InfoPath Dev

I'm a SQL Server developer newly working with Sharepoint 2007, and have a very general question about InfoPath forms - the question is, once you develop the form, where exactly does the data go? Is and InfoPath form simply like a Word documen on steroids, and the data resides on the submitted form, or is there a way to easily load that data into a SQL Database, using the InfoPath form as a front end to collect the data? How also does InfoPath integrate with Sharepoint? Is it simply that you can store the forms in a doc library, or can you actually deploy the forms as their own web pages, again having the data submit to a SQL database?

 Thanks.

Hey there PHACK, Welcome to the forum.

Simple answer - you can do both.  Data can be stored in each of the individual xml files, like any other office document or it can be stored in a backend data source.

I am a big believer in the latter since then it is much easier to work with the data for reporting, aggregation, and logic.

I would recommend you check out the Database Accelerator Package.  Qdabra Database Accelerator Suite Version 2.1 - Developer

In InfoPath the best way to interact with Data Sources is via web service.  The Database Accelerator is a installable package of Web Services that includes what you need to to dynamically query and submit to SQL. It also includes several others.  If you are looking at exposing your SQL data to the end users and being able to enjoy the rapid development of InfoPath it is the way to go.

 Especially if you are going to use browser based forms.  You need a web server to render the forms in the browser for clients without InfoPath, which requires either IFS, part of MOSS, or there is a forms viewer included with the Database Accelerator.

What exactly are you looking to accomplish?

Hi Clay,

Thanks for the response. Essentially, I have managers at 35 sites around the country who need to fill out a simple monthly report which is submitted to the central office in NYC. Currently they use a Word Doc which is emailed, and obviously none of the data can be manipulated, aggregated, queried, or reported on. I would like to be be able to deploy the form on a Sharepoint page, have it filled out and submitted on the page, and then have the results populate a simple flat SQL Database. I could then push the data out of SQL into Excel and use Excel Web Services to publish aggregate reports onto the Sharepoint Site for managers in NYC. Not too much to ask, right? :-)

 Thanks,

 Peter Hack

Hi Peter.

That is not too much to ask and it can be done.

Do all of the managers have InfoPath?

The trick is getting the data into SQL.

If you would like a demonstration of a similar configuration I could show you one.

You can click on my name and send me an email directly to schedule something.