Comparison of capabilities between K2 4.7 Workflow Designer and K2 Five Workflow Designer

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Comparison of capabilities between K2 4.7 Workflow Designers and K2 Five/K2 Cloud Workflow Designer

KB002726

PRODUCT

K2 Cloud

K2 Five

K2 blackpearl 4.7

Introduction

With the release of K2 Five and K2 Cloud, some feature terminology has changed from previous versions. When you upgrade to K2 Five or K2 Cloud, you may notice different terminology and design experiences in the platform, especially when comparing the new browser-based K2 Workflow Design tool against the workflow design tools used in previous versions. This article helps you compare features between the workflow design tools in K2 4.7 and K2 Five/K2 Cloud, and how you may implement similar functionality using the new workflow design tool.  

When you upgrade from K2 4.7 to K2 Five/K2 Cloud, you still have access to the legacy workflow designer. You can maintain your solutions in the legacy design tools. If you want to build new workflows or rebuild your legacy workflows in the K2 Five/K2 Cloud Workflow Designer, use the tables below to understand the differences. 

Contents

• Silverlight Workflow Designer/K2 for SharePoint Workflow Designer vs. K2 Five Workflow Designer
• K2 Studio/K2 for Visual Studio vs. K2 Five Workflow Designer

Silverlight Workflow Designer/K2 for SharePoint Workflow Designer

This section describes (but is not limited to) the differences between features in the Silverlight-based workflow designer (also called the K2 for SharePoint Workflow Designer or 'Thin Client') K2 4.7 and the web browser-based workflow design tool in K2 Five/K2 Cloud. (In this article, K2 4.7 includes K2 blackpearl, K2 for SharePoint, and K2 smartforms.)

Process/Workflow

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Workflow Start Options	Start Step

User Task

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Event Notification Settings	Task Notification
Outcomes	Task Results Rule
Destination Users (Participants)	Recipients
Escalations	Reminders Deadline
Go to Activity escalation	Deadline Task Result	If you need to go to a different step after a task has been dormant, you can setup a deadline with an expired task result and then from the decision step connect the expired decision line to the step you want to go to. See Deadline tab.

Object Browser

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Process data fields	Variables. Available in the Context Browser
User Browser	Select User Dialog. This dialog is available in Recipients Tab, Email Alert Tab, Reminders Tab, Send Email Step

Object Browser - Environment

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Mail Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
SharePoint Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Workspace Site URL	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Other Environment Fields	Fields (Environment fields)	The following types of environment fields will not appear in the browser-based workflow designer. You can recreate existing fields as Miscellaneous environment fields and then access them in the Fields browser.  Category Server Mail Server ServiceObject Server SmartForms Server SmartObject Server Web Service URL Workflow Management Server Workflow Server

Object Browser - Workflow Context

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Workflow Context	Workflow

Object Browser - Function Browser/Functions

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Inline Functions	Functions Expression - Can use: Formula Concatenate: You can concatenate fields in any Type / Drop field. Also see Use the All items as a collection option Logical (If)	The following functions are not available in K2 Five/K2 Cloud: Excel InfoPath SharePoint Word The following functions are not available at this time: Data (Update Data Field) Expression (Condition)

Workflow Wizards

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Reference	Create Reference Step. Find it in the Basic steps.
Set Data Fields	Set Variables
Set Folio	Set Folio
For Each	Loop. Find it in the Logic steps.
SmartForms Task	Task Step - Form
SharePoint Task	Task Step - Form
Custom Task	Task Step - Form
Send Email	Send Email. Find it in the Basic steps.
Call Sub Workflow	Call Sub Workflow. Find it in the Basic steps.

In the sections below, for items that don’t have an equivalent in K2 Five/K2 Cloud, see How To: Adding List Item Permissions for an example of using a SmartObject event to mimic the behavior and functionality.

