InfoPath Dev

I'm new to Infopath and MS related technologies.

I have successfully integrated SAP Web Service and built a report that would accept input from the main infopath screen and on one click generate the report that would be displayed on a default view using repeating tables.

To facilitate users with output reports, I have created numerous views of the same data. From a functionality standpoint I have a couple of questions.
1) When I do a print preview/print from a view, can I have column headers repeating on each page ?
2) I added a scroll bar, however, when I do a print preview/print, it shows/prints what's currently visible within the repeating tables control. Is there are way to print the entire list ?
3) I added a custom MS Excel control in another view. I binded it to the data source from the web service, however, no data shows up at runtime. How do I get this to work ?
4) Data binding - date format: For some reason, it does not allow me to change the format of the date from yyyy-mm-dd to mm/dd/yyyy when binding is to the data fields of SAP Webservice. Is there a work around for this ?

Hi Maulik,

Welcome to the board!

In general, and compared to Word, InfoPath printing support is limited. However, it is much better in SP1 than it was in V1. Here are some answers to your questions:

1) Try using a header for this. The problem with headers and footers in InfoPath is a) you can't have data binding in them, and b) you can't limit the footer to the last page. For some reason I thought headers could be set to print out on every page, but I might be forgetting something here. Anyway, please try it out.

2) You can create another view that is used just for print and that contains no scrollbar.

3) Am I correct to assume that this is not a printing issue? Is your form full trust? Do you get any errors? Not all active X controls are supported in InfoPath. Might be an issue with that or with the way in which you have added it. Need to investigate more.

4) My guess is that this has something to do with the Web service data type being different. Create a secondary data source. Copy the date into it (after query) and bind that control to the view. You should be able to change the format on that.

Good luck!

Patrick Halstead [InfoPath MVP]
InfoPathDev

Patrick,
Your book has been very helpful. I have was able to jump start info path in less than two hours and built a production ready report using SAP Web service and infopath in less than 30 minutes. However, adding all the bells & whistles is painful, but I'm getting there.

Comments per your items.
1) You are right, cannot bind them. Header is reserved for printing the report title. I can live with one set of column headers.
2) I just have one view now for print.
3) Embedding Excel - Active-X control is a top priority.
The steps I take to embedd a control on a view.
- Click - Add or Remove Custom Control.
- Click - Add
- Select -> Microsoft Office spreadsheet 11.0
- Click "Next"
- Select "Don't include ".cab" file
- Click "Next"
- Specify a Binding Property - > CSVData
- Click "Next"
- SPecify Enable/Disbale Property -> (none)
- Click "Next"
- Specify data type options
- .......... Here's the issue.
Select Field / Group Type = Field (element or attribute)
Data-type "Select All"
Click Finish.
When you bind it, after whining and complaining it works for one field.

I'm unable to bind a repeating table to this control. I tried different "Field / Group Type" and it just does not work.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

4) I think there is a bug in the way it is behaving. I'll keep it for later since it is not a priority.

Thanks & Regards,
Maulik

Hi Maulik,
3. We have a custom control (Smart Combo Box) that we have bound more than one field too, but I don't have the details handy. I'll ask someone else to chime in here. Another option would be to bind an XML string to that field but given this is an "opaque control" (you don't have access to control's code), you may not be able to do that. In the end, it may turn out that this control just doesn't work well with InfoPath. InfoPath does not support all controls.

More later today,

Patrick Halstead [InfoPath MVP]
InfoPathDev

Any more info on smart combo box ?

Sorry for the delay. Jim should respond shortly.

Patrick Halstead [InfoPath MVP]
InfoPathDev

The SmartComboBox will have similar behavior to the regular combobox with these additions:
1) Multiple selection support
      The value property will return the code values separated by spaces.  If codes have spaces, then quotes will delimit the values.
      Example:
          Dataconnection: States
          Entries:        /States/State
          value:          @abbrev
          display name:   @name

          Items in combobox
          Value             Display Value
          WA                Washington
          WY                Wyoming
          CA                California
          TX                Texas
          NC                North Carolina

      Selecting Washington and Texas will store the value 'WA TX' in the bound node

      If binding the value to the state name, there might be spaces:
          Items in combobox
          Value             Display Value
          Washington        Washington
          Wyoming           Wyoming
          California        California
          Texas             Texas
          North Carolina    North Carolina
          
      Selecting Texas and North Carolina will result in a node value of 
          'Texas "North Carolina"'
2)    Autocompletion
      Using the above example, if you type 'W' in the combobox control, it will expand to 'Washington', if you then type y, it will expand to 'Wyoming' etc...

What will not be supported in first version:
      Manual entries of values in properties window.  Since adding a resource file with values is available, this shouldn't really be a limitation.

Jim Cantwell
InfoPathDev Redmond

The SmartCombobox does not bind to a repeating node. Binding a property to a repeating node requires the value property be an IXMLDOMNode which is a very limited set of controls. The smartcombobox writes multiple values into one property, which can be parsed if necessary.


Jim Cantwell
InfoPathDev Redmond