Apply workflow to approval task content type

Here's the backstory. I created an OOB Approval Workflow which created a content type called "Approval Workflow Task (en-US)". I created a new site column called Contract. I applied this site column to the Approval Workflow Task (en-US) content
type. Now I want to setup a workflow which will automatically populate this Contract field.
The problem is that in SharePoint designer I setup a list workflow to work across all items in the Task list, but it won't apply to this new content type for some reason. If I got to this content type in designer, there is not an option to apply a workflow
to it. It looks like this content type is in a group called _hidden, but when I change this, it doesn't look like anything happens.
Am I missing something?

Hi Mike,
When we create a List Workflow in SharePoint Designer, then the workflow will be associated with the list and it will not be associated with the content types.
Per my test, we cannot start the workflow manually on the Tasks items which have been created based on the Approval workflow content type.
However, we can set the workflow to start automatically when an new item is created.
To start the workflow automatically when an item is created, please open the workflow in SharePoint Designer > go to the workflow settings page > select Start workflow automatically when an item is created.
Best regards.
Victoria
TechNet Community Support
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Error when associating workflow with Task Content Type

Using SharePoint Designer 2010, I have created a simple workflow that sends an email out when a tasks due date has past. I created this as a Global Workflow and then tried to "Associated to Content Type", selecting "Task". I am then taken
to... COMPANY PORTAL--> Site Settings--> Site Content Types--> Task--> Add a Workflow. When I try to associate the new "Global" workflow and select OK I get the following error...
Error
Workflows may not be associated with content types whose base is on 'WorkflowTask'.
I have looked up the error but find no real explination of what it means. And I have associated global workflows with custom content types and never had this issue.
So what's going on?
Thanks
Steve
Thanks in advance for your time. Steven

Hi ,
I understand that when you bind the workflow to Tasks content type, there is an error. I can reproduce this error. This is because we cannot add a reusable workflow to a workflow tasks content type. When you add the reusable workflow to the Tasks content
type, you must have checked the ‘Add this workflow to all content types that inherit from this content type’. In this way, the workflow will be added to all the Tasks content type and workflowtasks content type. There will an error. After you close the error
message, the workflow is added to the Tasks content type.
The workaround is the check No to ‘Add this workflow to all content types that inherit from this content type’.
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Entan Ming
Entan Ming
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SP 2013 Workflow Associations - get the content type for associated tasks with PowerShell

I am creating a PowerShell script to document SharePoint 2013 workflow associations on a site. I can get the Subscription object for the workflow association, but I can't figure out how to dig into it to find out the Content Type for tasks generated
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I would suggest you to consider using the SPListItem that running the workflow instance to check the task content type.
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Deploying a Reusable Workflow to a List Content Type using PowerShell

