Using the Pick Activity

This topic applies to Windows Workflow Foundation 4 (WF4).

This sample demonstrates how to use the Pick activity.

The Pick activity provides event-based control modeling. It behaves similar to the C# switch statement, which executes only one of the branches in the switch statement. Unlike the switch statement in which a branch is executed based upon on a value, the Pick activity executes a branch based upon how an activity completes.

This sample prompts a user to type in their name on the console within a given time period. The Pick activity in the sample has two branches that are executed based upon whether the user types in their name within 5 seconds or not. If the user types in their name within 5 seconds, the first branch is executed, which contains a custom ReadLine activity; otherwise the other branch is executed, which contains a Delay activity. Once a user’s name is typed in on the console, the user’s name is printed on the console. If an input is not entered within 5 seconds, the operation is timed out.

Demonstrates

Pick activity.

Discussion

The sample includes a Designer workflow and coded workflow.

• Designer Workflow
  The Designer version of the sample demonstrates how to create a workflow in the designer. The following files are included:

  • Program.cs : Includes the Main function that executes the sample workflow.

  • ReadString.cs: A custom activity that reads some input from the console.

  • Sequence1.xaml: A workflow created using the designer that uses Pick.

• Coded Workflow
  The coded version of the sample demonstrates how to create a workflow in the designer. The following files are included:

  • Program.cs : Includes the Main function that executes the sample workflow.

  • ReadString.cs: A custom activity that reads some input from the console.

To use this sample

1. Using Visual Studio 2010, open the Pick.sln solution file.

2. To build the solution, press CTRL+SHIFT+B.

3. To run the solution, press F5.

Note:

The samples may already be installed on your machine. Check for the following (default) directory before continuing. <InstallDrive>:\WF_WCF_Samples If this directory does not exist, go to Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) Samples for .NET Framework 4 to download all Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and WF samples. This sample is located in the following directory. <InstallDrive>:\WF_WCF_Samples\WF\Basic\Built-InActivities\Pick