InfoPath Dev

I am confused on how InfoPath works with regards to the data source and controls. I am working with end users developing a questionnaire. It is at the point where they are changing things like adding questions and removing questions.

The form is not in production, I publish it to sharepoint.  For instance, I need to change an existing text field to an option button (yes/no) and then if they select yes, I need to add an optional section and a text box control. But when added the controls fall to the bottom of the data source tree, and often I can't get it to the right spot on the tree. If the new optional section falls to the bottom of the tree, is that ok. My intentions are to use DBXL and pass the data to SQL Server express at some point.  But the question is when you add new optional sections and they fall to the bottom of the data source tree, do I care, or do I try to move it. 

Hi Edward,

If you're dealing with repeating structure, those optional sections should be added to the repeating group where they belong, so yes you'd have to move them. To avoid controls being added to the bottom of the data source tree and having to move them, before adding the control, select the node in the tree where you want to place your new field/group.

If there are no repeating groups involved then you'd only want to organize your data source into a hierarchical structure just so it's, well - organized. It's best practice to organize your schema after all - it makes your form easier to work with, understand, and maintain.

Cheers!

I did not know you select the node in the tree where you want to place the new field/group.  Thanks,  Is the multi-select list box considered a repeating group.  The whole premise of groups is a little confusing here. Fields I understand, groups i really don't. For instance, when you add an optonal section, it creates a group....so you have a group there....in my case, they answer a Y/N....if Y, then they get another question to answer. So that causes two more groups get created....one for the question and one for the answer. 

A multi-selection box by default is added as a repeating field. I've thrown a quick sample form for you to try - take a look at the not-so-complex schema in the data source tree and how the controls are placed on the view (sections inside a repeating section bound to just one repeating group). I've added some default rows (Data > Default Values) just to test. Notice the conditional formatting in the QuestionAndAnswer repeating group - that's what hides the question if the previous answer is not Yes (true).

Here's what i don't get. At the beginning of my form I have fields that they enter into like Name, Country, Business_Unit..(which are at the top of the data source tree) .but the users added other fields like Name and Title, Number of staff, mix of business and they are located at the bottom of the tree. Is that OK? Does that matter?  I don't know how to get them to the top because I get an error message. So if you traverse the tree, it does jump from top to bottom in that section and another one where I added new fields. Thanks for your help.

Thanks for responding. At the top of my questionnaire, I have a header section with fields like Country, Entered By and Business Unit. The users want to show Business Lines (which are linked to Business Unit) so I put together a list in SharePoint, and set up a data connection to it and linked it to a multi-select list box...works beautiful, but the Business Lines multi-select list box is now at the bottom of the data source tree, and I can't get it to the top. The   controls in the header are fields in the beginning of the data source tree, and they won't accept a group which is what the multi-select list box is. How can I create a group at that top section, or does it not matter?  Thanks ...love InfoPath but I just can't seem t understand how the data source works when you start moving things around.