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2013 MN IT Govt Symposium - Implement No Code Solutions with SharePoint and InfoPath
1. 2013 Minnesota Government IT Symposium
For State Agencies, Counties, Cities, Higher Education and Nonprofits
December 10-12, 2013 RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN
www.mngts.org/itsym
(Presented by GTS Educational Events)
Session #98
Implementing No Code Solutions with SharePoint and InfoPath
Donald Donais, Avtex Consulting LLC
Thursday, December 12th, 2013
1:30-2:30 p.m.
4. Agenda
• Before You Build
• What Tools Are We Using?
• Base InfoPath Knowledge
• Base SharePoint Knowledge
• InfoPath Features and Capabilities
• Tips for Automation
• Other Considerations
6. Answer Basic Questions
• Is There a Workflow Involved?
Translation of Business Process into SharePoint Workflow/Forms
• What is needed in the form?
Fields for Form Information
Fields for Workflow
Interactivity within the Form
Data Connectivity
Browser vs. Client
• What is the Overall Solution?
SharePoint List and/or Workflow
InfoPath Form and/or Workflow
.NET Form and/or Workflow
3rd Party Form and/or Workflow
11. What Is InfoPath?
• Drag and Drop Experience
WYSIWYG
• InfoPath Forms Divided Yet United
Template = .xsn
Data = .xml
• Data Permanently Connected to Template
Template Changes – So Does the XML
In Other Words – Delete a Field, There Goes Your Data
• Client Options
InfoPath 2007 = One Application
InfoPath 2010 & 2013 = Designer and Filler Applications
13. SharePoint with InfoPath
• SharePoint Form Libraries
Standard and Enterprise Versions
InfoPath Template (XSN) is Content Type
• SharePoint Lists/Libraries (Apps)
Can be Used as Data Source
• InfoPath Form Services
Enterprise and P2 Available
Web Form
14. SharePoint Specific Features
• Out of the Box Web Parts
Form Services Web Parts or Apps
• SharePoint Web Services
Web Services Used to Pull Information
Example: Automatically Populate Users Name in form
• Data Connection Libraries
Sometimes Needed – Working In Claims SharePoint Environment
Or Connecting to Other Data Sources
18. Rules
• Based on Formatting or Action
• Actions Include:
Set a field’s value
Query for Data
Submit data
Send Data to Web Part (2010 &
2013)
• Use Conditions to Control When
the Rule is Used
19. Views
• Different Layouts Possible
• Still Based on the Same Data
• Not All Fields Need to be
Displayed
‘Read Only’ View
Print View
• Restrict View to a Specific
User Role
20. Web Based Forms
• SharePoint 207-2013 InfoPath Form Services
• Fill Out Forms Via the Web
InfoPath Client NOT Required
• .NET Code-Behind Supported
Requires Publishing to Forms Server
• Smart Client Only Features:
Most Controls
Filters, Roles, Conditional Formatting, Rules and Validation
Some Script, Custom Task Panes
21. InfoPath – Enabling Web Forms
• Compatibility Checker
Checks for Feature
Compatibility
Browser Checker
InfoPath 2003 Filler
InfoPath 2007 Filler and 2007
Web Browser Form
InfoPath 2010 Filler Form and
Web Browser Form
InfoPath Filler Form (2013)
and Web Browser Form
(2013)
22. InfoPath – Connecting to the Outside World
• Can Be Connected to
Multiple Data Sources
Web Service
SQL Database
Xml Document
SharePoint List
• Pull in Dynamic Data
• Connection Library
Uses Office Data Connection
SharePoint can Host Many
Connections
25. Using Default Values
• Some Information
Needs Default Values
• Example: Date of
Submission
• Simply Use Function –
Today()
• Use In Combination
with Read Only Field
26. Automatically Display User Info
• User Profile Service Available
Formula Option: username()
User Profile Service Data
Connection
Other Properties Available
• Data Connection
http://ServerName/_vti_bin/U
serProfileService.asmx?WSDL
GetUserProfileByName
27. Cascade Dropdowns
• Data May Need to be Related to an Item
• Other Fields Become Populated
• Data Connections to SharePoint List
• Data Connection Contain Data and Query
Data to Display Specific Information
Query to Retrieve Information to Use In Form
• Can Use a Rule to Trigger the Cascade to Other Fields
30. Adjusting Form Options
• Web and Filler Options
Capabilities of Removing Save, Close,
Views, etc.
• Offline Capabilities
Fill Out Form If Not Connected To
Data
• Email Attachments
Options for Email Form through
Microsoft Outlook
• Property Promotion
Used to Move Fields to be Columns in
SharePoint
• Compatibility
Version of InfoPath/SharePoint
Working With
31. Deployment of InfoPath Forms
• SharePoint Form Library
Presentation Was About This Method
Use This Method Doing One Off
Deployments
• SharePoint Content Type
Deploy Once and Reuse
Define Several InfoPath Forms for One
Library
• Admin-Approved Form Template
Deploy When Have C# or VB Code and
Need Web Form
Done Through Central Administration or
PowerShell
32. InfoPath and Office – The DIP
• InfoPath Fragment Usable
Inside of Office
• Facilitates Metadata Entry
• Associate InfoPath Form
with a Content Type
• Associate a Content Type
with a Document Library
• New Documents will
Contain the Custom DIP
34. Web Forms and URL’s
• InfoPath URL’s = UGLY!
• Some Components Not Needed
Remove %2F, %3A, %2E, etc. from URL
• Components Needed
Server Name – http://portal.Contoso.com/demo/layouts/FormServer.aspx?
Xsn Location –
XsnLocation=http://portal.Contoso.com/demo/CheckRequest/Forms/template.xsn
• Add Other Components
&Source=URL to redirect after close
&DefaultView=ViewName
35. Extending InfoPath
• Web Service Calls to LOB data
Ability to Use Familiar Development Tools
• JScript Coding
Easy to Deploy in InfoPath Client
Lacks the Power of .NET
• .NET Code Behind
Full .NET Connectivity
More Difficult to Deploy
Visual Studio and Source Control Issues
37. Resources
• Deployment of InfoPath Forms
http://bit.ly/1elqfHI
• Connect URL to Specific Form or view
http://bit.ly/1aUTHzi
• Tips and Tricks for Making Form Filling Faster
http://bit.ly/1izX5r5
• InfoPath – Query Specific SharePoint List Data
http://bit.ly/1dmTjSf
• InfoPath User Profile Within SharePoint Claims Environment
http://bit.ly/xZTRw5
38. MN SharePoint Users Group Website
• SharePoint Resource Documents
• SharePoint Resource links
• RSS Feeds
• Meeting Schedule
• Past User Group Presentations
• Past User Group Recordings
• Sponsorship Information
• http://sharepointmn.com
• Email: sharepoint@sharepointmn.com
39. Avtex IT Pro Consultant
ddonais@avtex.com
Blog – Tales from IT Side
http://talesfromitside.wordpress.com
Twitter
@dondonais
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