We have a situation where deployment of a reusable workflow for a site content type cannot be completed through the web interface due to the number of libraries where the content type is in use (time-out on deploy and update).
It was hoped that this could be accomplished with PowerShell but the method of deploying to a list content type appears to be different than it is to a list (all content types).
The below snippet works fine for a list / all content types:
function AddWorkflowToLibraries ($SiteCollection, $ctName, $WfName, $WfAssociationName)
$site = Get-SPSite $SiteCollection
[Guid]$wfTemplateId = New-Object Guid
#Step through each web in site collection
$site | Get-SPWeb -limit all | ForEach-Object {
$web = $_
$_.Lists | ForEach-Object{
if($_.AllowContentTypes -eq $true)
if($_.ContentTypes.Item("$ctName") -ne $null)
write-host "Enabling workflow on" $_.Title "in" $_.ParentWebUrl
$ct = $_.ContentTypes[$ctName]
$culture = New-Object System.Globalization.CultureInfo("en-US")
$template = $site.RootWeb.WorkflowTemplates.GetTemplateByName($WfName, $culture)
if($template -ne $null)
$tasklist = "Tasks"
$historylist = "Workflow History"
if(!$web.Lists[$historylist])
$web.Lists.Add($historylist, "A system library used to store workflow history information that is created in this site. It is created by the Publishing feature.",
"WorkflowHistory", "00BFEA71-4EA5-48D4-A4AD-305CF7030140", 140, "100")
if (!$web.Features["00BFEA71-4EA5-48D4-A4AD-305CF7030140"]) {
Enable-SPFeature -Identity WorkflowHistoryList -Url $web.Url
$wfHistory = $web.Lists[$historylist]
$wfHistory.Hidden = $true
$wfHistory.Update()
if(!$web.Lists[$tasklist])
$web.Lists.Add($tasklist, "This system library was created by the Publishing feature to store workflow tasks that are created in this site.", "WorkflowTasks", "00BFEA71-A83E-497E-9BA0-7A5C597D0107", 107, "100")
$association = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Workflow.SPWorkflowAssociation]::CreateListAssociation($template, $wfName, $web.Lists[$tasklist], $web.Lists[$historylist])
$association.AllowManual = $true
$_.AddWorkflowAssociation($association)
$_.Update()
else
Write-Error "Workflow Template not found"
AddWorkflowToLibraries <Site Name> <Content Type Name> <Workflow Template Name> <Association Name>
However changing the association as follows causes the script to still execute without a problem but the workflow doesn't appear for the content and the associations collection is empty:
function AddWorkflowToLibraries ($SiteCollection, $ctName, $WfName, $WfAssociationName)
$site = Get-SPSite $SiteCollection
[Guid]$wfTemplateId = New-Object Guid
#Step through each web in site collection
$site | Get-SPWeb -limit all | ForEach-Object {
$web = $_
$_.Lists | ForEach-Object{
if($_.AllowContentTypes -eq $true)
if($_.ContentTypes.Item("$ctName") -ne $null)
write-host "Enabling workflow on" $_.Title "in" $_.ParentWebUrl
$ct = $_.ContentTypes[$ctName]
$culture = New-Object System.Globalization.CultureInfo("en-US")
$template = $site.RootWeb.WorkflowTemplates.GetTemplateByName($WfName, $culture)
if($template -ne $null)
$tasklist = "Tasks"
$historylist = "Workflow History"
if(!$web.Lists[$historylist])
$web.Lists.Add($historylist, "A system library used to store workflow history information that is created in this site. It is created by the Publishing feature.",
"WorkflowHistory", "00BFEA71-4EA5-48D4-A4AD-305CF7030140", 140, "100")
if (!$web.Features["00BFEA71-4EA5-48D4-A4AD-305CF7030140"]) {
Enable-SPFeature -Identity WorkflowHistoryList -Url $web.Url
$wfHistory = $web.Lists[$historylist]
$wfHistory.Hidden = $true
$wfHistory.Update()
if(!$web.Lists[$tasklist])
$web.Lists.Add($tasklist, "This system library was created by the Publishing feature to store workflow tasks that are created in this site.", "WorkflowTasks", "00BFEA71-A83E-497E-9BA0-7A5C597D0107", 107, "100")
$association = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Workflow.SPWorkflowAssociation]::CreateListContentTypeAssociation($template, $wfName, $web.Lists[$tasklist], $web.Lists[$historylist])
$association.AllowManual = $true
$_.ContentTypes[$ctname].AddWorkflowAssociation($association)
$_.ContentTypes[$ctname].Update()
else
Write-Error "Workflow Template not found"
AddWorkflowToLibraries <Site Name> <Content Type Name> <Workflow Template Name> <Association Name>
The only change is:
$association = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Workflow.SPWorkflowAssociation]::CreateListContentTypeAssociation($template, $wfName, $web.Lists[$tasklist], $web.Lists[$historylist])
$association.AllowManual = $true
$_.ContentTypes[$ctname].AddWorkflowAssociation($association)
$_.ContentTypes[$ctname].Update()
But unlike the list version, the association doesn't appear to be saved and no error is generated.
Is anyone aware of what may cause this or have an example in C# that may explain something my script is missing?

Hi Garry,
After you associate the workflow to the content type, you should update the update the content type using
$ct.UpdateWorkflowAssociationsOnChildren($true,$true,$true,$false)
method.
Here is the completed script:
[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("Microsoft.SharePoint")
$site=Get-SPSite "http://serverName"
$web=$site.OpenWeb()
$list=$web.Lists["ListC"]
$taskList=$web.Lists["Tasks"]
$historyList=$web.Lists["Workflow History"]
$ct=$list.ContentTypes["Link"]
$culture=New-Object System.Globalization.CultureInfo("en-US")
$wfTemplate=$web.WorkflowTemplates.GetTemplateByName("Three-State",$culture)
$associationWF=[Microsoft.SharePoint.Workflow.SPWorkflowAssociation]::CreateListContentTypeAssociation($wfTemplate, "myThreeStateWF",$taskList,$historyList)
$ct.WorkflowAssociations.Add($associationWF)
$ct.UpdateWorkflowAssociationsOnChildren($true,$true,$true,$false)
Here is a demo about how to update it using C#
http://www.thorntontechnical.com/tech/sharepoint/sharepoint-2010-associate-workflow-to-content-type-in-a-feature
Wayne Fan
TechNet Community Support

