User restoration of workflow objects and elements from an archived database

A system and method for restoring data including a workflow from an archived copy of a database file. The method includes receiving a request to restore a workflow from an archived copy. The workflow comprises attributes describing a sequence of conditions and actions corresponding to an item and comprises a history log. The item may comprise an electronic document and associated context information describing the document in an intranet portal application environment. The associated context information includes an identifier corresponding to the workflow. The method includes retrieving records comprising the workflow attributes from the archived copy. The method further includes generating from the retrieved records a workflow metadata file comprising tagged elements corresponding to the workflow attributes and history log. Then the method stores the workflow metadata file in a file system. The method further includes restoring the workflow to the intranet portal application via the file system.