Summary

The chapter covered several topics related to workflow and the Microsoft Office system. One of the newer pieces of the Office landscape is SharePoint, which offers a web-based application and content management server. In SharePoint 2007, there is a tight integration between the portal software and workflow. Windows Workflow Foundation provides the foundation for a whole new set of possibilities in SharePoint.

Several out-of-the-box workflows provide functionality such as document approval, signature collection, and translation management. There are also two different ways to develop workflows for SharePoint. You can use SharePoint Designer to develop custom workflows using a wizard-based interface, or for more complex workflows, you can use Visual Studio and custom code.

You use forms to interface with workflows. There are several different classifications of workflow forms, including association forms, initiation forms, and task modification forms. In addition, you can custom-develop forms using InfoPath.