 0;
            // 
            // label2
            // 
            this.label2.AutoSize = true;
            this.label2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 50);
            this.label2.Name = "label2";
            this.label2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(42, 13);
            this.label2.TabIndex = 2;
            this.label2.Text = "Quantity";
            // 
            // this.itemQuantity
            // 
            this.itemQuantity.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(13, 67);
            this.itemQuantity.Minimum = new decimal(new int[] {
            1,
            0,
            0,
            0});
            this.itemQuantity.Name = "itemQuantity";
            this.itemQuantity.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(80, 20);
            this.itemQuantity.TabIndex = 1;
            this.itemQuantity.Value = new decimal(new int[] {
            1,
            0,
            0,
            0});
            // 
            // this.submitButton
            // 
            this.submitButton.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(99, 64);
            this.submitButton.Name = "submitButton";
            this.submitButton.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(100, 23);
            this.submitButton.TabIndex = 2;
            this.submitButton.Text = "Submit Order";
            this.submitButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.submitButton_Click);
            // 
            // groupBox1
            // 
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.orderStatus);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label4);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.ordersIdList);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label3);
            this.groupBox1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(13, 93);
            this.groupBox1.Name = "groupBox1";
            this.groupBox1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(247, 193);
            this.groupBox1.TabIndex = 3;
            this.groupBox1.TabStop = false;
            this.groupBox1.Text = "Order Status";
            // 
            // orderStatus
            // 
            this.orderStatus.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(7, 82);
            this.orderStatus.Multiline = true;
            this.orderStatus.Name = "orderStatus";
            this.orderStatus.ReadOnly = true;
            this.orderStatus.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(230, 105);
            this.orderStatus.TabIndex = 3;
            // 
            // label4
            // 
            this.label4.AutoSize = true;
            this.label4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 65);
            this.label4.Name = "label4";
            this.label4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 13);
            this.label4.TabIndex = 2;
            this.label4.Text = "History";
            // 
            // ordersIdList
            // 
            this.ordersIdList.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
            this.ordersIdList.FormattingEnabled = true;
            this.ordersIdList.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(7, 37);
            this.ordersIdList.Name = "ordersIdList";
            this.ordersIdList.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(230, 21);
            this.ordersIdList.TabIndex = 0;
            this.ordersIdList.SelectedIndexChanged += 
                new System.EventHandler(this.ordersIdList_SelectedIndexChanged);
            // 
            // label3
            // 
            this.label3.AutoSize = true;
            this.label3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(7, 20);
            this.label3.Name = "label3";
            this.label3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(41, 13);
            this.label3.TabIndex = 0;
            this.label3.Text = "Order Id";
            // 
            // MainForm
            // 
            this.AcceptButton = this.submitButton;
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(272, 298);
            this.Controls.Add(this.groupBox1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.submitButton);
            this.Controls.Add(this.itemQuantity);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.itemsList);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label1);
            this.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.Fixed3D;
            this.MaximizeBox = false;
            this.MinimizeBox = false;
            this.Name = "MainForm";
            this.Text = "Simple Order Form";
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.itemQuantity)).EndInit();
            this.groupBox1.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.groupBox1.PerformLayout();
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.PerformLayout();
        }
    }

    static class Program
    {
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            Application.EnableVisualStyles();
            Application.Run(new MainForm());
        }
    }
}

Compiling the Code

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft .NET Framework SDK v2.0, and then click SDK Command Prompt.

  2. Go to the source directory of the tutorial.

  3. At the command prompt, type MSBUILD to build the project.

In the next exercise, Exercise 2: Create the Simple Order Form Application, you will define an interface that is used to enable communication between the state machine workflow and the Simple Order Form application.

See Also

Concepts

State Machine Workflows

Other Resources

Exercise 2: Create the Simple Order Form Application
Tutorial: Create a State Machine Workflow
Ordering State Machine
Simple State Machine

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