InfoPath Dev

A potential customer wrote to us that they would like to embed our MetaDraw 3 OCX , an ActiveX component used for drawing, into InfoPath.

Is there someplace I can find information that would help me determine if MetaDraw would be compatible with InfoPath. MetaDraw can be used within most VBA environments although technical aspects of licensing may differ depending upon the environment.

--I was wondering

• a) What restrictions are there on ActiveX components in Info Path ?
• b) To what degree can ActiveX components be scripted in Info Path ?
  - for instance can I set a property of an inserted MetaDraw component in response to the user clicking on some button or menu in Info Path ?
  What would that code look like :
  ( VB Code would be
  ' Assume a button control called "CmdDrawLine" and a MetaDraw
  ' control called "mdDrawingCanvas"
  Sub cmdDrawLine_Click ( )
  mdDrawingCanvas.EditMode = ED_Line
  End Sub
  )
  

  Can I do something similar in InfoPath ?
  What would the InfoPath code look like?

• c) Are Infopath projects compiled ?
• d) Where is license information for commercial components typically stored in an InfoPath project ?

Thank you for any help you may be able to offer

Jeff Bennett
Bennet-Tec Information Systems Inc
www.Bennet-Tec.com

Hi Jeff,

I'm wondering if one of our customers contacted you. Did his first name begin with S? :)

We have done InfoPath ActiveX controls. There are some restrictions around integration, but you can definitely set properties. We can help with the .NET code assuming it's the same customer.

InfoPath projects are compiled using Visual Studio. Not sure where the licensing info would be stored, but it's the same as for other Visual Studio projects.

Talk to you soon maybe,

P

Thank you for writing.

Yes the customer's name begins with "S". I will contact our customer to see if I can give out his full name and e-mail to you. How can I reach you directly ( outside the forum ? ) You can reach me at Jeff A T BTis DOT com

He is interested in using our MetaDraw component to implement Drawing functionality within an InfoPath project.

You can see MetaDraw at
http://www.Bennet-Tec.com/btProducts/MetaDraw

You can download MetaDraw ( OCX or .NET edition ) from
http://www.Bennet-Tec.com/Downloads.htm

For drawing, the programmer would just put MetaDraw on a form and then add buttons or menus to enable the desired actions.
For example:

To allow user to draw lines, put the following in a button click
         Sub cmdDrawEllipse_Click ( )
              mdDrawingCanvas.EditMode = 4
         End Sub
To allow user to select, move, resize existing shapes
         Sub cmdSelectAndEdit_Click ( )
             mdDrawingCanvas.EditMode = 11
         End Sub

Take a look - you may find this interesting.

I will contact our customer to see if I can give out his full name and e-mail to you.

Thank you again for reaching out.

Jeff Bennett
Bennet-Tec Information Systems Inc
http://www.Bennet-Tec.com

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I contacted S and he confirmed the inquiry. We have the same customer.

We're very interested in using your control.

I will ask one of our developers to prototype.

More soon,

P

Patrick,

We'd love to hear if you have had a chance to try MetaDraw
and what your experience has been working with this in InfoPath.

          - Jeff