sharepoint designer 2013 workflow not getting updated when re deployed from dev to qa with updates.

We created save as template and exported and uploaded as solution. When exported it creates name with number. testworkflow1,2,3 etc. testworkflow1 is now already published in qa. After few days 2,3 changes were done in dev and got exported as wsp and uploaded as solution and activated but these changes do not show up in designer in qa and date modifed shows older

Also there is upgrade button in the top ribbon in solution tab. This upgrade button is always disabled even if I select any workflow.

When we make any changes and save as template and deploy to QA the changes do not appear in designer. When I delete the workflow in qa and again republish then new changes appear but can not do that every time.

Hi,

Based on your description, I have done a test in my SharePoint 2013 and I re-produced your issue.

1. I deployed and activated a workflow solution to the first environment.
2. Changed the workflow in the second environment, and saved it as a solution then re-deployed and activated it to the first environment.
3. These changes do not show up in designer in the first environment and date modified shows older date.

When I deleted the workflow in the first environment and again republish then new changes appear.

I also find another method:

1. deploy and activate a workflow solution to the first environment.
2. Change the workflow in the second environment, and save it as a solution then re-deploy and dont activate it to the first environment.
3. Open the site collection in SharePoint designer, deleted the workflow the first time deployed.
4. Activate the second time deployed feature.

Best Regards,

Lisa Chen

Forum Support
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Hi Lisa, Thanks!

But this is a big problem. I can not delete every time in QA, UAT for small change as workflow history gets deleted. Now I have to keep track of changes in QA/UAT and production. This is very tricky...

Is there any powershell or easy way that updates current workflow? This means we can not move the workflow from one environment to other e

Hi Amit,

For your issue, Try to use the following PowerShell:

Update-SPSolution-Identity YourSolutionName.wsp-LiteralPath"C:\ YourSolutionName.wsp" -GacDeployment

Here is a similar post, you can use as a reference:

http://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/45675/how-do-i-update-an-already-existing-wsp-on-farm

Best Regards,

Lisa Chen

Forum Support
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Update-SPSolution -Identity myworkflow.wsp -LiteralPath "C:\Amit\myworkflow.wsp" -GacDeployment

but it does not let me update the workflow. Can you confirm if this command actually updates/upgrade designer workflow wsp? It says can not find spsolution.

can I use

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff608051%28v=office.14%29.aspx

Update-SPUserSolution -Identity contoso_solution.wsp -Site http://sitename -ToSolution contoso_solution_v2.wsp
Iit give GUID error

Hi Amit,

I have done a test in my SharePoint, and I got the same error with you "Given solution cannot be upgraded to the provided ToSolution because the solutions have different Guilds".

Maybe we cannot use the update command to upgrade SharePoint 2013 designer list workflows.

As I have mentioned that we can update the SharePoint 2013 designer list workflows from the UI.

Before active the second time deployed solution, delete the workflow from SharePoint Designer deployed the first time.

Best Regards,

Lisa Chen

Forum Support
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Hi Lisa, I can not delete entire workflow in production for adding small step. Also it can not work because all current running tasks and history gets deleted.

Before active the second time deployed solution, delete the workflow from SharePoint Designer deployed the first time.- this will not work in production or UAT.

I need real solution on how to update sp2013  designer workflow after first deployment. I have not found one yet.

I completely agree. I am having the same problem. In production we have 100s of in flow workflows and I need to make a change. I am saving the tweaked workflow in development, ensuring it has the same solution ID as the currently deployed workflow in UAT and Prod and then Upgrading the sandbox solution via the Solution gallery. This all works fine BUT when I test the workflow or open it in designer the change is NOT present. The upgrade appears to have worked but the changes aren't there.

Can someone please provide a real answer on this. How exactly does one upgrade a SPD workflow through multiple environments without actually modifying it in SPD and without having to create a new version of the workflow? Seems to be a pretty common and reasonable request right?

Deleting workflows is not a option. This is not a valid solution. You can upgrade list workflows as long as you set the solution ID to match. Please provide a real answer on this issue.