Simple workflow design of WinForm development framework

When it comes to workflow, a lot of people first reaction is that this thing is very esoteric, and sometimes feel more distant from us, really perfect workflow design many aspects, and it is because of the need to take into account many aspects, general general workflow is difficult to achieve perfection. Microsoft also offers several versions of WF framework support, and some manufacturers are based on this framework for the development of workflow applications.

Previously due to the needs of the project, participated in a number of workflow project development, some of which are based on my simple work flow principle of expansion, including a Guangzhou of the use of the industry to examine and approve business platform, due to their own process processing, interface design, flow and other aspects can be well in line with customer needs, The flexibility of customization is good, the disadvantage is not universal, also need to write part of the code form.

After the business needs, workflow aspects of the business gradually appear urgent, the company is to adopt a more general workflow framework to organize the current business, so find a job in Guangzhou, the company to buy their products, although the so-called completely through the background configuration, 0 code to achieve Workflow business form processing, However, because the customer's design requirements for the form are more, sometimes need to combine some external data interface, process processing aspect also has the further need, this may break their original pattern, causes in the form design, the process disposition and so on aspect, all need to buy their engineer's onsite service, To further improve the entire project content, resulting in slow progress of the whole project, encountered acclimatized situation.

So feel, a workflow module, which is known to be powerful again, if not well combined with project application, even if the 0 code of the functional configuration, can also put you in an awkward situation, because by configuration, the code may be easily implemented in the form of the function, to pass 0 code configuration, spend more time more difficult to master, Because 0 code comes with a price, you need to make good use of their APIs, their business objects, and sometimes the twists and turns of the parameters, which can be a very fatal weakness.

1. Simple Workflow Design Model

In the absence of a Third-party workflow module, a simple workflow is the use of database and business objects in the collaborative relationship between the construction of a semi-modular process engine, which can be integrated into the project code for better integration to achieve workflow related functions.

First of all we know that we create any document in office, there is a template concept, so that we can easily use some ready-made data and layout, workflow is the same, there is a process template concept, as shown below.

Each process template, by itself, defines a series of processing processes that can be handled differently within the process instance, so the process template also contains multiple process step objects, and their relationships are as follows.