How to get backup of workflow in SharePoint 2013?

Question

I want to get a backup of my old workflow how can I do in SharePoint designer 2013?

Answer 1

To Backup your workflow : You have Two option.

1. Save as Template.
2. Export to Visio.

Regarding first option Save As Template.

• from the above ribbon click on

• An informational dialog box appears to let you know the template has been saved to the Site Assets library.

To restore from Save As Template

• Go to asset library.

• Click Export File

• Go to your site > Click Site Actions and select Site Settings. > In the Web Design Galleries section > click Solutions.

• Upload your exported WSP file > Activate it.

• Go back to Site Actions group, click Manage site features. > activate its feature.

For more details check Ref

Regarding Second option Export to visio.

If you have Visio,from SharePoint designer , Try to export your workflow to Visio by following the mentioned steps below :

• Open SharePoint Designer.
• click on your completed List Workflow.
• Click on “Save” and “Publish” for the completed List Workflow.
• Next, click on “Export to Visio”. Save the file as CompletedWorkflow.vwi or any preferred name.

To restore it to the another site/farm :

• create a new “similar” list on the current site or on a new site collection.
• click on this new list and then click on “List Workflow” to create a new workflow for this new list.
• Please make sure that you do not add any workflow steps!
• Click on “Save” and “Publish” for this empty List Workflow.

• Then, click on “Export to Visio” and save this as EmptyWorkflow.vwi or any preferred name.

• Rename both the vwi files by adding “.zip” extension. The files should be CompletedWorkflow.vwi.zip and EmptyWorkflow.vwi.zip.

• The objective is to replace the “workflow.xoml.wfconfig.xml” file from the EmptyWorkflow.vwi.zip into the CompletedWorkflow.vwi.zip.
• It is likely that you cannot replace it directly. Copy the file out to the desktop and then copy the file into the other zipped folder.
• Remove the “.zip” extension from the CompletedWorkflow.vwi.
• With this, we have a working importable Visio List Workflow.
• Back in the SharePoint Designer , close all the workflow tabs.
• Click on the “Import from Visio” and select the CompletedWorkflow.vwi.

For more details check Ref

Answer 2

If this is designer workflow then, only have Save as Template and access / use it from the Assets Library. Hope this would help you!!