InfoPath Dev

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, so if not, please re-direct me and I will gladly repost.

I would like to enable my form users to attach an excel spreadsheet to their IP form.  I know that there is the attachment control, but that's not quite what I want.  Instead, I want the users to only be able to attach a spreadsheet based on a particular template to the doc...the spreadsheet template will be stored in the SharePoint site as a content type, so I'd like to enable some sort of functionality that allows the users to click on a button/hyperlink on the form that launches a new document based on this template.  Once the user fills in the spreadsheet, I'd like the user to be able to save the form and have it attached to the IP form upon closing the spreadsheet.  Am I dreaming here?  We'd like to avoid having the users have to save the excel form locally and then attach it to the IP form, but if that is the only way, then that's what we can do.

I am really not terribly savvy with code, but I follow directions quite well, so if there is code that I can use to enable this, explicit instructions on how to add the code would be greatly helpful. 

 Thanks much!

Hi Moose,

You are dreaming. That is a ridiculous design. Sorry!

Seriously, what is your user scenario here? Why are you trying to use InfoPath to control how people save spreadsheets to SharePoint, and then capture the links? This scenario doesn't make any sense to me. We've certainly never done this kind of a solution and we build InfoPath/SharePoint solutions for a living. I've developed hundreds of solutions and I have never had this scenario. Now, there is a small probability that you have a new valid scenario, so please do explain the complete scenario and use case. What is the big picture? what are you trying to do? What data is going where and why? I am 99% sure there is a simpler solution.... but, please give me more details so I can understand better.

Best,

Patrick

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the response. 

Let me try to clarify.  I have an infopath form that collects a whole bunch of data from our users.  This is replacing a 100 question form that was originally created in word.  The form gathers information related to provisioning hardware or software. There are 2 request scenarios this form can be used for:  one server many applications or one application many servers.  (please bear in mind that this isn't my process; I'm simply the only person around who knows IP and SP).   The user submits the basic information, then one of the folks from our area takes the form with the basic information and gathers the rest of the data from our users and fills that in as well.  At the end of the form, either scenario, the creator of this process would like to have an excel spreadsheet template available if even MORE info needs to be attached to the form.  The additional information should only be input using a particular template and in all honesty, I haven't seen that template yet, I've just been asked to make this possible.  They want a link to a new excel doc based on this template to be on the form and once the excel doc is filled in, attach it to the IP form.

I'm going to reach out for the template again today in hopes that seeing it will help me understand why this can't be integrated right into the form or something.  I hope you're right Patrick.  A simpler solution would be very nice.

:)

 Moose,

did you find an answer to your question? 

I'm trying to do the exact thing with trying to add excel file which is already a content type in to the IP form.   Same two scenario with one server with many apps vs. one app with many servers. :-) I'm glad i'm not the only one have the same problem. 

let me know if you were able to find a solution. 

Thanks.