Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2010

One of components of the Microsoft SharePoint platform is the component of workflows, in the original version better known as workfrlow. In the localized version of the platform it can be translated as "workflows", however, in our opinion, more faithful translation is "document flow".

Workflow - one of the most widespread ready-made solutions of SharePoint as the main objective of a corporate portal is the organization of the full workflow system.

The enterprises of small and medium business, in our opinion, feel the greatest need for development of Workflow. The workflow system in each company is organized in own way, according to features of business processes of this or that company. While most the organizations are able to implement conventional components of the SharePoint portal like calendars, task lists, etc. by own efforts, for the organization of the workflow system, most likely, tiresomely will be to invite the external developer or the consulting company.

What issues will electronic document management help to resolve?

So, several standard options of use of document flow SharePoint.

• Approval of the document between the employee and the management or colleagues using its loading in library of documents. Addressees can approve or reject the document and also write comments. Such business process is performed by automatic creation of tasks for certain users (fig. 1).
• At once several employees store the same files in library of documents and also transmit them through library to the management and/or accounting. In this case it is necessary to configure access rights to files, for example, so that employees had access only to own documents or to documents of the department while the management had an opportunity to browse documents of all library.
• Automation of e-mail mailing. For example, the organization of daily mailing of letters with the task list for each employee.

How Workflow are created?

Unlike many other opportunities of SharePoint, document flow is not configured directly in the browser. It is allowed to select already configured workflows from it only. By the way, only one "three-stage" workflow is built in a packet of SharePoint Foundation, and that, it is rather as an example.

For programming of document flow there are two fixed assets of development:

• Visual Studio – a specialized product for development, including, and web applications of SharePoint;
• SharePoint Designer is the program for web-design allowing to configure the SharePoint portal without editing the code. In the editor (fig. 2) the special editing tool of workflows intended for development of document flow by visual methods is built-in.

But due to simpler development the functionality of SharePoint Designer is considerably limited: the editor will allow to implement only certain problems of document flow. But the workflows configured by the external developer will be so clear to the customer that that, if necessary, will be able to make in him small change: for example, to change accounts of users. It is promoted by close integration with Visio in which it is also possible to edit workflows, exporting them then back to SharePoint Designer.

In conclusion we will note that in SharePoint 2010 to make document flow setup much more conveniently, than in the previous version of SharePoint 2007. In particular, in SharePoint Designer 2010 a possibility of the publication of workflow on the website without binding to a certain list.