InfoPath Dev

Ok, I apologize in advance if these questions are very simple.

 I am trying to figure out the database map part of the Admin Tool.  Do I have to recreate my entire DB table/column structure in this section of the tool?  I have a few repeating tables within a repeating section of the form and I'm not sure how to create the database map for those.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Phil.

Once you create a table in SQL, you can establish mapping from the DBXL Admin Tool (DAT). The connection string allow DBXL to read your database/table structure and allow you to select the fields you want to map from your form to SQL.

If you are trying to manage and update data in previously existing tables, please read this first:

http://www.infopathdev.com/blogs/patrick/archive/2008/07/09/using-dbxl-with-existing-databases.aspx

Hi, Phil -- also I just finished a blog post on this http://www.infopathdev.com/blogs/hilary/archive/2008/07/11/mapping-data-from-nested-repeating-tables-to-a-sql-database-dbxl-v2-2.aspx which may help you when you get ready to start mapping.

Thank you for the info, Hilary.

 I'm now adding the columns/tables into the Database Mapping.  I did notice that your blog has a Database tab with the Shredding option.  I am running DBXL 2.1 is that not an option in this version?

 Thank you

Phil.

Hi, Phil: 

DAT is just a little different between v2.1 and 2.2. Here is a blog post by Clay Fox on mapping with v2.1: http://www.infopathdev.com/files/folders/dbxl/entry19790.aspx

You'll note the connection string is on the General tab and then there is a Database Mapping tab. Be sure you save after adding your form to DAT and adding your connection string on the General tab.

Let me know if you need more clarification, okay?

Hi Hilary.  I went ahead and just stuck with 2.1 but now I'm thinking I should have upgraded since I'm having trouble.  I created the DB mapping, uploaded the form (submit button points to the qdabra web service and the data souce is pointing to the right database) and saved everything.  Went ahead and filled out the form to create a new document and nothing happens.  The form submits fine (I have "fail submit on shred error" enabled), closes the form (rules #2) and it looks like it submitted everything just fine. I go into the tables and there is nothing in them.  I can send screenshots or logs if that will  help because I have no idea what I did wrong ....

Thank you for any and all help!

Phil.

---- update ---

Ok, I sent that out too quickly.  I went back and checked the qdabra event logs and found this event occurs when I submit/shred the form.  Where do I find the xpath info so I can validate it?

Thanks again!

Hi, Phil:

For the NodePath for each node you mapped, did you select the node from the task pane or type it in? A screen shot of your form data source and your Database Mapping tab from DAT might help...

Hi Hilary,

I initally typed it out then went over it and did the mapping through the DAT.  I even created another document type in the catalog and just mapped the first table without the nested tables.  I get the same results.  I don't have a public site to link the photos from and will have to create an account somewhere or I can zip and email them to you.

Thanks,
Phil

The simplest way to enter the values in the Node Path column is to click the icon at the right end of the Node Path box and select the relevant elements from the taskpane.  You should often be able to avoid typing anything in manually, in case that is what you're doing.

Is dfs:myFields/d:BusinessUnitInfo perhaps a node in one of your data connections?  The nodes you specify in the mapping must be nodes in the main DOM of your form, or one of the five "DBXL Mapping Tokens."

Hi, Jimmy --

 Phil actually ended up re-creating his form. Originally, the form had been based on a database, which is why he had those namespaces on his main connection. Is it possible to map a template that has a main data source that is connected to a database? Just curious.....

Hello,

I had created a form like discussed here, the form has main data connection to a database.

The form was saved in DBXL (v2.3) and SharePoint library, but I did not notice that mapping to databse would be a problem.  Is there any workaroud to map datas from DBXL to database even in this kind of form?

Thanks

Hi Oka-san,

If your form was created from a database (i.e. main submit to a database not to DBXL Web Service), you will have to either recreate the form from scratch, or manually modify the XSN to break the connection. If you choose the latter option you will end up with a suboptimal schema. This is why we tell people to create forms from XML schemas to start from (not from DB queries). The XML schema does not constrain you like the DB query and then you can just create the mapping int DBXL to the DB. We have a handful of customers who have created large forms from DB queries and it's always very painful for them to do migrations, etc. The DB query forms are tightly coupled which means that a change to the DB or to the form will force an update to the other and vice versa. DBXL provides a loosely coupled framework so that you can update the mapping after-the-fact and independently of the form/DB changes. See my most recent blog post for more details.

Best regards,