All right stop! Collaborate and listen (Sharing Points)

I think I will continue on the Infopath theme.

I have found another site which does this

http://www.infopathdev.com/howto/tutorials/default.aspx?i=371d344d003946268efdd6b03fcbb6b4

Ok thats was plain stupid.

I have been working heavily with Infopath and everytime I turn around I am more and more impressed with it. Yes I have gripes but its flexibily is really quite awesome.

For example I am now using infopath instead of lists when possible. My reason are

• Nice UI (good to add corporate branding, impresses management)
• SPELL CHECKING
• Some smarts can be easily built in for data checking. (Date validation is good here Date A must be before Date B)
• Multiple file attachments.
• Fields can be pushed up to be visible in the form library.

There are more but they help. I also found away to add the use of the [me] for views, I havent used it yet but here it is

http://weblogs.asp.net/wkriebel/archive/2005/01/24/359669.aspx .

I also use them instead of document libraries (not ideal I know but I do have my reasons).

The main point is that it allows a nice way with spell checking and data validation for adding metadata to a document. The document gets attached to the infopath form. The biggest downside and well is a killer in most cases is the editing of the attached document is only possible by editing it localy then re-attaching it.

A way around this is to allow the user to link to an existing document in a sharepoint library(I use a rich text box and a submit button) its a bit clunky but it works, i can expand on this if people want it.

A big reason for using them instead of document libraries is by using views and a menu of sorts you can enable a form library to allow many different types of documents!!

Simpy create a view which is unique for the data you wish to store, then a menu with a list of buttons which allows the user to select which document they wish to fill out. When they click the view save the form type they have selected to a field so when tehy edit it later the correct view loads up straight away for editing.

There were other tricks for this and I may blog it later but I have said enough for now.

My point….Infopath I think is under used. Take a look at it scratch its surface.

Cheers