Introduction
Hi guys, let’s explore different ways to Move/Migrate an SPD Workflow from one Site Collection to another Site Collection using save as a template option manually or technically using Visio.
Steps
Open SPDesigner.
Save the Workflow as a Template from the Workflow Settings page.
It gets saved in the Site Assets Lib.
Export File and Upload it in the Solutions Gallery for Reusing it.
If saved as a template option is not available, then let’s start with a new concept of approach through Visio.
Just go to the Workflow section under your SharePoint Designer UI.
Click Export to Visio and save the Solution file with a .vwi extension.
Now go to the saved .vwi file in your local path.
Rename it with a new name if required and save it with <SPDWFName>.vwi.cab
Now go into the Zipped Folder.
Delete the last 3rd file with xoml included in its name and with XML as the extension from your cabinet[.cab] solution package.
After doing the above operation go back to the .vwi.cab extension package and rename to .vwi with the new updated solution files in it.
Now we a have .vwi extension file with a new name.
Now open the designer on your Target Site collection.
Use Import to Visio option to upload the above changed Zipped solution to upload.
You have 2 options, either you can use it as a List WF or a Reusable WF as per your requirement.
Once the above process is finished, check for Errors and Click Publish to publish it on your Target Site Collection.
Note
Let’s make sure the Target Site also has the same List if you are trying to move from an existing Source List with an SPD WF.
Check the New WF on your Target Site Collection and test its behavior and make necessary tuning/configurations if further required.
Happy coding with the above simple discussed process!