UBS Tech Talk:Info Path

Introducing InfoPath

InfoPath: Office System Forms Application
For most people…
For solution owners…
They will not necessarily know they are using it.
It is design tool enabling rapid solution deployment

Streamline Data Collection
Before InfoPath
With InfoPath
1 event = 4 user inputs

Information silos
Lost productivity
Data entry errors

1 event = 1 user input

Information shared across org
Improved efficiency
Accurate, valid information

Broad Solutions Applicability

Expense Report
HR Accelerator
Account Planning
Funding Request
….

Formal Workflow
Process
Formal

Asset Mgmt
Customer Service
Engagement Cycle
Patient Triage
…

Dept. & Vertical Workflow

Team Survey
Status Report
Feedback Form
Customer Visit
….

Task & Status Tracking
Owner
Ad-hoc
Department IT
Enterprise IT
Team
5-10 users
Department users
Enterprise users

Form Definition
InfoPath Form Template (XSN)
Schema
(XSD)
Views
(XSLT)
.XML
Solution
Definition
(XSF)
URL or URN
in a PI
(Processing
Instruction)
Default
Data
(XML)
Business Logic
(JS, DLL)

Scenario: Engaging And Tracking Projects

Project Tracker Standalone Architecture
Schema
Mapper
InfoPath Forms
Web Services
Microsoft
SQL Server
Resources
Customers
Priorities Form
Timecard
Project Details
Shredded Data
XML Blob Storage
SharePoint 2007
Dashboard
SQLReportingServices
CustomWeb Parts

Integration Architecture
Microsoft
OfficeLive
Employee Directory
InfoPath Forms
Customer Accounts
Business Contacts
Schema
Mapper
Web Services
SOW Form
Timecard Form
Priorities Form
Microsoft
SQL Server
Shredded Data
OfficeLive
Dashboard
(Dataview Web Parts via SOAP)
XML Blob Storage
Projects List
SQLReportingServices
Milestone Summary

Integration Details
Components Used
Business Contact Manager Lists
SharePoint 2007 Sub-Site Portal
Sub Site Packager
Passport Authentication

Gotchas
Passport Authentication Caching Bug
Causes publish and login issues
Need to clear the passport cache from the user credentials in Windows to work around
Browser Forms not Supported
The UI is there in the OfficeLive SharePoint UI but doesn’t do anything
Need to add all the OfficeLive URLs as Local Intranet in Internet Explorer for the InfoPath forms to work properly
Cross-Site Authentication
OfficeLive Business Contact list now uses multi-select for the Groups tagging. Not supported in InfoPath
Can’t filter on contact groups (e.g. just list employees in a dropdown)
Workaround was to leverage the fact that each contact is tagged with the company name and so we added a setting to the config for your company name and then filter the employee dropdown on that

Hosted Services
What it takes
Going from hosted services to Office Live and vise versa is easy
InfoPath forms can work in multiple environments with little modification
Benefits to Separately Host InfoPath Solutions
Deep and Rich Reporting
Faster performance
Document Level Permissions
Can still integrate with OfficeLive lists etc.

Good, Better, Best

How To Host?
Build your own data center
Use cloud services such as Microsoft Cloud DB
Qdabra Formsboard provides InfoPath support out of the box
Streamline deployment
Sharing forms across the internet
Out of the box solutions for immediate use
Community of InfoPath experts

© 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.