CallExternalMethod Activity in Workflow

Introduction

The CallExternalMethod Activity define a Workflow communication activity that is used to call a method on a local service. This activity is used send data from the Workflow to the host through a local service. A local service is a class which are implements a local service interface and added to the ExternalDataExchangeService. The ExternalDataExchangeService is define as

• It comes under the namespace "System.Workflow.Activities"
• The instance of this class is added to the workflow runtime engine for local services communications to be enabled.

Step 1 : Open Visual Studio.

• Select File->New->Project.
• Select Sequential Workflow Console Application.
• Workflow1.cs [Design] open.

Step 2 : Go to the Toolbox.

• Drag CallExternalMethod Activity.

Step 3 : Go to Solution Explorer and right-click.

• Add-> New Item.
• Select Interface and Add.
• Define [ExternalDataExchange]
• Add the namespace Using System.Workflow.Activities.

Code :

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Workflow.Activities;
namespace call1
{
    [ExternalDataExchange]
    interface Interface1
    {
        void WorkFlowToHost(string msg);
    }
}

Step 4 : Go to Solution Explorer and right-click.

• Add-> New Item->Class.
• Implements Interface.
• Add Event.

Code :

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Compiler;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Serialization;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Design;
using System.Workflow.Runtime;
using System.Workflow.Activities;
using System.Workflow.Activities.Rules;
namespace call1
{
   class Class1 : Interface1
        {
            public event EventHandler<SenddataEventArg> RaiseEventFromHost;
            public void WorkFlowToHost(string msg)
            {
                SenddataEventArg arg = new SenddataEventArg();
                arg.Response = msg;
                EventHandler<SenddataEventArg> Senddata = this.RaiseEventFromHost;
                if (Senddata != null)
                {
                    Senddata(this, arg);
                }
            }
        }
        public class SenddataEventArg : EventArgs
        {
            string _response;
            public string Response
            {
                get { return _response; }
                set { _response = value; }
            }

        }
    }

Step 5 : Go to Workflow1.cs option.

• right-click on CallExternalMetod Activity.
• Go to properties option.
• Define Interface Type, MethodName.

Step 6 : Double-click in CallExternalMethod Activity.

• Write a code.

Code :

using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.Design;
using System.Collections;
using System.Linq;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Compiler;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Serialization;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel;
using System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Design;
using System.Workflow.Runtime;
using System.Workflow.Activities;
using System.Workflow.Activities.Rules;
namespace call1
{
    public sealed partial class Workflow1 : SequentialWorkflowActivity
    {
        private string _message = "Hey, passingthe data from workflow to host application";
        public string Message
        {
            get
            {
                return _message;
            }
        }
        public Workflow1()
        {
           InitializeComponent();
      }
        private void callExternalMethodActivity1_MethodInvoking(object sender, EventArgs e)
        { 
        }
 }
}

Step 7 : Define the Message for CallExternalMethod Activity.

• Go to properties option and click in msg option.
• Add Message.

Step 8 : Go to Solution Explorer.

• Select Program.cs option.
• Double-click on option.
• Add the Instance of  " ExternalDataExchange" class to the WorkflowRuntime.

Code :

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using System.Workflow.Runtime;
using System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting;
using System.Workflow.Activities;
namespace call1
{
   class Program
|    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (WorkflowRuntime workflowRuntime = new WorkflowRuntime())
            {
                ExternalDataExchangeService externalService = new ExternalDataExchangeService();
                workflowRuntime.AddService(externalService);
                Class1 comm = new Class1();
                externalService.AddService(comm);
                AutoResetEvent waitHandle = new AutoResetEvent(false);
                workflowRuntime.WorkflowCompleted += delegate(object sender, WorkflowCompletedEventArgs e) { waitHandle.Set(); };
                workflowRuntime.WorkflowTerminated += delegate(object sender, WorkflowTerminatedEventArgs e)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(e.Exception.Message);
                    waitHandle.Set();|
                };
                WorkflowInstance instance = workflowRuntime.CreateWorkflow(typeof(call1.Workflow1));
                instance.Start();
                comm.RaiseEventFromHost += delegate(object sender, SenddataEventArg e)
                {
                    string val = e.Response;
                    Console.WriteLine(val);|
                };
                Console.ReadLine();
                waitHandle.WaitOne();
            }
        }
    }
}

Step 9 : Press F5 and run the application.