SharePoint Designer showing error while publishing the workflow of Backup and Restored site Collection

Question

I cannot publish custom event workflows when restores site collection from another environment.

Errors were found when compiling the workflow. The workflow files were saved but cannot be run.

Microsoft.Workflow.Client.ActivityValidationException: Workflow XAML failed due to the following errors: Cannot create unknown type'{clr-namespace:SharePoint.Converter.PDF.SP2013}

Is there any option to resolve this?

Answer 1

Did you create the workflow in SharePoint designer?

To troubleshoot the issue, check things below:

1. Remove old workflow instances in the list. Go to the list->click “workflow settings” and select “workflow settings” in the ribbon->click “Remove, Block, or Restore a Workflow”->Remove the workflow instance.

2. Clear SharePoint configuration cache according to the article below.

Clearing the SharePoint Configuration Cache.

3. Clear SharePoint designer cache according to the article below.

How to Clear Your SharePoint Designer 2010/2013 Cache.

4. Restart SharePoint server.

More reference:

SharePoint Designer: Errors were found when compiling the workflow.

Answer 2

I know this is simple solution. But i want to know how I resolved it.

The below three lines resolved my problem. I tried to reactive site feature of my custom event. But I cannot. Use below code i resolved my issue.

To Get the guid/name of site feature use below code:

Get-SPSite "http://sitecollectionurl" | Get-SPWeb -Limit ALL |%{ Get-SPFeature -Web $_ } | Select DisplayName,ID -Unique

Disabling site feature use below code:

Disable-SPFeature -identity "Feature Display Name / ID" -URL "http://siteurl" -Force

Enabling site feature use below code:

Enable-SPFeature -identity "Feature Display Name / ID" -URL "http://siteurl" -Force

Answer 3

From a front-end perspective - my team and I don't have access to servers and/or central administration. I tried many of the front-end solutions but the only thing that worked was recreating the workflow. The workflow was long and complex but I

1. created my variables first
2. copy and pasted all the steps from the broken workflow to the new one. I proceeded to publish the workflow and delete the broken workflow.