After installing InfoPath 2003 SP1 you may have noticed when you try to open an InfoPath form template (see Figure 1) or form (see Figure 2) from a Web site or from SharePoint that a new File Download dialog box appears. These warning dialog boxes can quickly become annoying. You can prevent these dialog boxes from appearing by following the steps below.

Figure 1. The File Download dialog box for InfoPath form templates.

Figure 2. The File Download dialog box for InfoPath forms.

Prevent the File Download dialog box for InfoPath form templates:

There are two ways to prevent the File Download dialog box for InfoPath form templates. The easiest way to do it is to clear the Always Ask Before Opening This Type Of File check box at the bottom of the File Download dialog box (refer to Figure 1). The second way is to follow these steps:

1. In Windows Explorer choose Folder Options from the Tools menu.
2. On the File Types tab of the Folder Options dialog box, Type XSN.

The list will automatically scroll and select Microsoft Office InfoPath Form Template.

3. Click Advanced
4. Clear the Confirm Open After Download check box, and then click OK.

Prevent the File Download dialog box for InfoPath forms:

1. Click in the Registered File Types list box to set focus, and then type INFO.

The Registered File Types list box will automatically scroll and select Microsoft Office InfoPath 1.0 XML Document, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Selecting the InfoPath XML Document file type.

2. Click Advanced
3. Clear the Confirm Open After Download check box (as shown in Figure 4), and then click OK.

Figure 4. Preventing the File Download dialog box from appearing.

4. Click Close.

With these changes in places, you will no longer receive this dialog box when you open an InfoPath form template or form from a Web site or from SharePoint.

These steps are not easily deployable. However, in the future, another option may present itself. Until then users can either click Open on the dialog box, or prevent the dialog box from appearing by following the steps above.

©2004 Greg Collins. All rights reserved. Licensed to Autonomy Systems, LLC for display on InfoPathDev.com.