Beginning InfoPath 2003

by Barker, F. Scott

• ISBN13: 9780764579486
• ISBN10: 0764579487
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-11
• Publisher: Wrox

Summary

InfoPath creates forms for data gathering, analysis, and reporting InfoPath has been adopted by many companies, ranging from Toyota and Hewlett-Packard to M/I Homes and New York Presbyterian Hospital, and recent laws that regulate data collection, such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPPA, have increased demand Explains how to use InfoPath in a single user mode and how to use it with other databases, such as Access and SQL Server, or in conjunction with XML Web services Shows how to deploy multi-user forms that use InfoPath with collaborative products such as Windows SharePoint Services and BizTalk

Author Biography

F. Scott Barker, a Microsoft MVP, has worked as a developer in the database field for over 16 years, and with Visual Basic, SQL Server, and Microsoft Access for the last 12 years. Scott is currently working on a major InfoPath project for Toyota, converting a largely manual paper form production quality control system to InfoPath forms. Scott worked at Microsoft in the Access and Foxpro teams. Since leaving he has been contracting with Microsoft developing in-house tools used throughout Microsoft. Scott is a writer for a number of VB/Office magazines as well as a columnist for DotNetJunkies.com and is the author of a number of books.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xxiii
InfoPath---The Journey Begins	1	(12)
What Is InfoPath, and How Can It Be Used?	1	(11)
The Challenge of Forms Management	1	(1)
Microsoft's Solution: InfoPath	2	(1)
Try It Out: Opening the Sample Absence Request InfoPath Form	2	(2)
Side Trip: Installing the InfoPath 2003 Service Pack 1.1	4	(1)
InfoPath Features	4	(1)
Features Introduced in Service Pack 1.1	5	(1)
The InfoPath Form Process	6	(1)
Ways to Use InfoPath	7	(1)
Single User	7	(1)
Published for Others' Use	8	(1)
Collaborative Efforts	8	(1)
Ways to Connect Data to InfoPath	8	(1)
Deployment Requirements for Designing and Filling Out InfoPath Forms	8	(1)
Taking a Look at a Typical InfoPath Form	9	(1)
Try It Out: Testing the Features of the Absence Request Form	10	(2)
Summary	12	(1)
Exercises	12	(1)
Getting Started Designing with InfoPath	13	(16)
Touring the InfoPath Designer	13	(6)
Overview of the Task Panes	15	(1)
Layout Task Pane	15	(1)
Control Task Pane	16	(1)
Data Source Task Pane	17	(1)
Views Task Pane	18	(1)
Creating Your First InfoPath Form	19	(8)
Try It Out: Creating a New InfoPath Form	19	(2)
Exploring the Ways of Designing a New Form	21	(1)
Working with Tables	22	(1)
Adding a Table	22	(1)
Try It Out: Adding the Tables	22	(1)
Resizing Table Columns and Rows	23	(1)
Try It Out: Resizing Elements	24	(1)
Setting Fonts and Adding Text to the Form	24	(1)
Try It Out: Setting Font Information and Adding Text	25	(1)
Adding Controls to the Form	25	(1)
Try It Out: Adding Controls	26	(1)
Setting a Color Scheme	26	(1)
Try It Out: Set the Color Scheme	26	(1)
Summary	27	(1)
Exercises	28	(1)
Understanding Data	29	(16)
A Quick Database Primer	29	(6)
Databases in the Real World	30	(1)
Database Models	31	(1)
Flat File Model Databases	31	(1)
Relational Database Model	32	(1)
Tables: Where Data is Stored	32	(2)
It's All about Relations	34	(1)
Referential Integrity	34	(1)
Normalizing Your Data	35	(1)
Working with Various Databases	35	(5)
File Server versus Client Server	36	(1)
Front and Backends	36	(1)
Microsoft Access	36	(1)
Benefits and Issues of Microsoft Access	37	(1)
Microsoft Access Objects Used with InfoPath	37	(1)
Microsoft SQL Server	38	(1)
Benefits and Issues of Microsoft SQL Server	38	(1)
Microsoft SQL Server Objects Used with InfoPath	39	(1)
Other Databases	40	(1)
Looking Briefly at XML	40	(2)
Try It Out: Examining an XML Document	42	(1)
Introduction to Web Services	42	(2)
Web Services Overview	42	(1)
Using Web Services with InfoPath	43	(1)
Summary	44	(1)
Exercises	44	(1)
