Workflow and Authoring
Microsoft
Office SharePoint Server 2007 includes a number of
predefined workflows for performing specific tasks.
These predefined workflows are called 'out-of-the-box'
workflows and include all of the necessary components,
such as forms, to function properly with no configuration.
A workflow can control almost any aspect of an item
in
SharePoint 2007. A simple workflow could require
the approval of several users for a document such as a budget. A
more complex workflow could require information to be gathered
through forms and that the workflow branch out to perform different
functions depending on the information gathered. The user interface
used by a workflow can be Web-based, created by using Microsoft
Office InfoPath forms and accessed by using 2007 Microsoft Office
system client applications, or accessed by a custom
application.
Workflows can be applied to individual documents by
end users. This is useful when only some documents require the
formal process in a workflow. However, for consistency
in applications, you can associate a workflow with a
content type. Then, whenever a document of a particular type is
created, the workflow is automatically associated with
the new document.
SharePoint 2007 allows
you to create customised workflows. To create a
customised workflow, you can use either Workflow
Designer or Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer.
Learn more about SharePoint 2007 and Business
Intelligence.