InfoPath Dev

The basics:  SharePoint 2013 on premises, Info Path 2013, and SharePoint Designer 2013.  I created a list to track audit findings to closure.  There are several steps in the process that will require different fields to populated at different times.    

 

In my list there is a multi-line text field labeled "Requirement" (not to be confused with a required field). This field will be populated when a new list item is created.  It may or may not ever be modified before the list item is completed.  In the event that the field is updated we want to be able to easily track those changes.  Using version history is not possible due to all of the actions that Info Path and SharePoint designer perform throughout use of this list.  There are several different form views that will load depending on business rules.  We tried turning on the append changes option for the field, however, we found that unless data was populated in the Requirement field, Info Path would not display the history in the different form views.  We tried different trouble shooting methods.  As a work around we created a new field labeled "ReqHistory" and set up a work flow to take any text put into the Requirement field, add the modified by and modified date/time stamp, and put that into the ReqHistory field.  If we make two changes then it will add a second line with a second date/time and modified by stamp. 

 

After the list item is created and the second form view displays everything looks good.  I see what I would expect to see in my ReqHistory field.  Something like:

 09/19/2019 5:00  Smith, Tom:

Text 1 

 

 

 When my business rules lead to the third form view to load I can see the text, but I can no longer see the date/time and modified by stamp.  I see

 

Text 1

 

  If I export the list to excel I can see that the data is still there in the field, but it does not show in the Info Path form.  

 

Here is the odd part.  

 

If on step two I add new text to the Requirement field then I will see two entries in my ReqHistory field and all of the data will hold in the form no mater the form view that loads or what I do from that point. Something like

 09/19/2019 7:30  Smith, Tom:

Text 2

 

09/19/2019 5:00  Smith, Tom:

Text 1  

 

 

If elect not to make and changes until step three I will see

 

09/19/2019 7:30  Smith, Tom:

Text 2

 

Text 1

 

 

Any idea what might me going on here?  

Baffling. So the data exists in the list, but it doesn't show in the form? And the list data is from a secondary data connection to the form?

The data does exist in the list, but it will not show in the form. There is only one data connection in the form and that is the main data connection to the SharePoint list.

Ok, so this is a list form and the data is in the same list for the same item - is that correct? Does whether or not the data shows depend on the type of control? Have you tried text box vs. calculated value?

All of the data is coming from the same item.  In my list there are about 20 different fields.  Some are choice fields, some are dates, some are people or group fields.  The only fields giving me issues are these multi-line text fields.  Allow me describe how the tool works as you may find that relevant.  I apologize now.... I have had a hell of a time figuring out how to explain this in a way that makes sense.  Please note that each Multi-line text field has a corresponding history field.  This history field is also a multi line text field.

 

I will start with Info Path.  There are 4 form views (FV1-4).  The form view that will load is based on a choice field labeled state.  Each form view contains a set of buttons at the bottom.  When creating a new item in the list the first FV1 will be displayed.  This is because the State field is blank.  It has 7 fields of data that need to be populated. A a few choice fields, one person or group (this is to assign the item to a person), and two multi line text fields (MLT1 and MLT2).    When the user clicks the submit button at the bottom of the form Info Path performs several actions.  1) InfoPath will populate a field labeled Action. 2) The data will be send over the main data connection 3) the form will close with no prompt.   Now The work flows kick in.  One work flow triggers on new items.  It simply copies the ID of the item to a new field so that I can reference it with a calculated field.  Then the next work flow triggers and this one is more complex.  

 

Stage 1 looks at the MLT1 field.  If MLT1 is not blank then write the modified date/time, modified by, and the text in MLT1 to a workflow variable.  If it is blank then write what is currently in MLT1History to the variable.  Then update MLT1History with the workflow variable.  Next is Stage 2.  Stage two looks at that info path populated into the action field.  If Action  = X then send and email, set state to 1 and then clear the action field.  

 

The person who received the email will go into the list.  They will be greeted with FV2.  When FV2 loads everything works fine.  My MLT1History and MLT2History each show a date/time/user stamp and the text that was entered.  On this stage a person will enter data into MLT3 and and select a date in a date field.  When they click the submit button Info Path will set the action to Y, submit data over the main data connection and closes the form with no prompt.  Repeat the work flows.  

 

The person who created the item will return to it to review what was added.  They are greeted with FV3.  This is where the date/time/user stamp is removed as I outlined in my initial post.  As I stated in my initial post if something was entered in FV2 (which will be highly unlikely) then all works fine.               

 

 

 

I hope that paints a clearer picture of the process and how different things are populated.  

 

Any chance I can just see a copy of the form? You can attach it under the Options tab in a reply.

 Im sorry but I can not attach a copy of the form. 

 

This is the tutorial that I followed.  

 

https://jamilhaddadin.com/2011/12/03/implementing-workflow-using-infopath-2010-and-sharepoint-designer-2010/

 

I know it was for 2010, but the logic seemed to fit my business needs. 

 

 

Any chance it is the workflow modifying these? I'd guess no, since you can export to Excel and see the values. Are you displaying the data from the History columns in calculated values in your form? Or in text boxes?

I would guess text boxes?  Since the history field is just another field in my list I just added that field to my form from the field list. 

So- what I'm suggesting is that you try adding a calculated value form control for these History fields, just on the off chance the form behaves differently. You can find the calculated value control on the ribbon and when you add it, you'll be prompted to enter an XPath - you can use the fx button to open the formula editor and select your field. Seems worth a try.

 No.  There is no calculated field in info path.  The is history is created by a work flow. 

 

If MLT1 is not blank 

then 

Set Variable to = date/time/user & MLT1 Text

 Else set Variable to MLT1History  

 

Then set MLT1History to Variable.  

 

 

 

all info path is doing is showing the field.  

 I'm sorry.  I totally misread that.....  I will give it a try

 

Hilary Stoupa:

So- what I'm suggesting is that you try adding a calculated value form control for these History fields, just on the off chance the form behaves differently. You can find the calculated value control on the ribbon and when you add it, you'll be prompted to enter an XPath - you can use the fx button to open the formula editor and select your field. Seems worth a try.

 

I gave this a try and no dice.  It is mirroring the MLT1History.  I am still losing the date/time/user stamp.    

Yeah, I have literally no idea. If you save the form when you repro the issue (i.e., you didn't make changes in step 2 and the date time info is not displaying, but you can see the info is in the list via Excel) - does the data then go missing in the list? That is, if the data round-trips, does InfoPath cause you to lose the data?

No matter what changes I make or when I make the change the data is always in SharePoint. I can always see my data in Excel after the export or a refresh. Its the visibilty in Info Path that changes