How to re-create the xsn (InfoPath Form Template) that was published to Sharepoint 2010?

Question

Hi,

We have some InfoPath forms publised to a foundation version of Sharepoint 2010 portal.  We just upgraded the server to the Enterprise version of the Sharepoint 2010, during the migration process, we discovered these forms.  The creator of these forms are no longer with the company, and took away the *.xsn files too. 

How do we re-create these .xsn, inforPath form template? Can we download the .xsn from the sharepoint server?  Or, we have xml of the form, how do we re-create the template (.xsn) from (.xml) in Sharepint Infopath Designer 2010?

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks

Jean

Answer 1

InfoPath forms in SharePoint don't work without the XSN, so the XSN for each form should be right there wherever the forms are.  What did you mean when you say he took them away.  They can't be taken away unless he maliciously erased/destroyed/copied-over them but didn't mess with the actual data forms (.XML).  Each form library should have the relevant XSNs inside the hidden Forms folder if the form template was published directly.  If they were published as content types, then the template resides wherever the content type is pointing.  If they were published as admin-approved, then they will exist in Central Admin in the InfoPath area of the General Settings.

• Be careful, because if any are admin-approved, that means a feature was created for each one that included the XSN as a content type, so check Central Admin first to see how many there are
• After that, go to each form library > Settings > Form Library Settings.
• See if a special content type is being used.  If so, click on the content type name (each one) and click on Advanced Settings.  Here, you will see the path to the XSN
• If no content types are being used, then simply click on Advanced Settings, then click Edit Template, and the XSN will open in Design Mode (be sure the current computer has the proper version of InfoPath installed)

This should take care of it.  FYI, there is no SharePoint InfoPath Designer 2010.  There is the InfoPath Designer and Filler for 2010, and then there is SharePoint Designer 2010.  These are very, very different tools that are both incredibly useful in SP2010, but I didn't want you to get confused between the two.  =)

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Answer 2

Great! I got them. Thank You.

Answer 3

I can't thank Clayton enough for providing this well explained solution. It saved me hours (if not days) and lots of headaches.

Thank you very much. You deserve a vote or thousand :) - so I'll vote.

-Nam