Check out feature triggering workflows

[Leon]

Hi Alex,

I have a list I am trying to use the check out feature for and came across an issue. When the item is being checked out it is triggering workflows and causing save conflicts. Is there a way to disable the workflow trigger on check out? Or is there a way to delay the refresh of the item until workflows are finished?

[Alexander Bautz]

There is unfortunately no way to prevent the WF from triggering from DFFS, but you could edit the WF and configure it to exit if the CheckedOut field is checked – effectively only triggering the WF when the item is checked in again.

If you need to delay the load to wait for the WF you can use this trigger: https://spjsblog.com/dffs/dffs-user-manual/#Workflow_status_BETA

Use it for example to call a custom function like this in your Custom JS:

function customReloadPage(){
    spjs.dffs.alert({
        "title": "Checking workflow status",
        "msg":"<div style='font-size:16px;padding:10px;'>The workflow hasn't finished yet. Hit OK to pause for 10 seconds and do a new check.</div>",
        "ok":function(){
            spjs.dffs.alert({
                "title": "Checking workflow status",
                "msg":"<div id='customReloadMsg' style='font-size:16px;padding:10px;'></div>",
                "noBtn":true
            });
            runTicker();
        },
        "cancel": function(){
            location.href = location.href.split(/editform.aspx/i).join("DispForm.aspx");
        }
    });
}

function runTicker(){
    var ticker = 10;
    setInterval(function(){
        jQuery("#customReloadMsg").html("Doing a new check in "+ticker+" seconds...");
        ticker -= 1;
    },1000);
    setTimeout(function(){
        location.href = location.href; // looks strange, but reloads the form cleanly
    },10000);
}

Alexander

[Leon]

Thanks I’ll give this a shot!

[MikeS]

Alexander,

I have a requirement to start a SPD WF based on changes in an OOTB multi-value lookup field. The WF would then manipulate other fields in that list (no email requirement). Is it possible for DFFS to compare a field pre-and post-edit (seems possible with some rules or Custom JS) and then trigger a SPD WF to run?

Thanks
MikeS

[Alexander Bautz]

I wrote about this some years ago. See if you can get this to work from a button: https://spjsblog.com/2016/03/03/dffs-start-sp2013-workflow-from-a-button-in-a-list-item/

If you do, you can compare current value and last saved value like this:

var currValue = getFieldValue("TheFieldName");
var lastSavedValue = spjs.dffs.beforeProperties.TheFieldName;
if(currValue !== lastSavedValue){
   // Has changed
}

Please note that the code to trigger the workflow is async so you cannot just run it in PreSaveAction – the form will save and close before it has finished.

Alexander

[MikeS]

I did review that 2016 post during my research on your site. However, I was hoping there might be a way for DFFS to compare the last saved and current field values and then launch the SPD WF without user interaction when the form was saved – if the last saved and current values differ.

Alternatively, it appears that the combination of your 2016 article with the script:

var currValue = getFieldValue("TheFieldName");
var lastSavedValue = spjs.dffs.beforeProperties.TheFieldName;
if(currValue !== lastSavedValue){
   // Has changed
}

would trigger the WF upon pressing the button ONLY if the field has been changed. How would I combine this short script with the larger 2016 script – at the start?

Thanks
MikeS

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by MikeS.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by MikeS.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by MikeS.

[Alexander Bautz]

You just call the function like show at the bottom of the 2016 article – getting the “onclick” attribute like this:

spjs.workflow.initListItemWF('ab064e56-926c-477b-910e-0d3759f5b956');

You could try adding the code I send to the dffs_PreSaveAction function like this:

var wfTriggered = false;
function dffs_PreSaveAction(){
    var currValue = getFieldValue("TheFieldName");
    var lastSavedValue = spjs.dffs.beforeProperties.TheFieldName;
    if(currValue !== lastSavedValue && !wfTriggered){
        // Has changed and the WF has not been triggered
        wfTriggered = true;
        spjs.workflow.initListItemWF('ab064e56-926c-477b-910e-0d3759f5b956');
        return false; // Stop the save and wait until the wf has been triggered
    }else{
        return true; // Saving the item
    }
}

Now you must add a callback to the 2016 wf function here (in the middle of the function):

...
...
spjs.workflow.closeDlg();						SP.UI.Notify.addNotification(spjs.workflow.text.successMessage,false);
// New line to trigger save of the list item
spjs.dffs.triggerSave();
...
...

I have not tested this so it might still need some tweaking.

Alexander

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