INFO: Workflow Behavior When Folders Are Replicated (309469)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server
This article was previously published under Q309469

SUMMARY

Workflow is supported on public folders whose contents are replicated if the replicated server is also an Exchange 2000 server. Replication of Exchange 2000 Server workflow-enabled folders to Exchange Server 5.5 servers is not supported.

Exchange 2000 Server workflow is based on synchronous events, which Exchange 5.5 does not support. However, one needs to remember that when updating items in replicated folders, it is possible for users to modify the same item in different folders, which will cause a conflict. Exchange resolves this conflict by replicating the item that was modified last.

MORE INFORMATION

The following scenario describes the workflow behavior on a replicated folder:
  1. Server 1 has a folder called "Test" which is workflow-enabled.
  2. Server 2 has a replica of "Test", which we will call "Test Replica".
  3. The first time that replication occurs, the workflow process is created on "Test Replica" and the folder is workflow-enabled.

    NOTE: Workflow actions will not be fired due to replication changes.
  4. At this point, "Test" and "Test Replica" contain the same data.
  5. If you change a property on an item in the "Test" folder, you may trigger a workflow action. At this point, "Test" and "Test Replica" do not contain the same data. When replication occurs, the item in "Test Replica" will be updated, but no workflow action will occur in "Test Replica".
  6. If you change a property on an item in the "Test Replica" folder, you may trigger a workflow action. At this point, "Test" and "Test Replica" do not contain the same data. When replication occurs, the item in "Test" will be updated, but no workflow action will occur in "Test".
  7. If you change an item in the "Test" folder as well as in "Test Replica" before replication occurs, both items will trigger workflow actions in the respective folders. When replication occurs, the item that was last modified will "win" the replication conflict resolution. One very important thing to remember is that the workflow action that occurs may be different in each folder. Replication can overwrite workflow changes, so you may get unexpected results. The recommended practice is to allow modifications in "Test" and only allow viewing in "Test Replica" (as well as any additional replicas).

REFERENCES

For additional information about conflicts, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

151273 XGEN: Definitions of Folder Design Conflict Messages

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/12/2005
Keywords:kbinfo kbMsg KB309469
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