Creating an InfoPath Form from an Existing Data Source	45	(20)
Starting the Form Based on a Data Source	45	(6)
Specifying the Right Data for the Right Job	46	(1)
Working with the Data Connection Wizard	46	(1)
Try It Out: Creating the Form and Specifying the Data Source	47	(4)
Working with the Created InfoPath Form	51	(7)
A Look at the Features of the New Form	51	(1)
Try It Out: Filling in the Form Header Information	52	(1)
Data Source Task Pane	53	(1)
Try It Out: Displaying the Fields in the Data Source	53	(1)
Query Field Section	54	(1)
Adding the fields	54	(1)
Try It Out: Adding Fields to the Query Field Section	54	(1)
Using More Than One Query Field	55	(1)
Data Field Section	55	(1)
Adding Fields One at a Time	55	(1)
Adding Repeating Sections of Fields to the Form	55	(1)
Try It Out: Adding Fields to the Data Field Section	56	(1)
New Record and Run Query Command Buttons	56	(1)
Try It Out: Examining to Run Query Command Button Action	57	(1)
Previewing the Form	58	(3)
Try It Out: Querying a Customer Record by Region	58	(1)
Try It Out: Modify a Customer's Record	59	(1)
Try It Out: Adding a New Customer	60	(1)
Updating a Form's Data Source	61	(2)
Try It Out: Adding a Sort Order to tb/Customers	62	(1)
Summary	63	(1)
Exercises	64	(1)
Utilizing XML and Web Service Data Sources	65	(18)
XML Overview	65	(6)
What Is XML?	66	(1)
XML Documents	66	(1)
Standard XML Files	66	(2)
The XML Data Document (*.xml)	68	(1)
The Schema File (*.xsd)	69	(1)
Try It Out: Exporting tb/Shippers from Access to XML	70	(1)
Utilizing XML Data in InfoPath	71	(9)
Why Use an XML Data Source?	71	(1)
Creating an InfoPath Form Using an Existing XML Document	72	(1)
Try It Out: Specifying a XML Data Source	72	(2)
Try It Out: Adding the Fields	74	(1)
Utilizing Data with an XML Data Source	75	(1)
Try It Out: Adding a Data Source Using an XML Document	75	(5)
A Brief Look at the XML Used for InfoPath Forms	80	(1)
Try It Out: Examining the Files	80	(1)
Summary	81	(1)
Exercises	81	(2)
Working with Controls in General	83	(20)
Using the Right Control for the Right Job	83	(2)
Looking at the Starting Form for the Chapter	85	(1)
Try It Out: Open the Sample Form	86	(1)
Working with the Property Sheet	86	(1)
Setting the Default Value of a Control	87	(5)
Using Literal Values	87	(1)
Try It Out: Adding a Default Value to Quantity	87	(2)
Using Formulas	89	(1)
Try It Out: Using a Formula for Order Data Default Value	90	(2)
Working with Rules at the Control Level	92	(6)
What Are Rules and When Are They Used?	92	(1)
Creating Rules	93	(3)
Try It Out: Adding a Second Rule	96	(2)
Formatting Fields	98	(4)
Using Standard Formatting	98	(1)
Try It Out: Formatting the UnitPrice for Currency	99	(1)
Conditional Formatting	100	(1)
Formatting Attributes	100	(1)
Display Properties of a Text Box	100	(1)
Try It Out: Creating Conditional Formatting	101	(1)
Summary	102	(1)
Exercises	102	(1)
Looking at Some Useful Controls and Techniques	103	(20)
Using Expression Boxes with Formulas	103	(3)
Try It Out: Adding an Expression Box Based on a Formula	104	(2)
Utilizing Command Buttons	106	(3)
Try It Out: Adding a Delete Button	107	(2)
Utilizing Drop-Down List Boxes on the Form	109	(12)
Adding a Drop-Down List Box to a Form	109	(1)
Try It Out: Adding the Field from the Data Source as a Text Box, and then Changing It	110	(1)
Try It Out: Adding a Drop-Down List Box and Binding it to a Field	111	(1)
Specifying List Box Data Sources	112	(1)
Working with an Additional Data Source	113	(1)
Try It Out: Specifying an Additional Data Source	113	(2)
List Box Data Connection Properties	115	(1)
Try It Out: Setting a List Box's Data Connection Properties	115	(2)
Entering the List Manually	117	(2)
Try It Out: Creating the List Manually	119	(2)
Summary	121	(1)
Exercises	121	(2)
Working with Sections	123	(12)
Overview of Types of Sections in an InfoPath Form	123	(1)
Looking at Choice Sections and the Choice Group Control	124	(3)
Try It Out: Adding a Choice Group Control	126	(1)
Optional Sections	127	(3)
Try It Out: Adding an Optional Notes Section and Setting Its Properties	129	(1)
