How to copy SharePoint list workflow

We often face a situation where we need to copy a big workflow from list or library to another list or library. This situation can be avoided if we have created the workflow as reusable workflow.

So in this article I will explain in simple steps on how to copy a list workflow to another workflow using SharePoint designer. Using this method we can copy workflow across site collections are web applications.

For this we have the following

List Name	Workflow Name
List 1	List Workflow 1
List 2	List Workflow 2 (Copied from the worlflow1)

Step 1)

We have the list 1 with list workflow 1 to be copied to list workflow 2.

Step 2)

Now create a list workflow 2 , in list 2 with one condition plus once activity and save it.

In our example I have used a condition and sending email to current user. This is used to create the Xoml rules for the list workflow 2

Step 3)

Now in the side of navigation click All Files

Step 4)

In all files click the Workflows

Step 5)

Open the List workflow 1 and also repeat the steps 3,4 and open List workflow 2 in another tab

Step 6)

List workflow 1 and list workflow 2 are will be displaying like this when you have done the steps 3,4,5 correctly.

     

Step 7)

Copy the .xoml and xoml.rules to the targeted workflow.

In our example List workflow 1.xoml and list workflow 1.xoml.rules are copied from list workflow 1 folder to list workflow 2 folder

Step 8)

Rename the files from List workflow 1.xoml to List workflow 2.xoml

And list workflow 1.xoml.rules to list workflow 2.xoml.rules

While renaming a working message will be displayed click Yes.

Step 9)

Now close and reopen the SharePoint designer.

After opening the List workflow 2 we can notice the workflow has been copied from list workflow 1.