InfoPath and Browser Compatible Forms

andrew.bryson@quercussolutions.com — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:31:16 GMT

If you weren't aware, with InfoPath Forms Server or the Enterprise SKU of MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Serve), you have the ability to publish forms designed in InfoPath so that they render as Web pages. This feature enables any client to access your form, whether they have InfoPath installed or not. Unfortunately this wasn't the case in the previous version - you had to have InfoPath installed on the desktop in order to make use of the forms.

Having said this, it's important to note the types of controls on an InfoPath form that can be rendered on a Web page. Some of the controls just don't work well in a Web environment or don't make any sense at all. I've summarized the controls that DO work here:

Text Box
Rich Text Box
Drop-Down List Box
List Box
Date Picker
Check Box
Option Button
Button
Section
Optional Section
Repeating Section
Repeating Table
File Attachment
Hyperlink
Expression Box

Controls that DON'T work:

Master/Detail
Vertical Label
Horizontal Repeating Table
Combo Box
Multiple-Select List Box
Picture
Ink Picture
Plain List
Bulleted List
Choice Section
Choice Group
Repeating Choice Group
Repeating Recursive Section

So, when planning your design for forms to be rended on the Web, save yourself some time and make sure you're using controls that will work! You do have the ability to verify your forms from the Design Tasks pane. To do this, follow these simple steps:

From the Design Tasks pane, select Design Checker
Select the Change Compability Settings... link and make sure you have the option "Design a form template that can be opened in a browser or InfoPath" selected

That's it, you should see a list of errors that require resolution before the form can be published to the Web.

InfoPath 2007 - Introduction

andrew.bryson@quercussolutions.com — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:32:17 GMT

InfoPath is a fantastic solution provided by Microsoft for e-enabling your organizations forms. Many of our customers are looking for ways to improve customer service, improve internal business processes and at the same time, save some money. Well, InfoPath can help you with all of the above!

Office Infopath 2007 is both the forms designer and viewer and comes as part of the Office Ultimate 2007, Office Professional Plus 2007, Office Enterprise 2007 or as a stand-alone SKU. With a little to no training, you can have a form up and running in no time. If you have existing Microsoft Word form templates, you can simply import them into InfoPath for almost immediate use.

If you are looking to have a centralized form management solution, Microsoft offers a Forms management server as part of the Office SharePoint Server Enterprise or Office Forms Server SKU. Both options will provide a robust, centralized way to manage all the forms in your organization.

Stay tuned in this blog as I continue to provide more information about this and other collaborative products available from Microsoft.

Andrew Bryson

InfoPath and Browser Compatible Forms

InfoPath 2007 - Introduction