Active Directory
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create New User	Active Directory. Find it in the SmartObjects steps. Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Update User	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Disable User	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Disable)	See Note
Add User to Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (AddToGroups)	See Note
Remove User from Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveFromGroups)	See Note
Remove User from All Groups	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveFromAllGroups)	See Note
Create Group	Use ADGroup SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Update Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Remove Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Remove)	See Note
Remove Members from Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveMembers)	See Note

Exchange
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Mailbox	Deprecated
Disable Mailbox	Deprecated
Send Task	Create an Outlook Task in a workflow
Send Meeting Request	Create an Exchange Appointment Form

CRM4
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Create method). *	See Note
Update Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Update method). *	See Note
Delete Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Delete method). *	See Note
Add Entity Item Reference	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity List\Load method). *	See Note

* You must register the service using the CRM4 Service Broker

CRM
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create CRM Entity Item	Create CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Update CRM Entity Item	Update CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Delete CRM Entity Item	Delete CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Get CRM Entity Item Reference	Get CRM Entity Reference Step. Find it in the steps.

Azure Active Directory
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create AAD Group	Azure Active Directory. Find it in the SmartObjects steps. Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Create AAD User	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Enable AAD User	Not available
Disable AAD User	Not available
Add AAD User to Group	Use AAD User and Groups SmartObject method. (Add Users to Group)	See Note
Remove AAD User from Group	Use AAD User and Groups SmartObject method. (Remove Users from Group)	See Note
Get AAD User Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get/Get List)	See Note
Get AAD Manager Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Manager)	See Note
Get AAD Direct Reports Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Direct Reports)	See Note
Get AAD Group Reference	Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Get/Get List)	See Note
Get AAD Group Users Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Users in Group)	See Note
Update AAD Group	Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Update AAD User	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note

DocuSign
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Add Document	Add Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Add Recipient	Add Recipient Step. Find it in the steps.
Create Envelope	Create Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Create Tab	Create Tab in Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Delete Envelope	Delete Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Move Envelope to Folder	Move Envelope to Folder Step. Find it in the steps.
Remove Document	Remove Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Remove Recipient	Remove Recipient Step. Find it in the steps.
Resend Envelope	Resend Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Send Envelope	Send Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Void Envelope	Void Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.

SharePoint Wizards

SharePoint Documents
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Upload Document	Add Document to Library Step
Update Document Properties	Update Document Properties Step
Delete Document	Delete Document Step
Get Document Reference	Get Document Reference Step
Check Out Document	Check Out Document Step
Check In Document	Check In Document Step
Discard Document Check Out	Discard Document Check Out Step
Copy Document	Copy Document Step
Move Document	Move Document Step
Create Folder (Documents)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Create Folder)	See Note
Rename Folder (Documents)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Rename Folder)	See Note
Delete Folder (Documents)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Folder)	See Note
Move Folder (Documents)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Move Folder)	See Note
Add Document Permissions	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User or Group Permissions to Document by ID)	See Note
Delete Unique Document Permissions	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Unique Permissions from Document by ID)	See Note
Remove Document Permissions	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User or Group Permissions from Document by ID)	See Note
Stop Inheriting Document Permissions	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. (Stop Inheriting Permissions on Document by ID)	See Note

List Items
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create List Item	Create List Item Step
Update List Item	Update List Item Step
Delete List Item	Delete List Item Step
Get List Item Reference	Get List Item Reference Step
Copy List Item	Copy List Item Step
Move List Item	Move List Item Step
Add List Item Attachment	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Remove List Item Attachment	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Get List Item Attachment Reference	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Create Folder (Lists)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. **	See Note
Rename Folder (Lists)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. **	See Note
Delete Folder (Lists)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. **	See Note
Move Folder (Lists)	Use a SharePoint SmartObject method. **	See Note
Add List Item Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User or Group Permissions to List Item by ID)	See Note
Delete List Item Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Unique Permissions from List Item by ID)	See Note
Remove List Item Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User or Group Permissions from List Item by ID)	See Note
Stop Inheriting List Item Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Stop Inheriting Permissions on List Item by ID)	See Note

* You must enable Attachments on your SharePoint list to see this method
** You must enable folders on your SharePoint list to see this method

Libraries
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Library	Create Library Step
Update Library	Update Library Step
Delete Library	Delete Library Step
Get Library Reference	Get Library Reference Step
Add Library Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User or Group Permissions to Library)	See Note
Delete Unique Library Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Unique Permissions from Library)	See Note
Remove Library Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User or Group Permissions from Library)	See Note
Stop Inheriting Library Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Stop Inheriting Permissions on Library)>	See Note

