InfoPath Dev

I have created an InfoPath template for our department, and it has data source links to Sharepoint lists in our department portal. However, every other department will need a similar form but with links to lists in their department portal. The lists are specific to each department, so they can't be shared between.

Can I copy the existing template and change the data sources so that it can be reused across departments? I really don't want to recreate this form countless more times if I don't have to.

I did search for this and came up with an article from 2006. I'm hoping this is easier in the current version (InfoPath 2007).

Thanks in advance,

klc2009

Hi KLC2009,

Yes, you can do this. If you are using MOSS 2007, please take a look at Universal Data Connections (UDCs). We have a UDC Editor tool that is free as well as several blogs and samples that use them. You just define it once and then the form will load the UDC file to connect to the data source. If you then make the UDC relative to the department site or portal, you can create separate UDC files for each department and you can use the same template for all departments. Of course, you'll have to do simple edits to the UDC file and save it in different locations, but that's not too hard.

If you don't have MOSS 2007, another idea is to store the data connection in an XML file that is on the site. Then, you'd write a little business logic that loaded the data connection. Same concept as for UDC files, but requires a little more work. Once again, it's a relative XML resource that contains the specific pointer to the department resource. That XML resource would need to be changed per department, but not too hard. Template would be the same for all departments.

Hope this helps. Good luck tracking down the details.