InfoPath Dev

Hello Everybody,

 I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the form visually the same as the template it was filled out with.

I've tried versioning but it doesn't seem to accomplish what i need.

I've created a form and published it as a content type to a sharepoint forms library.

I fill out the form and submit it to the library. Then i change the form and re-publish it, but the form i filled out previously inherits the changes.

The objective is to keep the form in its original format at the time it was filled out.

So if i open that form 5 years form now it will look like it did when it was filled out 5 years ago rather than the current revision of the form.

Any suggestions?

Kaleo

I think what you are saying is that you want to update the template of the form without it affecting previous documents.  A tenant of InfoPath is that each document or XML has a reference to a template which is used to interpret and display the xml data.  So naturally an old xml file will still look to reference the template it was created with. If this template has been updated it will present the information accordingly.

In order to get what you want you would need to keep seperate templates. Publish your template to a new location or form library when you make updates or copy the previous version template to an archive and then update the production template.

I am not aware of any way around this when using the same template.

Yes, thats correct.

 If I move the old template, 'archive' it. will the XML file still be able to find it? or will i have to keep it in the same location?

Does that also mean that each template i publish needs a new name? or can i just rename the old ones?

Ideally I would always want the current form to have the same name.

Thanks,

Kaleo

The process would be open your production template in design mode.  I would do a save as of your production template and give it a archived name, this leaves your production template unchanged. Republish the template copy to your archive location.  Move your existing forms to the new location and verify you can open them from there.  Then close the design view and reopen your production template and make your updates to the existing template and everything is cool.

This is from memory but I think that would be the steps.

thanks,

I understand.

 Kaleo

Hello Clay,

I thought i would fill you in on how I accomplished what I needed.

Everytime I publish a major revision of the form I publish a new content type to a master form library in sharepoint.

The forms repectively are Form 1.0.0.1, Form 1.0.0.2, Form 1.0.0.3 or what ever the naming is, but each form name is different and they all exist in the same library.

I then created a sharepoint link list and added a link called "Form Name" and link it to the latest revision of the form.

That way to the user nothing changes, they still click on the link called "Form" yet all older forms will retain their appearance.

Kaleo