InfoPath 2010 Jumpstarter:
           My trip from Zero to Hero

                                     Justin Reed
            IT Expert, Application Development
About me
  • Currently
     • “The SharePoint Guy” for
       UF Housing & Residence Education
     • Division of Student Affairs

  • Previously
     • Dept. of Corrections
     • Dept. of Transportation
     • Sears Holdings

  • Contact Info
     • Twitter – @Jreed637
     • Email – JustinR@housing.ufl.edu
     • Blog – jcrtek.com
Agenda
  • InfoPath Overview
  • InfoPath Benefits
  • Tips and Best Practices
  • Demo: Template Parts
  • Demo: Tabbed Sections
  • Demo: Web Services
  • Wrap-up and Questions
InfoPath Overview
• Easy-to-use form creation tool
   • Help get users away from Word/Excel/PDF forms
   • Streamline business processes and increase efficiency
   • Forms can be created by your power users
• Create advanced solutions without writing code
   • Can be extended further with C# or VBA code behind

• Built on existing standards
   • XML – Industry standard language for working with data
InfoPath Overview
• Connect with multiple types of data sources
   • Receive
      •   SOAP Web Service
      •   REST Web Services
      •   SharePoint libraries/lists
      •   MSSQL DBs and XML
   • Submit
      • Web Service
      • SharePoint Library
      • ASP.Net hosting environment
InfoPath Overview
• InfoPath comes in two flavors
   • Designer: used to create the forms
   • Filler: used to fill out the forms
   • Included with Office Pro Plus or Standalone
• Form Types
   • List forms
   • Filler Forms
      • User needs InfoPath to fill out the form
   • Browser-based forms in your SharePoint environment
      • Form Library or Admin-deploy as a Content Type
      • User doesn’t need Office at all
InfoPath Benefits
• Efficient data collection
   • Data Sources help automate form filling
• Error reduction
   • Add simple validation before submit
   • Dropdown list boxes pre-populated with defined choices
• Audit compliance
   • Form security, retention, and workflow history via SharePoint
• It’s green!
   • Think of the trees
Tips and Best Practices

   • Plan Ahead
     • Meet with stakeholders or end users
        • Discuss what end result they desire

     • Since we’re moving paper forms to electronic
        • Iron out issues with existing business process
        • Identify improvements to be made during upgrade
        • Consolidate functions of various forms

     • Establish workflow for new form
        • Who will use it? Where to put it?
        • Who gets access to the information
Tips and Best Practices

   • Design your Data Source first
      • Name your fields and groups!
Tips and Best Practices

   • Consistency
     • Look and feel – Theme forms to your Org
     • Buttons and navigation
        • Instead of Ribbon UI, use buttons w/ custom actions
   • Use Groups/Sections
     • Keep your fields organized into logical units
     • Use conditional formatting to show/hide
        • Help direct form flow based on input or roles
   • Keep things simple
     • Don’t overload users with too many fields
     • Move things to another view… or use groups and
       sections
Demo Time

  • Demo: Template Parts
Demo Time

  • Demo: Tabbed Sections
Demo Time

  • Demo: Web services
Resources
  • Blogs
     • Clayton Cobb
        • http://claytoncobb.wordpress.com/
     • Laura Rogers
        • http://sharepoint911.com/blogs/laura/default.aspx


  • Forums
     • Stack Exchange – http://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/
     • TechNet – SharePoint Designer/InfoPath Forum
     • InfoPathDev – http://www.infopathdev.com/

  • Training
     • Qdabra Software – http://www.qdabra.com/
Questions
Thanks for attending!
And a big thanks to our sponsors!

SPSOrlando - InfoPath 2010 Jumpstarter

  • 1.
    InfoPath 2010 Jumpstarter: My trip from Zero to Hero Justin Reed IT Expert, Application Development
  • 2.
    About me • Currently • “The SharePoint Guy” for UF Housing & Residence Education • Division of Student Affairs • Previously • Dept. of Corrections • Dept. of Transportation • Sears Holdings • Contact Info • Twitter – @Jreed637 • Email – [email protected] • Blog – jcrtek.com
  • 3.
    Agenda •InfoPath Overview • InfoPath Benefits • Tips and Best Practices • Demo: Template Parts • Demo: Tabbed Sections • Demo: Web Services • Wrap-up and Questions
  • 4.
    InfoPath Overview • Easy-to-useform creation tool • Help get users away from Word/Excel/PDF forms • Streamline business processes and increase efficiency • Forms can be created by your power users • Create advanced solutions without writing code • Can be extended further with C# or VBA code behind • Built on existing standards • XML – Industry standard language for working with data
  • 5.
    InfoPath Overview • Connectwith multiple types of data sources • Receive • SOAP Web Service • REST Web Services • SharePoint libraries/lists • MSSQL DBs and XML • Submit • Web Service • SharePoint Library • ASP.Net hosting environment
  • 6.
    InfoPath Overview • InfoPathcomes in two flavors • Designer: used to create the forms • Filler: used to fill out the forms • Included with Office Pro Plus or Standalone • Form Types • List forms • Filler Forms • User needs InfoPath to fill out the form • Browser-based forms in your SharePoint environment • Form Library or Admin-deploy as a Content Type • User doesn’t need Office at all
  • 7.
    InfoPath Benefits • Efficientdata collection • Data Sources help automate form filling • Error reduction • Add simple validation before submit • Dropdown list boxes pre-populated with defined choices • Audit compliance • Form security, retention, and workflow history via SharePoint • It’s green! • Think of the trees
  • 8.
    Tips and BestPractices • Plan Ahead • Meet with stakeholders or end users • Discuss what end result they desire • Since we’re moving paper forms to electronic • Iron out issues with existing business process • Identify improvements to be made during upgrade • Consolidate functions of various forms • Establish workflow for new form • Who will use it? Where to put it? • Who gets access to the information
  • 9.
    Tips and BestPractices • Design your Data Source first • Name your fields and groups!
  • 10.
    Tips and BestPractices • Consistency • Look and feel – Theme forms to your Org • Buttons and navigation • Instead of Ribbon UI, use buttons w/ custom actions • Use Groups/Sections • Keep your fields organized into logical units • Use conditional formatting to show/hide • Help direct form flow based on input or roles • Keep things simple • Don’t overload users with too many fields • Move things to another view… or use groups and sections
  • 11.
    Demo Time • Demo: Template Parts
  • 12.
    Demo Time • Demo: Tabbed Sections
  • 13.
    Demo Time • Demo: Web services
  • 14.
    Resources •Blogs • Clayton Cobb • http://claytoncobb.wordpress.com/ • Laura Rogers • http://sharepoint911.com/blogs/laura/default.aspx • Forums • Stack Exchange – http://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/ • TechNet – SharePoint Designer/InfoPath Forum • InfoPathDev – http://www.infopathdev.com/ • Training • Qdabra Software – http://www.qdabra.com/
  • 15.
  • 16.
    Thanks for attending! Anda big thanks to our sponsors!