Sharepoint 2013 designer workflow auto approve task after due date is passed

sharepoint 2013 designer workflow auto approve task after due date is passed.
Could we approve the task automatically once due date is apssed?
MCTS Sharepoint 2010, MCAD dotnet, MCPDEA, SharePoint Lead

Hi Amit,
If your task is created by a workflow (first) and stored in a separate task list, you can create another workflow on this particular task list, then each workflow instance would check if current task is expired (not approved/rejected), then
determine if update current task's "Task Outcome" as approved (and update task status as complete), and then create a retention policy on this paricular task list to trigger the workflow on due date .
Thanks,
Daniel Yang
Forum Support
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected]
Daniel Yang
TechNet Community Support

Help on Approval Workflow and content types

Hi
So here is my question hope you guys can help!
So i was setting up a workflow for a leave request form. Everything was fine and I had the Approve/Reject buttons at the bottom of the task EditForm. Now I copied the content types to a new one and changed the Optional settings (lets says title hidden %
completed hidden etc) and then I changed the Task content type too so as to allow for that new content type to take place. Then i relaunced the workflow everything worked nicely the form look the way I wanted it but then on the EditForm I didnt have the ebuttons
any more so I found it odd so I reset the content type to the original checked that everything was back in place (the hidden back to optional etc) and even on the original Workflow Task (Sharepoint2013) content type the buttons disapear now I have to manually
add to the completed column and change the drop down menu of the Task Outcome to approved or rejected to make the workflow spit out the results.
I was wondering what happened I do not understand it. I even deleted all the Task List and Lists associated witht the workflow re wrote the workflow and nothing... So i m a bit out of my depth.'
When I click on the Cutomized List Default Edit Form... I do get the form with the button but its not the same one I get with the Email Link or the Link and the actual List
Any pointers?
I appreciate it!

Hi ,
According to your description, my understanding is that the outcome buttons disappear after you change the Optional type column in Workflow Task(SharePoint 2013) content type.
For your issue , please make sure the Task Status and Task Outcome type columns are existing in the content type in order for the custom outcome buttons to appear.
For more information, you can refer to the blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sharepointdesigner/archive/2012/09/14/how-to-manipulate-the-task-form-with-sharepoint-designer-for-new-task-actions.aspx
As your original demand is setting up a workflow for a leave request form, here is a great blog you can have a look:
http://jamilhaddadin.com/2011/12/03/implementing-workflow-using-infopath-2010-and-sharepoint-designer-2010/
Best Regards,
Eric
Eric Tao
TechNet Community Support

Workflow attached to content type shows the status as 'Starting'

Hi,
I have developed a workflow to distribute documents from Drop Off library to different SharePoint libraries based on the content type that the document uploaded to.
The drop off library has been configured incoming mail settings hence the documents would be on boarded to drop off library through e-mails. In this scenario, my workflow should be triggered when the document is on boarded through email.
Another scenario, the user can upload the document to different content type manually and updates the respective meta data values. This scenario, my workflow should be triggered when the item updated.
So, I have configured my workflow should run on the content types and trigger when item is created through e-mail and item is updated by manual.
The document on boarded through e-mails are working fine as soon as the item is created.
Issue:
The workflow associated on a content type which needs to be triggered on item created is triggering as soon as the user uploads a document manually and shows the status as 'Starting'.
The workflow associated on a content type which needs to be triggered on item modified is triggering as soon as the user updating meta data values after document is uploaded. Hence, throwing an error
'cannot open a file from drop off' library exception when I try to read file using C# code as file stream bytes.
Configuration:
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2. The document version settings are set as check out the document when editing the properties.
Please help me to resolve this bug and let me know if you need more details.
Also, let me know how can we cancel the workflow if it is in 'starting' mode.
The workflow should run the document is onboardedwhen an item is created and

Hi,
According to your description, my understanding is that you want to get data from content type in JSlink.
I suggest you can get the content type data in JSLink using JavaScript Client Object Model.
Here are some derailed code demos for your reference:
http://sharepoint.aspcode.net/view/635399286724222582163436/sharepoint-how-to-get-field-value-using-jsom-jslink-without-async-call
http://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/93777/how-to-get-contenttype-name-in-clientsidejavascript-jquery-csom-etc-in-editf
Best Regards
Zhengyu Guo
TechNet Community Support

