FIX: A workflow takes a long time to open when you use the workflow designer in a .NET Framework 3.5 SP1-based solution

Article ID: 980951 - View products that this article applies to.
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SYMPTOMS

You have a large or complex Windows workflow solution that is based on the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1). When you use the workflow designer in Microsoft Visual Studio to open a workflow in the solution, the workflow takes a long time to open.

This issue occurs in the following situations:
  • You start Visual Studio, open the solution, and then open the workflow. This behavior is called a cold start.
  • You open the workflow directly from the solution, which is already opened. This behavior is called a warm start.
Note The performance issue occurs when your computer has Microsoft Enterprise Library installed together with the Configuration Editor for Visual Studio feature.
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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.  

Prerequisites

You must have the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix if no instance of the .NET Framework is being used.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2000, of Windows Server 2003, and of Windows XP
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.44981,142,78401-Mar-201001:38x86
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.44981,630,20801-Mar-201001:38x86
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.4498540,67201-Mar- 201001:38x86
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2000, of Windows Server 2003, and of Windows XP
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.44981,060,86401-Mar-201001:02x64
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.44981,519,61601-Mar-201001:02x64
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.4498454,65601-Mar- 201001:02x64
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) and of Windows Server 2008 SP2
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.45041,142,78410-Mar-201011:35
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.45041,630,20809-Mar-201011:06
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.4504540,67210-Mar-201011:35
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista SP2 and of Windows Server 2008 SP2
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.45041,060,86410-Mar-201011:35
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.45041,519,61609-Mar-201011:04
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.4504454,65610-Mar-201011:35
For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.45041,060,86410-Mar-201011:35
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.45041,519,61609-Mar-201011:02
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.4504454,65610-Mar-201011:35
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.50171,142,78409-Mar-201023:24
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.50171,630,20809-Mar-201023:24
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.5017540,67209-Mar-201023:24
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.50171,060,86409-Mar-201023:24
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.50171,519,61609-Mar-201023:24
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.5017454,65609-Mar-201023:24
For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTime
System.workflow.activities.dll3.0.4203.50171,060,86409-Mar-201023:22
System.workflow.componentmodel.dll3.0.4203.50171,519,61609-Mar-201023:22
System.workflow.runtime.dll3.0.4203.5017454,65609-Mar-201023:22
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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MORE INFORMATION

To improve the performance of the workflow designer, install the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
980952
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980952/ )
The Visual Studio 2008 SP1 IDE experiences slow performance when you use the workflow designer
Additionally, you can use the following methods to improve the performance of the workflow designer:
  • Relocate interfaces, event types, custom activities, and helper classes that are used in workflows to an independent project that does not contain the workflows.
  • Reduce the number of workflows in a project.
  • Re-factor large state machine workflows into smaller workflows.
  • Do not run long-running work in activity constructors.
For more information about how to improve the performance of the workflow designer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Workflow designer and performance
(http://blogs.msdn.com/madhuponduru/archive/2008/09/30/workflow-designer-and-performance.aspx)
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Properties

Article ID: 980951 - Last Review: September 8, 2010 - Revision: 3.0
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1
Keywords: 
kbexpertiseadvanced kbsurveynew kbqfe KB980951
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