InfoPath Dev

I want to be able to add a node or an attribute via the right click Add option in the data source task bar that has the same name as an existing node or attribute. Infopath keeps giving me an error.

Example:
<root>
<field1 name="">
<field2 name="" />
</field1>
</root>

Add attribute "name" to field2. The error is "A field or group with that name already exists. ..." It goes on to tell me to create a reference from the existing field or group to the new location in the datasource.

Now, if I load a xml doc as the main data source, then it doesn't complain that I have fields or groups with same names.

Is there an easy way to get around this or is the only way to modify the schema and the xml doc of the infopath form?

1. In the Data Source task pane, right-click the field that has the name that you want to use elsewhere in your schema, and then choose Reference.

2. Select the destination field, and then click OK.

Greg Collins [InfoPath MVP]

oh sorry, guess I was not quite clear. The name attribute is unique.

Example:

<root>
   <field1 name="John">
      <field2 name="Mike" />
   </field1>
</root>

When I try to add another attribute field called name, Infopath displays an error "A field or group with that name already exists."

As I understand it, any changes you make to one field updates the other field automatically. Which is not what I want to do.

Thanks for the help.

Hi Code Wizard,

I think Greg's option might still work if you use a reference to name.

Another alternative would be to create the xsd schema outside of InfoPath and load it into InfoPath. Using references ought to work here too.

Good luck!

Is this an internal or external schema? Meaning, was it created using InfoPath or by some other means?

The solution I gave you will work if your schema was created in InfoPath. If not, you just need to follow standard schema design practices. I would suggest downloading a copy of XML Spy Home Edition for schema work.

Greg Collins [InfoPath MVP]

I misunderstood the Infopath online help. I thought that the data (values) would be duplicated. But it turns out that only the node definition is duplicated.

Thanks for the help.

If you want the data value to be identical in both, set a rule on one to populate the value of the other with the same value as the first.

Greg Collins [InfoPath MVP]