Specifying Filters on InfoPath Forms	130	(4)
Try It Out: Filtering a Repeating Table Using a Drop-Down List Box	131	(3)
Master/Detail Sections	134	(1)
Summary	134	(1)
Exercises	134	(1)
Managing Views	135	(26)
Views Overview	135	(4)
Try It Out: Creating the Default View	136	(3)
Working with View Properties	139	(5)
Reviewing the Views Task Pane	140	(1)
Getting to the View Properties	141	(2)
Try It Out: Changing the Default View's Properties	143	(1)
Creating Multiple Views	144	(5)
Try It Out: Adding the Notes and Orders Views	144	(3)
Try It Out: Switching between Multiple Views	147	(2)
Custom Task Panes	149	(6)
HTML Web Page Used for Custom Task Pane	150	(1)
Try It Out: Creating the Task Pane in HTML	151	(1)
InfoPath Custom Task Pane Properties	152	(1)
Try It Out: Specify Task Pane Files in Your InfoPath Form	152	(3)
Print Views	155	(4)
Try It Out: Creating Print Views	156	(3)
Summary	159	(1)
Exercises	160	(1)
Publishing InfoPath Forms	161	(20)
What It Means to Publish an InfoPath Form	161	(1)
Differentiating Forms to Fill from Their Templates	162	(1)
Ways to Distribute InfoPath Forms	162	(1)
Publishing to a File Server	162	(11)
Try It Out: Publishing a Form on a File Server	163	(4)
Publishing to a Web Server	167	(1)
Try It Out: Publishing an InfoPath Form to a Web Server	167	(3)
E-mailing InfoPath Forms	170	(1)
Try It Out: E-mailing an InfoPath Form When Filling	171	(2)
Exporting to a Web Page	173	(3)
Try It Out: Exporting an InfoPath Form	174	(2)
Merging Data from Separate Forms	176	(4)
Try It Out: Merging Data from Separate InfoPath Forms	177	(3)
Summary	180	(1)
Exercises	180	(1)
Working with Code in Your InfoPath Form	181	(12)
When is Code Necessary?	181	(1)
Choose Your Flavor of Code: Script or Managed Code (.NET)	182	(4)
JScript or VBScript?	182	(1)
Try It Out: Setting the Default Script Editor	183	(1)
Managed Code with .NET	184	(1)
Try It Out: Downloading the InfoPath 2003 Toolkit for Visual Studio .NET	184	(2)
Looking at Event Programming	186	(6)
What is an Event?	186	(1)
InfoPath Events	187	(1)
Try It Out: Creating Your First Scripted Event	188	(1)
Try It Out: Creating Your First Managed Code Event	189	(3)
Summary	192	(1)
Exercises	192	(1)
Getting Started Using Scripts	193	(14)
Introduction to Microsoft Script Editor	193	(3)
Try It Out: Creating the Initial Form	195	(1)
Working with JScript	196	(9)
Working with Custom Functions	197	(1)
Try It Out: Creating a Custom Function	197	(1)
Try It Out: Calling a Custom Function	198	(2)
Using Variables	200	(1)
Reference Variables	200	(1)
Value Variables	200	(1)
XDocument Object	200	(1)
Try It Out: Adding References to Fields on an InfoPath Form	201	(1)
Performing Operations on Variables	202	(1)
Try It Out: Updating the txtFullName Field from Code	202	(1)
Try It Out: Displaying LastName, FirstName	203	(1)
Conditional Branching	204	(1)
Try It Out: Adding an Conditional If Statement	205	(1)
Summary	205	(1)
Exercises	206	(1)
Working with .NET Managed Code	207	(22)
Introduction to the .NET Framework	207	(3)
Common Language Runtime	208	(1)
.NET Framework Class Library	209	(1)
Using Visual Studio .NET	210	(7)
Try It Out: Creating a C# Windows Application Project	211	(2)
Elements of the IDE	213	(1)
Modifying the Project by Adding a Control and Event Code	214	(1)
Try It Out: Adding Controls and Code	214	(1)
Executing the Application	215	(1)
Executing with Debugging (Debug Mode)	216	(1)
Executing without Debugging (Release Mode)	216	(1)
Try It Out: Running Your Application	216	(1)
Developing InfoPath Projects in .NET	217	(4)
Review: Installing the InfoPath 2003 Toolkit for Visual Studio .NET	217	(1)
Working with the InfoPath Namespaces	217	(1)
Try It Out: Creating an InfoPath .NET Project	218	(3)
Distributing InfoPath .NET applications	221	(6)
Try It Out: Creating the Setup Distribution Project	221	(6)
Summary	227	(1)
Exercises	227	(2)
Real-World Tasks and Coding Examples	229	(20)
Date Calculations	229	(7)
Simple Date Calculations Using Script	230	(1)
JScript Date Object	230	(1)