Lists
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create List	Create List Step
Update List	Update List Step
Delete List	Delete List Step
Get List Reference	Get List Reference Step
Add List Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User or Group Permissions to List)	See Note
Delete Unique List Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Unique Permissions from List)	See Note
Remove List Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User or Group Permissions from List)	See Note
Stop Inheriting List Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Stop Inheriting Permissions on List)	See Note

Sites
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Site	Create Subsite Step
Update Site	Update Subsite Step
Delete Site	Delete Subsite Step
Get Site Reference	Get Subsite Reference Step
Add Site Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User or Group Permissions to Site)	See Note
Delete Unique Site Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Unique Permissions from Site)	See Note
Remove Site Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User or Group Permissions from Site)	See Note
Stop Inheriting Site Permissions	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Stop Inheriting Permissions on Site)>	See Note

Groups
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Group	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Create Group)	See Note
Update Group	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Update Group)	See Note
Delete Group	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Delete Group)	See Note
Get Group Reference	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Get Group/s)	See Note

Users
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Add User to Group	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Add User to Group)	See Note
Remove User from Group	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Remove User from Group)	See Note
Get User Reference	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. (Get User from Group)	See Note

Document Set
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Copy Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Create Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Delete Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Get Document Set Reference	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Move Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Rename Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note
Update Document Set	Use SharePoint SmartObject method. *	See Note

* You must add the Document Set type in SharePoint to see this method

K2 Studio/K2 for Visual Studio

This section describes (but is not limited to) the differences between features in the K2 Studio/K2 for Visual Studio workflow design tool (sometimes referred to as the 'Thick Client' workflow designer) and the web browser-based workflow design tool in K2 Five/K2 Cloud. (In this article, K2 4.7 includes K2 blackpearl, K2  for SharePoint, and K2 smartforms.)

Process/Workflow

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Line Rule	Use a combination of Decision, Task, Split, Merge
Process Start Rule	Start Step Conditional Start Rule
Process Escalation	Not available at this time
Go to Activity escalation	Deadline Task Result	If you need to go to a different step after a task has been dormant, you can setup a deadline with an expired task result and then from the decision step connect the expired decision line to the step you want to go to. See Deadline tab.
Async Server Event	Wait for external system	Use the Wait for external system option on any SmartObject step. See How To: Configure and use the "Wait for External System" option in a workflow

Process Wizards

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
SharePoint 2013 Process Wizards	Choose your form or list using the Start Step
SmartForms Process Wizards	Choose your form using the Start Step
SharePoint 2010 Events Process Wizard	Deprecated
SharePoint 2010 Workflow Integration Process Wizard	Deprecated
InfoPath Integration Process Wizard	Deprecated

Default Activity

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Default Client Event	Task	See Using Task Recipients and Responses for an example
Event Notification Settings	Task Notification
Outcomes	Task Results
Destination Users (Participants)	Recipients
Limit the number of slots to	Task Result options
Create a slot for each destination	Task Result Rule - Responses
Expected Duration	Due Date
Start Rule	Can use the Timer Step
Escalations	Reminders Deadline
Preceding rule (K2 for Visual Studio)	Merge
Succeeding Rule	Task Result Rule
Exception Rule	Errors
Destination Rule	Recipients rule
Destination Slot	Task Result Rule - Responses

Destination Rule Options

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Destination Rule Options: Plan per Destination - One at a time	Not available at this time
Destination Rule Options: Plan just once	Not available at this time
Destination Rule Options: Plan per Destination – All at Once	Use the Task Step
Destination Rule Options: Plan per slot - no destinations	Use the Call Sub Workflow Step with Multiple option
Keep roles synchronized	Not available at this time
Resolve all roles and groups to users	Resolve groups to Individuals

Object Browser

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Process data fields	Variables. Available in the Context Browser, also called Set Data Fields
User Browser	Select User Dialog. This dialog is available in Recipients Tab, Email Alert Tab, Reminders Tab, Send Email Step

Object Browser - Environment

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Category Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Mail Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
SharePoint Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
SmartObject Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Workflow Management Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Workflow Server	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud
Workflow Web Service	Fields (Environment fields)	Environment fields are not available in K2 Cloud

