One of the clear advantages of using Visual Studio for editing workflows over a custom implementation is the readily available auto-completion features of the IDE. A similar style of auto-completion can be added to your re-hosted workflow designer by implementing your own ‘editor service’ and publishing it to the workflow designer control.
The basic re-hosted workflow designer solution described in re-hosting the workflow designer article provides a baseline for a bespoke application that can be used for designing workflows, but without some further enhancements it is quite limited. By default it will only allow you to create and edit workflows that use the Framework’s built-in set of activities.
The basic re-hosted workflow designer solution described in this article provides a baseline for a bespoke application that can be used for designing workflows, but without some further enhancements it is quite limited. A relatively straightforward addition to a re-hosted workflow designer is visual debugging.
In Windows Workflow 4, basic re-hosting of Microsoft’s Workflow Designer WPF control is a simple task. Microsoft has provided a set of controls that can be inserted directly into your own application. This article will guide you through creating your own workflow editor application by re-hosting the System.Activities.Presentation.WorkflowDesigner WPF control.