InfoPath Dev

I am using FilterOwssvr on a form to create a cascading dropdown arrangement in a repeating table.  I have successfully set the thing up and in preview it works perfectly...  When I publish the form and test the process in the browser form I get a really unexpected result.

Line 1 First dropdown select works fine - no results in dropdown 2

Line 2 First dropdown select works fine - dropdown 2 works fine

Go back up to second dropdown on Line 1 and now the correct results show there too!

 I don't EVEN know what to do about this!!  HELP

Hi, Donna:

This is not an issue with FilterOwssvr, actually, but an issue with using drop downs in repeating data sources in a browser form. You can't use filters, so you are using FilterOwssvr to make sure your secondary data connection has only the correct items in drop down 2 that associate with drop down 1. However, if the drop downs are in a repeating section, you'd anticipate that when you modify the query for the secondary data source for your second drop down, any controls using that data source for items will now display the current items available.

 For example:

Here’s what happens in these scenarios, when the cascading dropdowns are in a repeating section:

First section , I select Fruit from drop down 1, and drop down 2 shows Apples, Cherries, Bananas.

Second section, I select Vegetable from drop down 1, and drop down 2 shows Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Lettuce.

What do you think will be the available options in drop down 2 in the first section? Why, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Lettuce of course – because the data source ONLY contains those items right now. The rule to refresh the data source is usually run on the change of the first drop down, and I’m not going to change drop down 1 from fruit to something else if I meant apples instead of cherries…..

This can be worked around – one option would be a UI change, wherein if the user selects a value in drop down 2, the selected value is displayed in an expression box and a button is displayed for them to click if they want to change their selection. Clicking the button re-queries the data source for the current drop down 1 selection so that the options for the user are applicable to their initial drop down selection. 

The one thing I'm perplexed by is that you say this works perfectly in preview, which it shouldn't. The same issue should apply there if you are using an owssvr.dll data source for the drop down and it is being refreshed to return only the correct items based on the selection from the first drop down. I'm assuming from your use of "line 1" and "line 2" in your description that your drop downs are in a repeating section. Let me know if I've misunderstood.

Yeah, no...  That is not exactly the problem.  The filters work perfectly well in Preview and the actual filtered results are as they should be in all rows of the table. 

 In the browser, however, everything just falls apart, basically...

Could I send you some screen shots or something?  To the Support E mail?

Sure, feel free to send screenshots. If everything is working exactly right in preview, but failing in browser, I'd tend to suspect control postback settings. Any chance that is an issue here?

Well I guess it could be...  I sent a screenshot document to your Support e mail.  Let me know if you think there is some way to fix this...

As always, Thanks for your immensely valuable help!!!

I got your screenshots - what are the postback settings on the equipment type dropdown? Try setting to always and see if you have a change. I'm assuming your rule that sets the FilterOwssvr command is on the equipment type dropdown?

You know, I never got an e mail on this for some reason, so just picked it up today!!

That worked!!!  It completely fixed the problem...

Duh Duh Duh all the way home!  Thanks Hilary!!!

Gotta watch that postback setting -- especially with qRules commands.

Well I guess so!