I am using Sharepoint 2010. I have a reusable workflow which includes association fields (site columns) that are both default Sharepoint columns as well as custom site columns. I exported the workflow which created a .vwi file. Per other posts, I removed the config file (ex. Workflow.xoml.wfconfig.xml) from the .vwi. I then imported the .vwi file. Note that the goal was to import the file to create the workflow in a new Sharepoint site but for testing purposes, it was inmported back into the same Sharepoint 2010) after the original workflow was deleted). When I looked at the workflow in Sharepoint Designer, I noticed that all of the workflow's association columns (ie site columns) were missing even though the site columns existed (viewed via Site Actions --> Site Settings --> SiteColumns). With the association columns missing, the column references within the workflow logic were also missing. In order to put it all back together, I had to manually add the columns and update the workflow syntax.
My question is why are the association columns not being brought over during the export/import process?? Not sure if it starts by not being exported or that they are exported but just not imported due to X, Y, or Z????
Any thoughts on this? Thanks - Peter