Export and Import SharePoint Designer 2010 List Workflow

In this post I will explain how to export and import SharePoint 2010 designer list workflow from one site/list to another using simple approach.

1.      Open SharePoint Designer 2010, Navigate to the workflow section.

2.      Then click on “Export to Visio”. Save the file as CopyListItems.vwi or any suitable name.

3.      Then create a new list with same schema on same site or another site collection.

4.      In SharePoint 2010 there is no direct way to import the previously exported workflow into the newly created list.

5.      Navigate to the newly created list and create list workflow without any workflow steps or empty. Then click on “Save” and “Publish” the newly created workflow say BlankWF.

6.      Then Click on “Export to Visio” and save this BlankWF.vwi or any suitable name.

7.      Rename both vwi files as .zip i.e CopyListItems.zip and BlankWF.zip.

8.      Replace the “workflow.xoml.wfconfig.xml” file from BlankWF.zip into CopyListItems.zip

9.       Remove .zip extension to .vwi and “Import from visio” and select CopyListItems.vwi.