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About the IDE

About the IDE

The Workflow Studio IDE is where you develop EmpowerID workflows. It comprises four user interface components that work together to provide developers with a visual design environment. Through friendly drag-and-drop operations, depictions of business processes can be translated quickly into workflow logic without the need for extensive code. This can be as simple as dragging predefined activities onto the design surface of the IDE and connecting those activities with flow lines. Code editors allow C# code to be injected into the process when desired to create a complete package.

The below image shows what the Workflow Studio IDE looks like with a Flow Chart workflow opened in the Workflow Designer.

 

As depicted by the above image, the Workflow Studio IDE is comprised of four components—the Ribbon, the Solution Explorer, the Document Space, and the Toolbox—each of which combine to create a rich, interactive environment for workflow development. Expand the sections below for details about that particular component.

The Workflow Studio ribbon provides immediate access to a variety of tools and application-specific development tabbed toolbars. The toolbars are dynamic in that the number of tabs and commands available on the ribbon at any given time is determined by the number and types of designers and editors opened in the IDE.

Common Toolbar

The Common toolbar contains a number of command buttons that allow you to perform general tasks when working in the IDE.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

Save

Saves a new or edited package item.

Save As

Opens a dialog that allows you to name an open package item and choose the package to which you wish to save it.

Deployment Services

Provides options for opening and creating new manifests, building solutions and packaging development items for deployment to the local file system.

Refresh Toolbox

Forces a refresh of the toolbox. If any recent changes have occurred you can elect to have those reflected in the update.

Object Browser

Displays the Workflow Studio class library.

 

Build Toolbar

The Build toolbar contains a number of commands relevant to publishing projects created in Workflow Studio.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

Compile

Compiles the open workflow, activity, form or lookup.

Publish

Publishes workflows to the designated workflow server.

Deployment

Provides options for opening and creating new manifests, building solutions and packaging development items for deployment to the local file system.

 

Tools Toolbar

The Tools toolbar contains commands for performing a number of Workflow Studio maintenance tasks.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

View Assemblies

Opens a list of all Workflow Studio assemblies by version number, allowing you to add or remove any from your copy of Workflow Studio.

Activity Templates

Opens a dialog that allows you to view and delete any activity templates from Workflow Studio.

Event Viewer

Opens an Event Viewer that allows you to view any workflow events that have occurred on a selected machine.

Isolate Workflow Versions

Allows you to select an existing workflow and save it as different version.

 

Workspace Toolbar

The Workspace toolbar contains commands relevant to the Workspace, which is a local copy of the Workflow Studio Source Control. The workspace can be individualized with selected packages and package items.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

Build Log

Opens the Build log, if one exists.

Cancel Build

Cancels any batch build operations that exist in your workspace.

Program Files

Opens the Program Files folder on the local machine.

Program Data

Opens the ProgramData folder on the local machine.

Compile Temp

Opens the ProgramData > CompilerTemp folder on the local machine.

Dyna Local Temp Dll

Opens the ProgramData > DynaLocalTempDll folder on the local machine.

Intelli Cache

Opens the ProgramData > Cache folder on the local machine.

Workflow Templates

Opens the ProgramData > UserWorkflowTemplates folder on the local machine.

 

Options and Settings Toolbar

The Options and Settings toolbar contains commands that allow you to perform various actions.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

Alert Receivers

Opens a window displaying a list of the current Alert Event Receivers configured in your environment.

STS Claims Extensions

Opens the STS Claims Extensions dialog with a list of extensions and related assemblies in your environment.

SSO Extensions

Opens the SSO Extension editor displaying a list of extensions and related assemblies.

C# Code Editor Font

Opens the Editor Style dialog, which allows you to style how text appears in the C# Code Editor.

 

Workflow Editing Toolbar

The Workflow Editing toolbar contains commands related to designing workflows and activities. This toolbar only appears when a workflow is open in the Workflow Designer or an activity is open in the Activity Designer. 

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button

Purpose

Add New Property

Opens the Add New Property dialog, which allows you to add a new property to the workflow or activity. Once added, the new property can be used for data binding.

Delete Property

Allows you to delete a selected property. You must select a property to delete it.

Promote

Promotes the selected property.

Bind Property

Opens the Data Binding Shortcut dialog, which allows you to create a new workflow or activity property bound to another property in the same workflow or activity.

Bind Wokflow

Opens the Shortcut Workflow Association wizard, which allows you to call an external workflow to return a property from that external workflow to the current workflow or workflow activity.

Copy

Copies an item selected in the designer.

Cut

Cuts an item selected in the designer.

Paste

Pastes a previously copied item into the designer.

Delete

Deletes a selected item from the designer.

Zoom In

Allows you to magnify the designer.

Zoom Out

Allows you to decrease the magnification level of the designer.

Pointer

Releases the mouse from the Zoom In and/ Zoom Out control.

Print Setup

Opens the Page Setup dialog, which allows you to configure print options.

Print Preview

Displays a preview of what the workflow or activity will look like when printed.

Print

Prints the workflow or activity to the printer selected in the Page Setup dialog.

Add Reference

Opens the GAC Assembly Reference dialog, which allows you to add an assembly reference to the project.

 

Form Designer Toolbar

The Form Designer toolbar contains commands related to designing forms. This toolbar only appears when a form is open in the Form Designer.

Command Button

Purpose

Command Button