InfoPath Dev

Hello,

I'm very new to using InfoPath but we recently upgraded to SharePoint Enteprise 2010 and my boss would really like to take advantage of the new InfoPath Form Services that's available with this version of SharePoint. I need to know if it's possible to build a form that gets data from a Microsoft SQL Server, and also when that form is submitted it will need to populate a table on the SQL Server. Is this possible when done through SharePoint?

If it is, what would be the first steps that I need to take? I thought it was as simple as building a form in InfoPath2010 and just publishing it to SharePoint but I get the feeling that I need to upload some type of data connections to SharePoint Central Administration?

 Thanks in advance!

Hi, This can be done easily. When creating your form use the database template. This will ask you to setup a connection to your database. After you hit next, you can tick to allow the connection submit data back to the database. Note, this won't work for browser forms. Now you can create your form. If you want to submit to a sharepoint from library as well you will need change the submit options to "perform custom action using rules". Then in your rule create two submits, one to your database and another to sharepoint. Hope that helps.

You should also look at BCS since that simplifies stuff in 2010.

Patrick Halstead:

You should also look at BCS since that simplifies stuff in 2010.

 

What's BCS? Where can I find info on it?

 I have similar requirements and would like to research the possibilities.

Never mind, I found the info.

Thanks.

 

Dan

Hi Dan,

BCS has quite a few limitations - for example: http://www.infopathdev.com/forums/t/17826.aspx .

We generally recommend creating a Web Service or using an off the shelf one, like Qdabra's DBXL.

Cheers!