InfoPath Dev

Hi, i'm relatively new to InfoPath so apologies in advance for my ignorance.

I have a form which contain a number of data connections (to an Access database) that populate drop down menus and some text boxes using rules. These connections are only needed for the form originator; once they have filled it in and sent it for approvals the look ups are no longer needed as the information is 'static'.

Hence I would like the form to only connect to the database when it is first created and then store the select values rather than maintaining the connection. This will reduce the time it takes for approvers to open the form and also means that I don't have to give them access to the database.

Is there a simple (or even not so simple) way of doing this? It would seem like it should be a natural function of InfoPath but I can't work it out.

Cheers

Hi, first go into your access data connections and uncheck the box that says "automatically retrieve data when form is opened".

Then, go into tools > form options > Category:  Open and Save > Rules

You can add rules in here to check to see if the data has been set yet or not.  Click Condition and select a field that gets set by one of these data connections, then choose "is blank"

Then click "Add Action" > Choose Query Using a Data Connection > Choose one of your data connections       (repeat this step for each data connection)  Click ok 4 times, and save.