SharePoint Saturday
                 Louisville, Kentucky
                         July 28, 2012



Funnel your Info down
           a new Path
             Ryan Dennis
About The Speaker
Ryan Dennis, MCTS, MCITP
Senior SharePoint Engineer @ ICC
Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist (vTSP)
        www.SharePointRyan.com
        @SharePointRyan
        linkedin.com/in/ryandennis
        ryan@sharepointryan.com
What is a VTS?
The Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist Program
(VTSP) is…
•  a select group chosen from the elite in Microsoft’s partner community
•  their primary role is to communicate the value of Microsoft Solutions to
   customers and to provide architectural guidance for Enterprise Integration
   solutions
VTSPs also:
• have guest access to information on the Microsoft corporate network such
   as knowledge bases, technical articles, training materials, and other
   resources
• guest access to Microsoft facilities
• priority for participating in Microsoft marketing events
General Information
• Tweet it Out!!
  – Hashtag for this event: #SPSLouisville
  – Follow us: @SPSLouisville
  – Include your presenters
• Check out SPTV
  – Man on the street interviews…
  – Footage will be shown at http://mysp.tv
Clean-Up Items
• Fill out your evaluation forms!

• Visit the Dugout for a sneak
  peak of SharePoint 2013 and
  Networking.

• See you back at Home Plate for
  the Closing and Raffles!!
Tonight’s SharePint is generously sponsored by

SharePint is being held right here at the Marriott
immediately following the event. Visit the
Rackspace booth for your ticket.

For each unused drink ticket turned back in, a $5
donation will be made to charity.
SharePoint Saturday Louisville has been
made possible because of a generous
sponsorship from the following friends…
What is InfoPath?
• …a forms-creation and data-gathering tool to
  streamline business processes…
• …a tool for advanced business users to design
  sophisticated electronic forms with no code…
• …a point-and-click way to connect to LOB
  systems using data connections…
Ok Ryan, so what is it really?
• An awesome way for you to make data entry
  fun, engaging and powerful…
• A brilliant front-end to SharePoint list and
  library data…

• …an Office program…
And it works with SharePoint?
  • InfoPath forms can be used in SharePoint in multiple
    ways, including…
     – List Forms
        • Customize existing SP Lists
     – Browser-based Library Forms
        • Publish form templates for viewing in the browser
     – Client-based Library Forms
        • Publish advanced form templates for viewing in the InfoPath
          client
     – Workflow Forms
        • Modify SharePoint workflow forms using InfoPath for a richer
          experience
     – Web Service Forms
        • Automatically create forms based on Web Services
What licensing do I need?
• Client (InfoPath Designer)
    – Microsoft Office
      Professional Plus 2010
• Server (Forms Services)
    – SharePoint Server 2010
      Enterprise
*Without SP Enterprise, you can publish your
forms to SharePoint and launch them in the
client – but the InfoPath client is then required
on every machine
4 Main Types of Forms in
SharePoint…
• List form
  – Modify an existing list form using InfoPath
• Browser-based form template
  – Publish a form template for browser use
• Client-based form template
  – Publish a form template for client use
• Workflow form
  – Modify Workflow forms
WORKING WITH SHAREPOINT
      LIST FORMS
CREATING A SHAREPOINT LIST
          FORM
• Created a standard Contacts List in SharePoint
  2010
• Customized the List Form using InfoPath 2010
• Modified a few fields for better user experience
• Added some AdventureWorks branding
  elements
• Had fun doing it…
WORKING WITH SHAREPOINT
  LIBRARY-BASED FORMS
• Utilize a form template (XSN file)…
• Are stored in a SharePoint Form Library…
• Can leverage data connections and external
  content types…
• Provide more functionality than list-based forms…
• Can be launched within the browser, in an InfoPath
  Form Web Part or in the InfoPath Form Client*
*Some features which are supported in client-based forms are not
supported in browser based forms. More info later…
Business User                                     IT
                                             Administrator
                             I don’t want
           I want to         to give you
           create sites!!!   permission to
                             create sites…
USING A WEB SERVICE FORM TO
        CREATE SITES
• Created a browser-based form template based
  on a web service schema…
• Connected it to the Sites.asmx Web Service…
• Used the form to create a site request for a new
  subsite under our Site Collection…
• Used an Approval workflow to manage the site
  request…
• Had a lot of fun doing it…
Funneling your Info down a new Path…

