Infopath 2010 - Convert Existing form

Question

Hi,

I'm looking at a way to

(1) either customize the excel importer. I really need some lookup lists and checkboxes and not just entry fields. Is this possible with the default excel importer ?

(2) write my own. Are there any references on how to roll your own converter ? An extended excel one ? The infomation I have is from MSDN (limited, no real sample). I also have the 2007 and 2010 version of the book designing forms for Infopath (Addisson Wesley), but this is not really helpful either, but it has a chapter on this :-)

Somebody that already has this experience ? Or some good pointers to get me started ? Sample code ?

Regards,

Marc

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for your question .I am trying to involve someone familiar with this topic to further look at this issue.

Thanks

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Entan Ming

TechNet Community Support

Answer 2

you might try bringing the excel into Access first and then using the Access to sharepoint list features. Excel used to have some features to move into sharepoint (and still does with VBA) but they moved a lot of the GUI-based links into Access. it may be more robust with respect to column types. You can also write your own. eveything you need is in the object model to read excel data, create column types and move data into sharepoint lists.

I j ust did a very quick test export. i made 2 columns in my access db. 1 of type text and the other a choice field. the sharepoint list I exported to also had a text and a choice field, so it seems to have some intelligence......

Answer 3

Hi Bill,

Let me give you some more context :-)  One very important remark, SharePoint is not in the picture ...

We are talking about capturing results of software unit tests in a medical company. THese unit tests are defined using Excel. These are printed out and filled in manually, signed, approved, etc. Afterwards each of these test results is scanned and linked to the appropriate unit test definition.

I see little added value for SharePoint, they are using Documentum for some years now. Besides this, it want really help to use SharePoint as we have several thousands of these excel sheets with multiple test runs ... I cannot create a forms library for each unit test that they define.

If the excel file could be converted to Infopath, we already have an electronic way of filling in the results of the test execution. This is what we should aim for.

And this is why I looking at the excel importer. They will stay using excel to define the unit tests. Automating the results capturing would help them, no more manual work or less at least.

WIth the existing excel importer I have some problems:

(1) Lookup lists, a test result is either passed, failed, not applicable

(2) Boolean, execute the test yes or no

(3) Can some rules be added in one way or another to this infopath form. THese are very easy validation rules. A test cannot pass if some steps did fail for example.

You can mail me off-line if you prefer to discuss this off-line (nemegeerm @ delaware . be). Remove the spaces from the mail address :-)

Does this put the question in a different perspective ?

Regards,

Marc

Answer 4

Hi Marc,

Over the years and InfoPath versions, we have seen very few requests on building a custom file importer. There is some documentation on this (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa202713(v=office.11).aspx); however, it was written for InfoPath 2003. The premise will still work you just may have to modify some of the code. Other than what is in this SDK, I am unaware of any pre-existing samples of customizing or creating a custom importer. 

Now, with the additional information you provided, I too have some other questions:

- I cannot fully tell from your additional information...how would InfoPath be used once the data is imported (assuming you could import it)?

- Is there a lot of data in the Excel sheets that will be imported into InfoPath?

- Have you actually done a POC using InfoPath using an Excel file that would contain, say, a typical amount of data and then one that would be considered a "lot" of data?

Here is why I am asking: I don't mean to beat on the amount of data but I have seen numerous customers attempt to recreate something using InfoPath that looks/works/etc. like the Excel workbook and if there is a lot of data, calculations, etc. the performance has been an issue. InfoPath is a great product but it is not a replacement for Excel. I just don't want to see you go down a path where you spend a lot of time developing something only to find out your are disappointed in the result.

Scott

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Scott Heim - Microsoft Office InfoPath and SharePoint Designer Online Community Support

Answer 5

Hi Scott,

(1) The infopath will be used by the tester to enter the result. Evidence, such as screen shots can be added as an attachment. Result of the test is pass/fail/NA

(2) There is not a lot of data in this excel sheets. I have included one of these tests, you do not see all the lines, but 85%. There are not calculations, formulas, etc, in there. It is just for recording the test result. At present they do it on paper, sign the paper, etc. So we will need something like an electronic signature also ...

(3) Not done a poc yet. They are all about the same size, the number of lines can be a bit higher, or the number of views can be higher as the number of tests increments.

Regards,

Marc

Answer 6

Hi Marc,

That data and your description of the process should work just fine in InfoPath. Not sure if you are aware of this (or if it would help) but if you are unable to easily create a custom importer or use the built-in Excel importer functionality then one additional possibility would be to create a "Template Part" that has the data source setup the way you want it. Then as you need new InfoPath templates you can just add that part to the new XSN and voila, you have possibly 90%+ of the work done. The one caveat to this: you would be using the same basic data source in each XSN. If this is an option, then a Template Part may be of benefit.

Scott

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Scott Heim - Microsoft Office InfoPath and SharePoint Designer Online Community Support

Answer 7

Hi Scott,

I'm working on a couple of different tracks to solve this problem for the moment:

(1) Excel importer, stopped because the effort could not be estimated, no samples, no good documentation, etc.

(2) Working in Infopath to import the excel on the form and then adapt the infopath form on the fly. Busy creating a POC for this.

(3) Found a company that has a product that is capable of generating infopath forms (different versions), by importing an excel file.

So, not sure yet that the above is the answer ... We are still in in the process of making a buy/make decision.

Your thoughts on this are welcome

Marc Nemegeer