InfoPath Dev

I am trying to figure out a way to display infopath form data housed in SharePoint with out locking the record while the data is being viewed. My form is a combination of many (20-25) forms. It has some cascading drop down boxes that steers the requester to the correct form (infopath section) to fill out. Because of this the form has many fields. So I only promoted some basic information for each request. After the form is submitted another user works the request by using a custom list form designed for editing the record. Because not all the data is promoted the user will need to open the form to get the detailed information. the issue arises when the form is open while the user is updating the request via the custom list form. The workflows associated with the form library immediately stop because the record is locked.

Is there a way to dynamically view the xml data? I am thinking something like a custom list form where you can dynamically tell the view which xml file to use. Maybe in the query string...or I might be way off all together.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

hi dstidham,

if you are viewing the form in browser, then the form does not get checked out. Go to tools -> form options -> compatibility check the box (Design a form template that can be opened in a browser or infopath). then publish the form.

I wish it was that simple. Unfortunately a browser enabled form is not an option at this time. But since that topic has been brought up...My form is a combination of 20 different forms placed into section controls and hidden with conditional formatting. From what I have read online, this format would take a serious hit in speed and functionality. Is this true?

hi dstidham,

dont worry about the speed hit, because you will keep on finding ways to improve performance, but dont compromise on functionality

Having so many sections does not necessary mean that your speed will be affected, speed majorly depends on your implementation skills.

Do you have directions on how to setup the form as browser enabled? I recieve a lot of incompatibility errors when trying to convert it. Also it says the form is not associated with a SharePoint site that allows browser enabled forms.

for a form to be rendered in browser, the template should be browser enabled and you should be having infopath form services on your server(available in MOSS), there are some features of infopath that are avaiable in client and not in browser enabled forms, so you will need to design your form without those features(like horizontal repeating tables, etc)