Creating a Reference to an InfoPath Field	230	(1)
Assigning a Value to a Variable	231	(1)
Try It Out: Creating a Form That Manipulates Dates Using Script	231	(2)
Date Calculations Using C# and Visual Studio .NET	233	(1)
System.DateTime Class	233	(1)
Creating a Reference to an InfoPath Field	233	(1)
Assigning a Value to a Variable	234	(1)
Try It Out: Manipulating Dates Using C#	234	(2)
Sending a Form in an E-Mail	236	(4)
Try It Out: Creating a Form That Can E-Mail Itself	237	(3)
Providing Context-Sensitive Help	240	(6)
Try It Out: Creating a Context-Sensitive Help Task Pane	243	(3)
Summary	246	(1)
Exercises	247	(2)
Creating and Working with Web Services	249	(26)
Web Services Overview	250	(5)
Web Services Infrastructure	251	(2)
Using Web Services Locally	253	(1)
Try It Out: Setting Up a Web Service Locally	253	(2)
Using Web Services for Data Source	255	(7)
Try It Out: Basing an InfoPath Form on a Web Service	256	(6)
Creating a Web Service Using ASP.NET	262	(8)
Introducing ASP.NET	262	(1)
Try It Out: Creating an ASP.NET Web Service Project	263	(2)
Looking at the Initial Template	265	(1)
The Using Directive	266	(1)
Namespace and Class Directives	266	(1)
Initialization Code	266	(1)
The Sample Web Service	267	(1)
Try It Out: Creating and Testing Your First Web Method	267	(3)
Working with Web Service Methods That Return Data	270	(4)
Introducing ADO.NET	270	(1)
Differences between ADO and ADO.NET	270	(1)
ADO.NET Data Provider Classes	270	(1)
ADO.NET Objects	271	(1)
Try It Out: Creating the Method to Return Supplier Information	272	(2)
Summary	274	(1)
Exercises	274	(1)
Implementing Security	275	(16)
What Does Security Mean?	275	(1)
InfoPath Security	276	(8)
Form-Based Security	277	(1)
Try It Out: Looking at IE's Security Settings	278	(1)
Fully Trusted Forms	278	(1)
Try It Out: How to Create a Fully Trusted Form	279	(1)
Using the SDK Regform Utility	280	(2)
Try It Out: Creating a Fully Trusted Form Using the RegForm Utility	282	(1)
How it Works	282	(1)
Creating an MSI to Automatically Set Up Full Trust	283	(1)
Try It Out: Use the RegForm Utility to Create an MSI	283	(1)
Defining Security with the .NET Framework	284	(2)
Defining Assemblies	284	(1)
Assemblies in Web Services	284	(1)
User versus Code Security	285	(1)
Code-Based Security	285	(1)
Role-Based Security	285	(1)
System.Security Namespace	285	(1)
Digital Signatures	286	(3)
Using Digital Signatures with InfoPath	286	(1)
Try It Out: Creating a Test Digital for Testing	286	(1)
Try It Out: Sign the Form with the Digital Signature	287	(2)
Summary	289	(1)
Exercises	289	(2)
Working with InfoPath and Windows SharePoint Services	291	(18)
What Are Windows SharePoint Services?	292	(1)
Windows SharePoint Services Site Features	292	(1)
The Difference between Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Services	292	(1)
Touring a SharePoint Site	293	(7)
Default Lists of the Site	293	(3)
Try It Out: Touring the Different Areas	296	(1)
Other Major Areas	296	(1)
Customizing the Windows SharePoint Services Team Site	297	(1)
Try It Out: Applying a Theme to the Site	298	(1)
Adding Existing Web Parts to Your Site	299	(1)
Creating Your Own Web Parts	300	(1)
Using InfoPath and SharePoint	300	(8)
Publishing an InfoPath Form on a SharePoint Site	301	(1)
Try It Out: Publish a Sales Report to a SharePoint Site	301	(5)
Filling Out InfoPath Forms on the SharePoint Site	306	(1)
Try It Out: Working with the Form Library	306	(2)
Summary	308	(1)
Exercises	308	(1)
Manufacturing Plant Case Study	309	(14)
The InfoPath Document	309	(1)
Creating the Database	310	(4)
The BoilerSystem Data Model	311	(1)
BoilersOperatingLog table	311	(1)
SystemLog Table	312	(1)
Lookup Tables	313	(1)
The BoilerSystem Relationship Model	313	(1)
Looking at the Boiler Web Service	314	(8)
Creating the Data Adapters	315	(1)
Creating the Datasets	316	(1)
Creating Typed Datasets	317	(1)
Exposing the Datasets	318	(2)
Inserting Data	320	(1)
Submitting from InfoPath	320	(1)
Submitting Forms	321	(1)
Situation	321	(1)
Summary	322	(1)
Appendix A: Answers to Exercises	323	(4)
Index	327