Complete the Assigned Task from Workflow

[Peter]

Hi,

We are using InfoPath 2007, Sharepoint 2007 and Sharepoint Designer 2007.
We have an InfoPath form running in an approval-type workflow that requires
an digital signature before the task is allowed to complete. The problem
with this is that it creates a situation where the user has to sign the form
AND remember to edit and complete the task in SharePoint. When the user
forgets to open the task and click on the "complete the task", the workflow
never advances. This is very annoyance to our users. Is there a way that
the either in the workflow or upon clicking the submitt button on the form
can automate the task completion process when the user signs the form and
saves it back to the SharePoint library.

Please advise.

Thanks

 

[NDXhound]

I think the simple answer is "No."

There is no way to mimic clicking the Complete Task button in an assigned
task. And, a workflow that is waiting for the task to complete (through the
use of the Collect data From User) activity will ONLY proceed when the
Complete Task button is clicked. A Catch-22.

On the InfoPath side, digital signatures are stored in the XML file and
reference the signer's certificate. The signing process also needs
user-supplied input. I am unaware of a method to shoehorn this info into
InfoPath from a workflow.

If you are not bound to digitally signing the form you could consider using
the task completion event as representing an authoritative signature and
store the name of the person who completed the task in the forms library in a
field that is shared with the form.

Good luck,
Peter