InfoPath Dev

We are trying to update an infopath form that already has elevated fields to Sharepoint.  Some field names need to be changed and we are worried that all previously filled-out forms will lose the data attached to that field.  Is there a way I can change the name of fields without losing the data from the previous versioned names?

Hi,

If you want to change the field names in the UI, then change field names only in the design of the form, don't change shema names in the Datasource.

But thats the thing, I want to eventually elevate these fields. The name of the data source is the one that is visible in Shareopint.  So is there a way i can change the name of the data source without losing data?

Actually, you can rename your promoted property columns without changing your data source names, I think. Under Tools / Form Options / Property Promotion, you can modify a promoted field, and type a new name for it in the column name. I'm not sure if your existing xml will have to be reopened and saved to then display their data in the newly named columns -- you may want to test this first by publishing a test form to a library, creating a few xml files from it, modifying your column names in the template and republishing.

 Thanks for the response.

Tried what you had suggested and it lost all data on the next publish =/

Any other ideas?

Hi,

Follow the steps what Hilary suggested. And then Relink all forms after publishing the new Build. Then you will find all your data.