Content Type Workflow Disapear

Hi all,
I've created a Reusable Workflow associated to a Content Type on a site.
This content Type have several child Content Types used in some libraries in that site.
When I publish the workflow on SPDesigner, it is immediately available on each library where the child CT's are used.
The problem is that, when I try to run the workflows, it shows "Failed on Start".
And this is even weird, If I access the site through HTTPS, and try to see workflow logs ("_layouts/Workflow.aspx"), the workflow is automatically deleted from that library. I need to update the parent CT again, so the child's inherit the workflow
again.
The workflow is a simple write to workflow log.
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Hi Bruno,
Thanks for posting your issue, Kindly follow the below mentioned steps to troubleshoot this issue
Start the workflow manually to check whether it works.
Use another account not System Account to check whether it works.
Publish the workflow as a different user (rather than System Account).
Deactivate and Reactive the “Workflow” Feature.
Also, browse the below mentioned URLs to know more about this issue and fixes of it
http://chayadigital.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/sharepoint-2010-custom-workflow-failed-to-start-error/
http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2496152/en-us
I hope this is helpful to you, mark it as Helpful.
If this works, Please mark it as Answered.
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I have a document library in Share Point 2013 that is using Document Sets. I need to set up a workflow under the document content type that would send an e-mail if documents have not been uploaded by a specific due date in the document set. Any
Help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
Based on your description, my understanding is that you want to send an email if there is no document uploaded to the document set by a specific due date in the document set.
I recommend to create retention policy on the document set content type in the library to start the workflow at the due date.
The workflow can be created as the image below:
Firstly, get the max id in the library for using in the loop condition in the workflow:
You can follow the link below for details:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/a8a890b5-f5fb-447f-b96f-9f3abdb7e178/forum-faq-sharepoint-2013-extracting-values-from-a-multivalue-enabled-lookup-column-and-merge?forum=sharepointgeneral
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Best regards.
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Victoria Xia
TechNet Community Support

Link State machine Workflow to Content Type

State machine Workflow

Hi ,
What purpose do you use the drop down column for?
Assuming the values of the drop down are No/Yes, you can create the reusable workflow like the screenshot:
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Wendy
Wendy Li
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Custom Content Type

So I was asked to post my question here. I have a custom content type that I created in the sharepoint content type. The purpose of this is to add custom outcome options for a workflow for a list in the site.
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a warning underneath saying "Check to make sure this content type is applied to the workflow's task list." I go to the list in "Lists and Libraries" in the "Navigation" portion choose the list and "Add" or verify that
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First, your approach is incorrect... adding an outcome does NOT involve creating a content type.
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I would like to add the "PSWApproval Task" Content Type in the sharepoint 2013designer, in the process of creating a project server 2013 workflow.
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Thanks

Its funny I am researching tis very topic right now. I have a SP2010 environment I will be migrating to 2013. My content types were used in multiple site collections without creating or using a content type hub. So, I am looking for information to create
a strategy to get them into one.
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Search for all items belong to parent, child or grand child content type

Hi,
The goal is to get all tasks from various site collection for a given farm. I have about 7 content types and their parent content type is Task. However, the following query is only returning where a list is setup with only parent content type "Task".
{searchTerms} ContentClass:STS_ListItem_Tasks AssignedTo:{User.Name}
If I have a list and Task is the only default content type then the data from this list shows up using above query. However, I have a list say "Workflow Tasks" and it has several content types (Tasks, summary Task, Workflow Task) then items from dont
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Please suggest.
Thanks

Hi,
Thank you for your sharing! It will be beneficial to others in this forum who meet the same issue in the future.
Thanks,
Wendy
TechNet Community Support
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact
[email protected]

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My question relates to Content Type Usage. I am helping to develop a customer facing SharePoint site template for my company. The main purpose of the site is to track the ERP Software Implementation process from start to finish.
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I normally move items from the _Hidden group to the Custom Columns grouping. This will then make it available for addition within the Content Type that you've made.
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Steven Andrews
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Blog: baron72.wordpress.com
Twitter: Follow @backpackerd00d
My Wiki Articles:
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Please remember to mark your question as "answered" if this solves (or helps) your problem.

Filter SharePoint 2010 Ent. content types based AD Security Group

We are trying to use SharePoint as a records management system. I have several site collections (Team Site at the root of each site) and my plan is to setup one site collection as a content type hub. The content type hub would then distribute all of the
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Hi,
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http://blog.contentmanagementconnection.com/Home/21510
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Apply workflow to approval task content type

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