InfoPath Dev

Hi,

Just wondering, how are database mappings in DBXL detected? My form has 3 sections where each section is exclusive to each other (meaning each section serves an independent function, for example, create approval form, delete approval request and modify request form) and when triggered by their respective button clicks, will allow users to fill in the section details. Each form then has the same "main submit" button to complete and submit the form.

I've tried mapping each section to their individual database tables in DBXL with some success. It seems that DBXL is able to detect if a section is filled and only insert fields into the "active" section. Meaning, if I created a form to create an approval request, the delete and modify tables will not have anything inserted as their form sections are empty. This was a pretty amazing feature until I further developed my form and experienced a situation where my form cannot be reshredded because of some key value (from another section) being empty. Problem is, it should be empty as I did not "activate" that section.

So I am puzzled if anyone knows which field or key values is the trigger for DBXL to map form data to database columns? To simplify, I have a form with 3 sections, each mapped to a different database table. I wish to be able to fill in any section of the form, submit form data and ONLY trigger the database map to the correct table while ignoring the other 2 database table mappings. This is possible right? I know I have to figure out the trigger else my form will either fail to reshred or start mapping to additional tables which I do not want.

Any ideas for my puzzle?

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You should make your shredding conditional using the Node Xpath at the Table level

Example:

/my:myFields/my:CreateSectionInfo[/my:myFields/@my:SubmitType='Create']

Hi Jim,

Currently I have something like this, /my:myFields/my:Form_Container/my:CreateGroup as my node path to my table. Are you saying I can alter it to this: /my:myFields/my:Form_Container/@my:CreateGroup='1'

Where '1' can be a hidden field(creategroup) value and when I click on my submit button I can set a value for creategroup and subsequently DBXL will shred to the database where the node path is @my:CreateGroup='1'?

This sounds good! If it is how I understand it to be...

Yes, you can use the table's XPath to conditionally include or not include certain rows (or all rows) during shredding, but your path doesn't make sense.  It would be more like:

/my:myFields/my:Form_Container/my:CreateGroup[@my:create = '1']

Where @my:create is an attribute field on the my:CreateGroup node.

Hi Jimmy,

Yup, I figured that out regarding the [] and yes it worked! This is a very useful feature, how come they didn't mention this conditional shredding in the user manual? Or did I miss it?

Anyway, rem my previous xpath? Where it ends with a ignore empty node condition? my:Manager_Engagements_NotGrouped[. != '']

Can I incorporate conditional formatting on my node path as well? Something like .......my:Manager_Engagements_NotGrouped[. != ''][@my:create = '1'] ??

Haven't tried this myself yet, still figuring out how to transfer checked MSLB values to each other and refreshing the form view without committing the changes to database...

Yes, you can combine conditions like that.  Should work just fine.

 I'm not sure if the manual mentions this conditional mapping, but we do have a few blog posts on the topic.

http://www.infopathdev.com/blogs/david/archive/2007/10/17/conditional-shredding-in-dbxl.aspx

http://www.infopathdev.com/blogs/ernesto/archive/2009/07/31/conditional-sql-mapping-with-dbxl-v2-3.aspx

I will ask the support team whether the manual has any reference to these, and will ask them to add it if not.

Hi, yes our documentation does include some information about conditional shredding.

If you look at our "How To" guide for database mapping there is a section on conditional mapping:

http://www.infopathdev.com/files/folders/database_integration/entry56213.aspx

Ted

Hi Guys,

 Just wondering, am I supposed to add the '@' symbol as well? Because when I do that, my document can't be reshredded. I had to use this for my nodepath: /my:myFields/my:Form_Container/my:CreateGroup/my:CreateGroupContainer[my:New_GroupCode!= ''] then it works fine.

Thanks for your help guys!

The '@' symbol would only be used if the New_GroupCode field is an attribute.