InfoPath Dev

Ok, I am sure that InfoPath is great, but I am not sold. I am so not sold that I have entirely lost my ptience for it.

Let me tell you what I like about infopath, then maybe... hopefully some of you can suggest some other applications that would suit my needs better.

- I really like the whole form feel, how customizable you can make the form with different formulas and controls.
- I like how you can have different views within the form and navigate through them depending on which part of the form you may be in.
- I don't like how it runs off a template. What I would like is each form that is opened and used to be an independent of each other and not having to reference a template. Cause for the most part I will be making minor changes to the form and do not want to have to worry about it affecting other versions. I know that you can make different versions of the form as it progresses, but I can easily see me having way too many versions of the forms cause someone is always wanting to change something.
- I do not need it to be attached or reference anykind of databases
- Need something that I could incorporate digital signatures into.


I would appreciate any suggestions you all would have. Infopath would be great, but it is trying to do too much for what i need it for. Typical Microsoft Product... thinking and trying to do too much for the human race... we still like to be in control!!!

Thanks again!!!!

Bernie

Multiple views are supported (since the initial release). You can use buttons or code to navigate between the views, or the View menu works too.

You will always have a template. The template is just the design of the form and description of the initial state when a user first opens it. Think of it this way, you have a "design mode" and an "edit mode". Changing things in your template often doesn't affect the user's experience when opening a form created from that template. Templates allow you to have more than one XML file for the same form. So for example, I want a form for keeping track of my video collection, I create it... but low, I can create a form for my Video collection, and my friends too--all off the same template, without needing to redesign a new form for my friend.

You don't have to use databases. XML files are the default format.

Digital signatures are supported.

As per "typical Microsoft product" -- you could say this about any software package out there. How many people use ALL of the features of Photoshop, XML Spy, Quicken, TurboTax, or any other software package? No one. But across the world, at least some one uses each of the features available. Its a good thing--really.

InfoPath may not be the correct tool for your situation. Or there is something you're trying to do with the many tweaks that there might be a better option we could suggest.

The idea behind having a single common template with multiple form data files running off that is that then all the data is consistent. So then you can gather that data together, aggregate it to do reporting, or store in another system. A single template ensures consistency.

I'm curious, what is the reason why you want to tweak the template so frequently, but not have everyone on the latest template?