InfoPath Dev

Hello and thanks for looking at my question.

I currenly use ASP and ASP.NET to create all our web/applications for capturing data and storing it in an SQL 2005 database.  This has proved to work well due to its flexibility but obvioulsy requires techinical knowledge of coding.

I have recently been introduced to MS Info Path as a viable contender to ASP/ASP.NET but I wanted ask a few question before I made any kind of decision and I was hoping that someone could spend the time to help me.

What is infopath (summary)
o      What are the main parts of the software (designer etc)
o      What is it used for
o      Examples of use

How do people view/modify the forms
o      Designer
o      Viewer (web, standalone software etc)


What export/backend options are available
o      Database storage of data
o      Interaction with SharePoint
o      Workflow options (e.g. creating a form on the timesheet software and submitting it to your manager)
-      What reporting options are available as standard

Can it be linked to SAP?

Also, what are its limitations, what can't it do?

Many thanks for your comments.

PDM

 

With InfoPath you can collect and manage data with ease. Extend the reach of your business with rich electronic forms.  InfoPath is very easy to use for designing input screens,  it is one possible component to Business Automation Systems, and a step towards the mythical "paperless" office.
When using together with InfoPath Forms Services, the InfoPath template can be showed in a Webbrowser

Also for the users, you can offer them a very userfriendly form.  You can add, manage easily data validation, conditional formatting etc out-of-the-box.

Please have a look at the following link to see an overview of all possible control are available in which version.
http://www.silversandsassociates.com/InfoPath_Forms_Compatibility_Overview.pdf

Infopath is also very easy to integrate with SharePoint, to make more userfriendly input forms. (SharePoint offers to create Document and Forms Libraries)
Data from the Form can be showed in the columns of a SharePoint Library. You even can update data in the form, via SharePoint.

InfoPath can be used at the same time to use and fillin the form and to design the form (When using webbased templates, you use InfoPath as the designer)
There is a possibility to block the design mode for 'normal' users.

Can you acces databases?  Yes, SQL Server an Access out of the box, but you can use WebServices, this means you can access any database and SAP if you want.

Workflows: as InfoPath forms are Xml based, you can use it easily with workflows, SharePoint workflow dessigner, Nintex etc.   I have done this already several times for several customers.
You can even adapt the view of the template, depending on the status of the Workflow.

InfoPath also offers you to add Managed Code (or JSCript in 2003), when using this with SharePoint, a SharePoint Administrator must validate the code first before publishing. (Which is logic for securty reasons, but it is rather straight forward)

Limitations:  There are limitations, see the whitepaper,  all depends on how to use InfoPath.  .Net and ASP.Net are much more flexibel, you can create almost everything, not with InfoPath.   Use InfoPath for inputting data in forms. 

If you have more specific questions, don'thesitate to contact me

 I hoe this give you some extra information