InfoPath (previously code-named "XDocs"), is a new product in the Microsoft Office family. Using InfoPath helps to streamline the process of gathering information by enabling teams and organizations to easily create and work with rich, dynamic forms. The information collected can be integrated with a broad range of business processes because InfoPath supports any customer-defined XML schema and integrates with XML Web services. As a result, InfoPath helps to connect you directly to organizational information and gives you the ability to act on it, which leads to greater business impact and productivity.
01. Infopath is an excel like application?
No, Infopath has very few similiarities with other office products like excel and word but it has a very distinct idea behind it. Infopath is more concerned about the portability and one time data fill-up application, where as other office applications are more biased towards the data storage.
02. How can I develop a complete office solution using Infopath?
Using Infopath we cannot develop a complete sequential workflow application. It is more intended for a small scale data gathering applications, preferabily one form at a time. You cannot expect logical flow or receprocal actions with InfoPath applications.
03. How secure is InfoPath?
Infopath stores everything as XML storage. The typical Infopath document is devided in to UI and Data. These two parts are stored as XML and XSLT respectively. So unlike other binary documents, Infopath documents are virus free.
04. Infopath needs some developer efforts.
True, but very very less. Most of the features are wizards which are easy enough to be handled by any non-developer. The big advantage of Infopath over other office applications is Highest level of abstraction in Data validation. The data validations are implicitly taken care by Infopath. You can develop a simple registration form with in 5 minutes (yes 5 only) with all basic validations in place.
05. Infopath only comes with Office system 2003 which is expensive.
No, You can buy Infopath as a seperate individual product. But if you buy a complete Office System 2003, you'll get Infopath as a part of suite.
No, though Infopath can be integrated with .NET, it does'nt require it.
07. What is the role of Sharepoint server in Infopath based applications?
Sharepoint enables Infopath applications to be deployed across teams internally. Since Sharepoint is a part of Office System, it enables the highest level of integration with Infopath and Team services.
08. Do employees need to have InfoPath installed on their PCs in order to fill out forms created with InfoPath? - stephencummins - Information workers will need to have InfoPath 2003 installed on their PCs to enter information into InfoPath forms and to take advantage of the rich client functionality such as structural editing, business-logic validatin, rich-text formatting, AutoCorrect, and spell-checking. That said, you can read an InfoPath form that has been saved to .MHT in your browser or within an HTML-enabled e-mail client, as the body of your mail message. Because InfoPath generates XML belonging to any customer-defined schemas, other software could be used to reuse and display that XML document.
InfoJet Service is a Java class library to publish InfoPath Forms to the web. InfoJet Service can be deployed as Web Services. J2EE and .Net web application with integration of InfoJet Service support the users to edit InfoPath Forms in Internet Explorer and FireFox.
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