InfoPath Dev

 I want to create form templates and host them on server for use by clients who do not have Infopath or Access.  When they select a form, they answer questions.  Their answers will be stored on client side and not on server.   Their answers will be suitable for use in other form templates they can select.   When they select another template, the data will be pulled out of the client-side stored file where their previous answers were stored.   If they make a change to a default value (the value from their stored answer), they will be offered to have the change reflected on all other forms or just this form.   For example, client may find he misspelled someone's name when he is creating the 5th form.   The system will allow him to keep the existing change and not have it apply back, or to have it apply back.  

There are many other requirements, but I am curious about whether this one can even be done with ease.

Thanks.

Hi Jeff Matthews and thanks for the unique question!

If they don't have InfoPath on the client and you can't use browser-based forms ala SharePoint (since offline isn't supported), then you will need to use a different technology.

We have a tool that takes an InfoPath form template and renders it in the browser and it doesn't use SharePoint but it doesn't support offline save. For that you need a rich client application. InfoPath is the best rich client application on the market today for electronic forms, but you don't have it. So, you'll have to do a custom solution.

Not hard to do a custom solution that uses XML. You could even create a solution that is compatible with InfoPath so that down-the-road you have options if you decide to go the SharePoint or InfoPath route. Qdabra Software does custom .NET consulting and we have lots of experience with custom form solutions (that don't use InfoPath or SharePoint). Happy to provide an estimate for your project if you are interested.