SharePoint Designer Default Workflow Actions

With Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007, you can design workflows that add application logic to your site or application without having to write custom code. Using the Workflow Designer, you create rules that associate conditions and actions with items in Microsoft SharePoint lists and libraries, so that changes to items in lists or libraries trigger actions in the workflow.

By default SPD (SharePoint Designer) comes with a bunch workflow actions we can leverage to build custom ‘No-Code’ workflows straight away. It is important to know the default workflow actions before hand during the design time. This will save you lot of time in the designing the right process model. With workflows, it is always important to get the PROCESS RIGHT.

Workflow Actions	Description
Send an Email	Sends an Email. Need to specify the To, Subject, Body fields.
Collect Data from a user	The Collect Data action will you to assign a task to a user that includes custom form fields. Values Submitted by the user are stored in the Tasks list and can be referenced later in the workflow. Until this task completes, the workflow will remain paused
Set Workflow Variable	Assign a value to workflow variable.
Log to History List	Log a message to the workflow history list.
Update List Item	Update a list Item in ANY list within the site.
Copy List Item	Copy List Item from one List to any other List within the Site.
Assign a TODO Item	This action will add a to-do item to the Tasks list for each user specified. Until all of the to-do items are completed, the workflow will remain paused.
Set Field in Current Item	Assign a value to any field in the current list item.
Add Time to Date	Add X Minutes(or Hours, Days Months, Years) to Date.
Assign a Form to Group	This action allows you to assign a survey form to a group of people. Values submitted will be stored in the Tasks list. Until all of the survey forms are completed, the workflow will remain paused.
Build Dynamic String	Store dynamic string in a variable (field).
Check In Item	Check In Item with comment(optional) in any Document Library in the Site.
Check Out Item	Check Out Item in any Document Library in the Site.
Create List Item	Create a list Item in ANY list within the site.
Delete Item	Delete a list Item in ANY list within the site
Discard Check Out Item	Discard check out of Item in ANY list/Document library in the Site.
Do Calculation	Perform basic arithmetic calculation and Output data to a variable.
Pause for Duration	Workflow pauses for defined time duration.
Pause Until Date	Workflow pauses for defined time/date.
Set Content Approval Status	Assign comments to content approval status.
Set Time portion of Date/Time Field	Set time for Date field
Stop Workflow	Stop the workflow and log a message.
Wait for Field Change in Current Item	Wait for any field in the current item to change to certain specified value

 

Along with the default actions, you can create custom actions to suit your business needs. Here are few resources to help you in creating your own workflow activities/actions.

1. Add Your Own Custom Workflow Activities to SharePoint Designer 2007

2. Microsoft SharePoint Developer Documentation Team Blog

3. Useful SharePoint Designer Custom Workflow Activities