#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Presented By: Prashant G Bhoyar

Building Business SolutionsUsing InfoPath

05 October 2013

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Who am I?• SharePoint Consultant at Portal

Solutions

• Product - AuthentiMate

• Services – We love SharePoint ..

• Guy with multiple hats

• University of Maryland College Park Alumni

• Recipient of Antarctic Service Medal

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

What Will We Cover Today?• InfoPath

• InfoPath and SharePoint

• Browser based Forms

• InfoPath Deployment

• Limitations of InfoPath

• Future of InfoPath

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

WhyInfoPath?

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Why InfoPath in SharePoint?

• InfoPath Forms Services

• Browser Support

• Local Installation is not required

• Easy to create

• Empowered non coders

• Out of the Box

• Formatting/Presentation

• Validations

• Rules

• Calculations

• Logic

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Examples of InfoPath in SharePoint• Leave System

• Time cards

• Performance reviews

• Collaborative budgeting

• Status reports

• Service requests

• Recruiting

• New project initiation

• New hires / terminations

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

InfoPath Client Based Technologies

• InfoPath Filler

• Used by End Users to complete the forms or “fill it in”

• Can’t be use to design form templates

• Need InfoPath client to use

• InfoPath Designer

• Used by Designers to design and publish form templates

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Typical InfoPath Life Cycle

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

InfoPath Forms in SharePoint• Standard InfoPath Forms

• Usage Scenario :

• Users create new form

• Fill the information and

• Promote certain fields to forms library (Property Promotion)

• List Forms

• Upgrade the List associated forms to InfoPath forms

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Browser Based Forms• No local installation of InfoPath client

• Inherits SharePoint’s core functionalities

• Any options that cannot be rendered in a browser is hidden. For Example (Spell-Check, The Vertical Label, Ink Picture, Signature

Line, Scrolling).

Full list can be found here http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/infopath-help/infopath-2010-features-

unavailable-in-web-browser-forms-HA101732796.aspx

• Available only with Enterprise Client Access License (eCAL) for SharePoint 2010.

• Not available in SharePoint Foundation or SharePoint Standard Server

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

InfoPath List Forms in SharePoint• Advantages

• Easy to customize

• Add validations, rules

• Formatting/Presentation

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

InfoPath List Forms in SharePoint• Drawbacks

• SharePoint adds additional information to list and content type like hidden fields, absolute urls

• Deployment to other site collection, Web Application and Farms

• Resolution: Save list as template (.stp) and deploy

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

DEMO

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

InfoPath XSN and XML Files• XSN or Form Template is collection of several files

packaged into a cabinet (.cab) file

• Forms are stored in SharePoint in the form of XML files

• Inherits core SharePoint functionalities (Versions, Recycle Bin etc.)

• Information is “Human Readable” …

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Data Connections• Sources

• Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Web Services

• Representational State Transfer (REST) Web Services

• SharePoint lists

• Database

• XML file

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Data Connection Library• List designed to store data connection files for use in

InfoPath

• Data connection details are not stored in the form

• Details of system to which the form connects are not hard-coded into the form

• If connection details change, only the data connection must be updated. This avoids needing to update and redeploy the form

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

DEMO

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Save and Submit• Use InfoPath toolbar options Save and Save As

• No control over where the forms get saved, or what filenames are used.

• Custom Submit Button

• Email

• Web Service

• Hosting Env

• Web Server

• Data Connection

• SharePoint Document Library

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

InfoPath Forms Data• Store in form itself

• Open the form to see the info

• Difficult to crawl the information

• Publish in Library/List –“Property Promotion”

• Create list views

• Can be used by other Workflows

• Used as look up field

• Search

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

DEMO

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

InfoPath Forms Web Part SharePoint• Consistent look and feel

• Use of InfoPath Forms Web Part

• Provides a range of options for rendering

• Avoid if Form is complex and has multiple views

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

DEMO

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

InfoPath Deployment

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

InfoPath Deployment

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

• Deploying to a Form Library

• InfoPath Designer requires direct access to SharePoint Server

• Form will be available in specific site/library

• Deploying to a Content Type

• Creates a new content type

• Available in List and Libraries of Site

• Cons:

• Need to deploy manually to all site collections

• Manually associate content type with list/library

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

InfoPath DeploymentAdministrator Approved Forms Templates

• Available only in On-Premise version

• Allows InfoPath form to be reused throughout the entire SharePoint farm

• Easy to maintain, as we need to do change at one location only

• Only option for deployment for code behind

• To deploy:

• Save the Form template

• Upload to Central Admin

• Use the option “Activate to a site collection” for each site collection

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

DEMO

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Alternatives to InfoPathAlternative Advantages over InfoPath Disadvantages

over InfoPathIdeal Usage When not to use

SharePoint List Forms

-Very Quick to Design-Can be upgraded to InfoPath-No technical Skills Required

-No control over Presentation

-When very simple Info is required-When time and resource are Limited

-Presentation isimportant-Time and Resources are available

Custom SharePoint Web Parts

- Can meet exactrequirements (Custom Code)

-Difficult to maintain without developer

-Need complete control over UI

-Want to avoid custom code

Custom SharePoint Application Pages (ASP.NETPages)

- Can meet exactrequirements (Custom Code)

-Difficult to maintain without developer

-Need complete control over UI

-Want to avoid custom code

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Less

Co

mp

lexi

ty

Is InfoPath Right Choice?• Yes if,

• Forms that must be designed by a non-technical user (Power User)

• Custom Code is not allowed

• Forms that will benefit from rich conditional formatting

• Forms that must be designed rapidly

• Solution will be hosted in cloud vs on Premise

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

References

Appendix/ResourcesSharePoint 2010 Enterprise Architect's GuidebookBy: Brian Wilson; Reza Alirezaei; Bill Baer; Martin Kearn

Using Microsoft InfoPath 2010 with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Step by StepBy: Darvish Shadravan and Laura Rogers

MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/default.aspxBlogs : http://www.andrewconnell.com/blog/my-thoughts-infopath-2013-the-future-of-infopath

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Princeton SharePoint user group• Different SharePoint

discussions each month on various topics. Announced on meetup.com

• Meets 4th Wednesday of every month

• 6pm – 8pm• Infragistics Office • 2 Commerce Drive, Cranbury,

NJ• http://www.meetup.com/prin

cetonSUG• http://www.princetonsug.com

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Thank You Event Sponsors

• Platinum & Gold sponsors have tables here in the Fireside Lounge

• Please visit them and inquire about their products & services

• To be eligible for prizes make sure your bingo card is signed by all Platinum/Gold

#SPSNJ @PGBhoyar

Questions? Feedback? Contact me:

Twitter: @PGBhoyar Blog: http://pgbhoyar.wordpress.com ( limited contents ) Email: pgbhoyar@gmail.com

Thank You Organizers, Sponsors and You for Making this Possible.