I'm developing a simple web console that a user can use to start workflows. I have a simple web server that listens for incoming requests and starts the workflow.

This WFSO code works:

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using Laserfiche.Workflow;
using Laserfiche.Workflow.Objects;

namespace WFWeb.Controllers
{
    public class WorkflowController : Controller
    {
        //
        // GET: /Workflow/RunWF/5
        public void RunWF(int id)
        {
            string workflowServer = "localhost";
            string workflowApplication = "My App";
            using (WorkflowConnection connection = WorkflowConnection.CreateConnection(workflowServer, workflowApplication))
            {
                string workflowName = "Test WF";
                Database database = connection.Database;
                PublishedWorkflow workflow = database.GetPublishedWorkflow(workflowName);
                string ruleName = "My Rule";
                StartingEntry entry = null;
                Initiator initiator = null;
                WorkflowCreationOptions options = null;
                Dictionary<string, string> parameters = new Dictionary<string, string>
                {
                    { "workflowID", id.ToString() }
                };
                workflow.StartWorkflow(ruleName, entry, initiator, options, parameters);
            }
        }
    }
}

This WorkflowRestAPI code doesn't:

using System.Web.Mvc;
using WFWeb.WorkflowRestAPI;

namespace WFWeb.Controllers
{
    public class WorkflowController : Controller
    {
        //
        // GET: /Workflow/RunWF/5
        public void RunWF(int id)
        {
            using (WorkflowAPIBaseClient WorkflowService = new WorkflowAPIBaseClient())
            {
                InstanceCreationData creationData = new InstanceCreationData();
                creationData.StartingEntry = new InstanceEntryData();
                creationData.Initiator = new InstanceUserData();
                creationData.Initiator.InitiatorName = "Admin";

                InstanceParameterData firstName = new InstanceParameterData();
                creationData.ParameterCollection = new InstanceParameterCollection();
                creationData.ParameterCollection.Add(firstName);
                creationData.RuleName = "My Rule";
                string workflowName = "Test WF";

                InstanceCreationResultData results = WorkflowService.CreateWorkflowInstance(workflowName, creationData);
                string instanceID = results.instanceId;
                string fault = results.fault != null ? results.fault.Detail : string.Empty;

            }
        }
    }
}

Nothing happens and there are no errors reported anywhere.

I also tried to send a POST request directly to http://localhost:81/Workflow/api/instances/{WORKFLOWNAME} with a JSON body containing the example data located at /Workflow/api/help/operations/CreateWorkflowInstance, but kept getting "Bad Request" and gave up. That would be my ideal approach, since Workflow already has a web service and all I need is to start a workflow, so if anyone has thoughts I'm all ears.