 WORKING WITH SHAREPOINT
   RECORDS CENTER SITES
• InfoPath Forms can be sent to a Records Center, but
  there are some issues…
   – The Form Template exists in the source site collection, thus the form
     won’t open…
   – By definition, a Records Center is a locked down site – shouldn’t have
     dynamic files such as forms with workflow
• There are some cool opportunities here…
Convert forms to PDF

• There is no out-of-the-box way to do this, but…
  – There are 3rd party tools
  – You can write your own…
• Why don’t I just show you!
• AdventureWorks has made a business decision
  to start leveraging InfoPath for different types
  of data gathering and process management…
• They would like to archive completed forms in
  a SharePoint 2010 Records Center Site as a
  searchable, read-only PDF…
SENDING INFOPATH FORMS TO A
 SHAREPOINT RECORDS CENTER
• Sent a generic InfoPath XML form to a Records Center,
  not so pretty…
• Added some workflow and used Muhimbi PDF converter
  to convert submitted InfoPath Forms to PDF
• Leveraged SharePoint Designer Workflow and Muhimbi
  Workflow Actions to send converted PDFs to a Records
  Center


(For more information on Muhimbi, go to
www.muhimbi.com)
• Some controls not supported on List forms…
  – External item picker
  – Template Parts
• Managed metadata not supported at all…
• Writing to a People Picker column not
  supported…
• Sending completed forms to Records Center…
Tips & Tricks
• Use Template Parts to create reusable templates to
  include branding, help, standard fields, rules, etc.
• Use External Content Types to populate InfoPath
  Forms with LOB data…
• Gather requirements and understand them, InfoPath
  is great, but it’s not the right tool for everything…
• Don’t recreate the wheel!
Questions?
Ryan Dennis, MCTS, MCITP
Senior SharePoint Engineer @ ICC
Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist (vTSP)
        www.SharePointRyan.com
        @SharePointRyan
        linkedin.com/in/ryandennis
        ryan@sharepointryan.com

