Previously developed SharePoint 2013 template workflows are not opening in SharePoint designer 2013 in SPOnline

Question

I had created list workflows with SharePoint 2013 templates almost 2 years before from today in client's SharePoint Online tenant using SharePoint designer.

Recently, when I have tried to edit this workflow using SharePoint 2013 designer, it gives below errors:

• For the first time, when you try to click on workflow it shows:

  server side activities have been updated you need to restart sharepoint designer

• After traversing back to workflows folder, and click on workflow it shows:

  windows workflow foundation part of .net framework 3.0 must be installed to use this feature

• Then it shows error:

  SharePoint Designer cannot display the item.

I am using SharePoint designer 2013 with 64 bit. I already have installed/updated designer with below installations:

• SP Designer SP1
• spd2013-kb2863836-fullfile-x64-glb.exe
• spd2013-kb3114337-fullfile-x64-glb.exe
• spd2013-kb3114721-fullfile-x64-glb.exe

Also tried solutions provided in below URLs, but none of them work:

• Problem when opening SharePoint Online workflows in SharePoint Designer 2013
• error: server side activities have been updated you need to restart sharepoint designer
• https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/ca5f8465-2bbd-4d20-8dc7-0b4bf02e3c7a/not-able-to-open-sharepoint-designer-2013-workflows-in-sharepoint-designer-2013?forum=sharepointdevelopment

Strangely, when I tried to create a new workflow on same list, it works properly but for older workflows, it's not working.

I have checked same in development and production sites and in both sites, we are getting this issue. Even I have tried SharePoint designers on different machines but the error is same.

Please let me know if there is any solution to resolve this.

Note: I am very much aware with the policy of duplicating the questions in the forum, but the answers posted in forum were not worked for me that's why I have posted this new question. So please take a note before marking this question as duplicate.

Answer 1

Though I was clearing cache by removing files/folders from the paths suggested in many of the answers, I was not able to open workflow in designer. Even I have tried to remove cache using PowerShell but no luck.

Then I got one link, and I followed the steps to disable SharePoint designer cache completely and it works for me.

Here are the steps I followed so far:

• Open SharePoint designer, Navigate to the “File” menu.
• Then go to Options >> General >> Application Options.

• On the "General" tab, under the "General" heading, deselect "Cache site data across SharePoint Designer sessions"

  • In my case, I have also deselect "Preload site data during the site open process"

  

• restart the designer.

It worked for me.

Answer 2

In SharePoint online, there is the Workflow auto cleanup timer job, it will delete tasks and instances in the workflow instance table for workflows that were marked completed more than n days in the past.

The n is specified in the workflow association.

So, the previous workflow cannot be opened in SharePoint designer.

More reference:

Default timer jobs in SharePoint 2013. It also can work for sharepoint online.