Object Browser - Workflow Context Browser

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Process Instance	Workflow
Activity Instance	Multi-Step
Activity Destination Instance	Use the Task User and Task sections in the Workflow tab of the Context Browser	See Task User and Task sections not showing for all steps of a Multi-Step Workflow Known Issue
Workflow Activity instance destination data fields	Deprecated
XML fields	Not available at this time
Activity data fields	Action Result
Event Instance	Step
Line Instance	Not available at this time
Worklist Item Instance (Worklist Item Data)	Use the Task User section in the Workflow tab of the Context Browser	Worklist Item Instance (Platform) is not available in K2 Five/K2 Cloud

Object Browser - Function Browser/Functions

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Inline Functions	Functions Expression - Can use: Formula Concatenate: You can concatenate fields in any Type / Drop field. Also see Use the All items as a collection option Logical (If)	The following functions are not available in K2 Five/K2 Cloud: Excel InfoPath SharePoint Word The following functions are not available at this time: Data (Update Data Field) Expression (Condition)

Event Wizards

K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Reference	Create Reference Step. Find it in the Basic steps.
For Each	Loop. Find it in the Logic steps You can also use the Call Sub Workflow step to start a sub workflow for each item in a list.
Code Reference	Deprecated
Data Event	Deprecated
Default Server	Use SmartObject methods. Web-based brokers (REST, OData, Web Services, WCF) allow for code encapsulation.
Email	Send Email. Find it in the Basic steps.
Forms Generation Client	Deprecated
InfoPath Client	Deprecated
IPC	Call Sub Workflow. Find it in the Basic steps.
Item Reference	Deprecated
Placeholder	Placeholder. Find it in the Basic steps.
SmartForms Client	Use Task
SmartObject	SmartObject Method. Find it in the Basic steps.
Upload InfoPath Form	Deprecated
SharePoint 2010	Deprecated

In the sections below, for items that don't have an equivalent in K2 Five/K2 Cloud, see How To: Adding List Item Permissions for an example of using a SmartObject event to mimic the behavior and functionality.

Active Directory
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create New User	Active Directory. Find it in the SmartObjects steps. Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Update User	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Disable User	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Disable)	See Note
Add User to Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (AddToGroups)	See Note
Remove User from Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveFromGroups)	See Note
Remove User from All Groups	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveFromAllGroups)	See Note
Create Group	Use ADGroup SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Update Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Remove Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (Remove)	See Note
Remove Members from Group	Use ADUser SmartObject method. (RemoveMembers)	See Note

Exchange
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Mailbox	Deprecated
Disable Mailbox	Deprecated
Send Task	Create an Outlook Task in a workflow
Send Meeting Request	Create an Exchange Appointment Form

CRM4
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Create method). *	See Note
Update Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Update method). *	See Note
Delete Entity Item	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity Delete method). *	See Note
Add Entity Item Reference	Use CRM SmartObject method. (Entity List\Load method). *	See Note

* You must register the service against the CRM4 Service Broker

CRM
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create CRM Entity Item	Create CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Update CRM Entity Item	Update CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Delete CRM Entity Item	Delete CRM Entity Step. Find it in the steps.
Get CRM Entity Item Reference	Get CRM Entity Reference Step. Find it in the steps.

Azure Active Directory
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Create AAD Group	Azure Active Directory. Find it in the SmartObjects steps. Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Create AAD User	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Create)	See Note
Enable AAD User	Not available
Disable AAD User	Not available
Add AAD User to Group	Use AAD User and Groups SmartObject method. (Add Users to Group)	See Note
Remove AAD User from Group	Use AAD User and Groups SmartObject method. (Remove Users from Group)	See Note
Get AAD User Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get/Get List)	See Note
Get AAD Manager Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Manager)	See Note
Get AAD Direct Reports Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Direct Reports)	See Note
Get AAD Group Reference	Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Get/Get List)	See Note
Get AAD Group Users Reference	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Get Users in Group)	See Note
Update AAD Group	Use AAD Group SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note
Update AAD User	Use AAD User SmartObject method. (Update)	See Note

DocuSign
K2 4.7	K2 Five/K2 Cloud	Notes
Add Document	Add Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Add Recipient	Add Recipient Step. Find it in the steps.
Create Envelope	Create Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Create Tab	Create Tab in Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Delete Envelope	Delete Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Move Envelope to Folder	Move Envelope to Folder Step. Find it in the steps.
Remove Document	Remove Document Step. Find it in the steps.
Remove Recipient	Remove Recipient Step. Find it in the steps.
Resend Envelope	Resend Envelope Step. Find it in the steps.
Send Envelope