Funnel your Info down a new Path

  • 1.
    SharePoint Saturday Louisville, Kentucky July 28, 2012 Funnel your Info down a new Path Ryan Dennis
  • 2.
    About The Speaker RyanDennis, MCTS, MCITP Senior SharePoint Engineer @ ICC Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist (vTSP) www.SharePointRyan.com @SharePointRyan linkedin.com/in/ryandennis [email protected]
  • 3.
    What is aVTS? The Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist Program (VTSP) is… • a select group chosen from the elite in Microsoft’s partner community • their primary role is to communicate the value of Microsoft Solutions to customers and to provide architectural guidance for Enterprise Integration solutions VTSPs also: • have guest access to information on the Microsoft corporate network such as knowledge bases, technical articles, training materials, and other resources • guest access to Microsoft facilities • priority for participating in Microsoft marketing events
  • 4.
    General Information • Tweetit Out!! – Hashtag for this event: #SPSLouisville – Follow us: @SPSLouisville – Include your presenters • Check out SPTV – Man on the street interviews… – Footage will be shown at http://mysp.tv
  • 5.
    Clean-Up Items • Fillout your evaluation forms! • Visit the Dugout for a sneak peak of SharePoint 2013 and Networking. • See you back at Home Plate for the Closing and Raffles!!
  • 6.
    Tonight’s SharePint isgenerously sponsored by SharePint is being held right here at the Marriott immediately following the event. Visit the Rackspace booth for your ticket. For each unused drink ticket turned back in, a $5 donation will be made to charity.
  • 7.
    SharePoint Saturday Louisvillehas been made possible because of a generous sponsorship from the following friends…
  • 9.
    What is InfoPath? •…a forms-creation and data-gathering tool to streamline business processes… • …a tool for advanced business users to design sophisticated electronic forms with no code… • …a point-and-click way to connect to LOB systems using data connections…
  • 10.
    Ok Ryan, sowhat is it really? • An awesome way for you to make data entry fun, engaging and powerful… • A brilliant front-end to SharePoint list and library data… • …an Office program…
  • 11.
    And it workswith SharePoint? • InfoPath forms can be used in SharePoint in multiple ways, including… – List Forms • Customize existing SP Lists – Browser-based Library Forms • Publish form templates for viewing in the browser – Client-based Library Forms • Publish advanced form templates for viewing in the InfoPath client – Workflow Forms • Modify SharePoint workflow forms using InfoPath for a richer experience – Web Service Forms • Automatically create forms based on Web Services
  • 12.
    What licensing doI need? • Client (InfoPath Designer) – Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 • Server (Forms Services) – SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise *Without SP Enterprise, you can publish your forms to SharePoint and launch them in the client – but the InfoPath client is then required on every machine
  • 13.
    4 Main Typesof Forms in SharePoint… • List form – Modify an existing list form using InfoPath • Browser-based form template – Publish a form template for browser use • Client-based form template – Publish a form template for client use • Workflow form – Modify Workflow forms
  • 14.
  • 16.
  • 17.
    • Created astandard Contacts List in SharePoint 2010 • Customized the List Form using InfoPath 2010 • Modified a few fields for better user experience • Added some AdventureWorks branding elements • Had fun doing it…
  • 18.
    WORKING WITH SHAREPOINT LIBRARY-BASED FORMS
  • 19.
    • Utilize aform template (XSN file)… • Are stored in a SharePoint Form Library… • Can leverage data connections and external content types… • Provide more functionality than list-based forms… • Can be launched within the browser, in an InfoPath Form Web Part or in the InfoPath Form Client* *Some features which are supported in client-based forms are not supported in browser based forms. More info later…
  • 20.
    Business User IT Administrator I don’t want I want to to give you create sites!!! permission to create sites…
  • 21.
    USING A WEBSERVICE FORM TO CREATE SITES
  • 22.
    • Created abrowser-based form template based on a web service schema… • Connected it to the Sites.asmx Web Service… • Used the form to create a site request for a new subsite under our Site Collection… • Used an Approval workflow to manage the site request… • Had a lot of fun doing it…
  • 23.
    Funneling your Infodown a new Path… WORKING WITH SHAREPOINT RECORDS CENTER SITES
  • 24.
    • InfoPath Formscan be sent to a Records Center, but there are some issues… – The Form Template exists in the source site collection, thus the form won’t open… – By definition, a Records Center is a locked down site – shouldn’t have dynamic files such as forms with workflow • There are some cool opportunities here…
  • 25.
    Convert forms toPDF • There is no out-of-the-box way to do this, but… – There are 3rd party tools – You can write your own… • Why don’t I just show you!
  • 26.
    • AdventureWorks hasmade a business decision to start leveraging InfoPath for different types of data gathering and process management… • They would like to archive completed forms in a SharePoint 2010 Records Center Site as a searchable, read-only PDF…
  • 27.
    SENDING INFOPATH FORMSTO A SHAREPOINT RECORDS CENTER
  • 28.
    • Sent ageneric InfoPath XML form to a Records Center, not so pretty… • Added some workflow and used Muhimbi PDF converter to convert submitted InfoPath Forms to PDF • Leveraged SharePoint Designer Workflow and Muhimbi Workflow Actions to send converted PDFs to a Records Center (For more information on Muhimbi, go to www.muhimbi.com)
  • 29.
    • Some controlsnot supported on List forms… – External item picker – Template Parts • Managed metadata not supported at all… • Writing to a People Picker column not supported… • Sending completed forms to Records Center…
  • 30.
    Tips & Tricks •Use Template Parts to create reusable templates to include branding, help, standard fields, rules, etc. • Use External Content Types to populate InfoPath Forms with LOB data… • Gather requirements and understand them, InfoPath is great, but it’s not the right tool for everything… • Don’t recreate the wheel!
  • 31.
    Questions? Ryan Dennis, MCTS,MCITP Senior SharePoint Engineer @ ICC Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist (vTSP) www.SharePointRyan.com @SharePointRyan linkedin.com/in/ryandennis [email protected]

Editor's Notes

  • #17 Create a contacts list, modify the form in InfoPath, change the look & feel – add a dropdown to States list replacing textbox (RGB 5,172,195)
  • #20 Create a new InfoPath WS Form talking to the Sites web service to show it, then open the existing oneTalk through the form, then show the workflowRun through the approval process