Newbie Questions

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:59:15 GMT

Maybe try setting it to a default formula in the data source task pane? See if that overrides the entries you have in the default data?

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:49:51 GMT

Hi Hilary, quick question- Is there any way to change the name of the 'Item' in the default values list. I want to see if I can change it to a formula to say what is in the name section of the row. Do you think I can do that? Thanks, Jayson.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:15:22 GMT

It works in preview mode only for some reason. Only the second two of those three columns. Whatever, as long as it works. Thanks, Jay.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 20:40:34 GMT

You need to add multiple instances of the Item group, then in each instance, set the individual Utensil fields. I'm sorry, I don't know how else to explain it - does looking at the defaults in the sample I sent earlier help at all?

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 20:33:37 GMT

Attached is the menu I'm on. I've put in the info but it doesn't translate out into the table.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:49:34 GMT

Just click the plus by each repeating item in the default values, then click on each field you want to enter a default for and type in the default. The "OK" button will close the dialog, so don't click it till you are done. :)

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:00:27 GMT

Figured out the repeating "Item" part...

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:57:29 GMT

You're great. Thanks. Still not one hundred percent obviously but I think just going through the process i'll figure it out. So- I've made a set of an Items folder if that makes any sense to you. I've inputted "caramelized onions" into the default value but when I try to do the "2 oz. portion it doesn't show up once I've pressed "OK". Same thing applies for the A.R.T. column. Also, how do you put another folder of that "Item". Its a repeating table but how do I easily make another set? Surely it has to be easier then re-inputting another set.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:27:34 GMT

First, I added the repeating table to the form (just from the InfoPath controls). Then I went to the default data to insert additional rows and enter some values - you don't have to edit template.xml, you can use the UI, and probably should. :) I'm attaching a screenshot that I hope will help clarify.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:18:08 GMT

I have read over your instructions a couple hundred times :). So before you did anything on the form (to make that table) you went to the template? Or did you select a repeating table first and then go to the template? When I select default values when I have selected the 8 column table I have made, all the fields I've made are checked. I don't understand how to input anything. I have changed the first three columns to the calculated value control- that's good. I'm currently now going to try and export the file and view the template document. Does all of this make sense? Jeesh, thanks. :)

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:18:08 GMT

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:48:42 GMT

Everyone is new at everything at some point and time, right?

So - first off - if you are already using this form, you should probably not change the schema (rename fields) - because then the saved files won't open correctly with the changed template.

But if you aren't already using this form, you might want to go to the work of changing it now, so that it is easier to maintain down the road.

In the first three columns, I'm using the calculated value control. With that control, you can pick a field or use a formula to display information on a form. I used that because I was assuming that you didn't want users to change values in the first three columns.

I'm using a technique here of setting what is called the default data for the form. I might be telling you stuff you already know - but just in case you don't:

An InfoPath template is made up of a number of different files - you can learn more here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/infopath-help/extract-or-combine-the-form-files-for-a-form-template-HP010064659.aspx, https://support.office.com/en-za/article/Introduction-to-form-templates-and-forms-f40955cd-c5ca-4c44-a7e0-0c46e93cf566
In these files, you will find a file named "template.xml" - InfoPath uses that every time a new form is created
If the template.xml has defaults in it, InfoPath will use those defaults when you open a new form.

Now, you don't have to enter defaults in the template.xml file - InfoPath has a way to do that via the UI. You can go to the data tab on the ribbon, and toward the far left, you'll see a little section titled "Form Data" - there is an item there called "Default Values". If you click that, you should be able to expand the new group I added to your form, and see where I inserted a number of rows and set values.

Given how many items your form has, I would think this would be tedious to do via the UI (which is why when I set up the sample, I just added rows to the template.xml). The reason it only shows in preview or when you fill out the form is because IP is not displaying it with all the data from the template in design mode.

However, you can see in my sample I now only have 2 drop down controls to format. :)

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:37:51 GMT

So there is no way to re-format what I have done already? What I understand is that I will have to input all of the data into a new type of table (repeating table). I tried to re-do what you did with that table and I can't seem to. For one, I don't know what Xpath is. That's what I saw when I looked at the properties under the first three columns. Also, I don't understand why it will only show all four lines in preview mode. How did you edit the other three in the first place?... As you may notice I'm trying to learn this program as I'm going I hope you can bear with me.

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Hilary Stoupa — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 19:59:35 GMT

Here is a sample of your form with a repeating schema - you'll have to preview to see the 4 lines I added to the table. I did that in the default values (under the Data tab in the ribbon). You can also save the form as source files (back up first!) from Publish > Export Source Files and then manually add rows / values to template.xml

Re: Drop down menu conditional formatting problem

Jayson_dear33 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:52:57 GMT

Ok good point. I will probably make changes to the names of the fields. I'm very interested in how to use the repeating schema as I have a lot of fields that need that format. I don't know if it is difficult or easy but if you could point me in a general direction I can probably figure it out. Is it similar to a "style" or "master" (not sure if your familiar with indesign or anything of that nature)? So a style would have one setting for any text with that style selected (font, font size, color). I have sent a message to support team so hopefully they have an answer for me. Thanks again, Jay