InfoPath Dev

I'd like to be able to change my database schema (add/remove fields) and have my InfoPath form automatically update its controls. I'd really like to avoid changing the infopath form every time we change the database. Can this be done?

 

Hi Martin,

You should be using a Web Service with a data driven mapping between your XML and SQL. Then, you can change the form's schema or the database schema without having to republish your form and without interrupting your end user's submit process. This is the best practice that Qdabra's DBXL uses to save organizations time and money. It's an inexpesnive accelerator that let's you define your mapping in data. You can change the schema and remap later. Remap can be done on all existing forms. So, adding a new field is trivial. Qdabra pays for this free forum.

Thank you for the information, Patrick. Perhaps I am misunderstanding or wasn't clear in my initial posting, however... I don't want to do any mapping. I want infoPath to recognize my schema - whether that be in XML or directly to a database table - and adjust the form accordingly using appropriate controls (text box, checkbox, etc) In other words, rather than dragging data elements onto the form from a data source, I'd like to drag the entire data source and have the fields appear. And if I change the fields in the data source, the form would automatically change. I'm getting the feeling I can't do this...