InfoPath Dev

Hi gurus,
We currently have a MS Excel spreadsheet Form which is used by users to enter new values and then save it. Now we designed a Infopath2007 Form with all the columns similar to excel spreadsheet and published it to Sharepoint MOSS 2007. Now, how to move all those existing  data in Columns of MS Excel2007 to the new Infopath form and eventually save in Sharepoint.(P.S In the spreadsheet each row is considered a Form )

I have tried:

a) Using the Import wizard from within Infopath2007, but i want the Excel data to load into my already existing Infopath template and not a New template.

Should i move all the spreadsheet data to MS Access and try to link with a Infopath form?

or

Should i consider moving all the Excel data directly to Sharepoint Content Database(A SQL Server DB)(but then how to create Individual Infopath forms off the data in SQL Server)

I am totally confused about my options....

Any Ideas please....

Thanks,
Kon

A couple different options...

We have written applications which will process a spreadsheet and create a new form for each row.  Is this something that will be done on a regular basis or is this just a one time action to transition from Excel to InfoPath? How many rows are you dealing with?

Putting your Data in SQL is probably the best, since it gives you the most options.  We use the Database Accelerator a lot to have our InfoPath data in SQL as well to enable interfacing and reporting. Qdabra Database Accelerator Suite Version 2.1 - Developer

You would have to completely redo your form to link it to a database via the standard Infopath mechanism. You would want to use web services so you would not have to do this. 

Have you thought about making one form that lets you browse your records and edit or view them without having one form per individual record?  Using SQL on the backend allows you this kind of interface with your data. So instead of having to open each individual InfoPath form you can have one catalog form which you can then move through the records as you need without closing InfoPath or going to another application like Sharepoint.

If you would like to see a sample of this or have further architecture questions you can send me an email.

Hi Clay, Thanks a Lot for the reply.

Yes, It is a one time action. All i have is a spreadsheet with some 40 odd rows; which i want to directly convert it to a Existing Infopath template. Is it possible?

Then ,i would just have to save/publish each of my forms to Sharepoint and i am done.

Please Help!

Thanks,

Kon

A tool would automatically submit the forms.

For 40 forms one time, it may be more economical to just have someone open a new form for each and complete them manually.

I think you said you already have the form template completed and published to SharePoint.

Thanks, I just check and the list went over 65 over last week.

Is it the  Qdabra Database Accelerator Suite Version 2.1 tool you were talking about. Could i use the free version to accomplish my task?

Any other Ideas?

Thanks,

Kon

The Database Accelerator includes a lot of great tools but not the conversion tool.

WIth the Database Accelerator you could setup a SQL database for storing your data and interacting with it via an InfoPath form but this would be an architectural change.

The conversion tool I am refering to is a customized tool since it has to be setup for the specific spreadsheet and form template.  If you want to email me the spreadsheet or a sample and your form template I could take a look at it and see what it would take.

Hi Kon,

We can likely modify the Excel to InfoPath conversion tool to meet your needs but it will take some time. If you are willing to pay for time and materials we'd be happy to help. My guess is that it would be on the order of two 5 hour support packs (See http://www.qdabra.com/products_all.asp?cat=12). The result would be a tool that you could use over and over again to convert Excel rows into InfoPath forms.

Best regards,

Hi Patrick and Clay, Thanks a Lot for the replies.

As i said i just have some 60+ excel rows which needs to be converted only once to Infopath form format....so i think its economical for me to just manually enter those data into my Infopath form. Just wanted to know if there was a ny workaround. Any other 'free' ideas or suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks Again,

Kon