Automatically trigger translation notification through workflow

Question

We are running SDL Tridion 2011 SP1. We have the below workflow definition:

1. Create/Edit (Manual)
2. Review (Manual)
3. Approve (Manual)
4. Publish (Automatic)
5. Trigger Translation Notification

Is it possible to initiate the workflow for the corresponding component in the child publication (for localizing) so that the translator would see the item in their "Assignment List"? Otherwise there is no way (apart from the Translation Email Notification) for the translator to know if there is some new tasks for them.

Answer 1

In Tridion 2013 there is an explicit way to start workflow on any number of items. However prior to that it was not possible to start a workflow process. I would recommend creating an EventHandler and subscribing to LocalizeEventArgs asynchronously. In the event handler you could wait a while for the item to be localized and then CheckOut and Save the item to start the associated editing workflow. This Save operation will be a dummy save to initiate the editing workflow, no change of the item should be done. The event handler should be asynchronous to allow the localize action to be finished. However, keep in mind that in that publication the item should have a workflow Process Definition defined.