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Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

Hilary Stoupa — Wed, 18 May 2016 21:39:31 GMT

Open InfoPath Designer. Select "SharePoint List" for the template type. Enter the URL for the list ... at some point in the wizard you will see a checkbox for managing multiple items - select that checkbox. Here is a blog post with screenshots: https://salnikan.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/inserting-multiple-list-items-at-once-into-a-sharepoint-list/

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

markmcq — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:18:15 GMT

Hilary,

You mentioned above "why not just use a customized list form that can manage multiple items?"

I have tried to find information on how to do that but not finding anything on Google. Do you have a link that could help me?

Thank you,

Mark

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

markmcq — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:10:02 GMT

But again, with the Parent/Child solution I still have an inability to update BOTH lists. In InfoPath, as you know, you can only have one Main data connection that writes back to the list. I can query other lists using secondary connections, but cannot post the updates or changes to a secondary list. At least that I'm aware of.

I was hoping to find a solution that could write to both lists, on one form, but came up empty. Hence the combined list that I have now.

I don't mind a little clunky-ness if it solves the issue of reading and writing to a repeating table. I'm also not opposed to code if it's spelt out for me. Do you know of an example that I can utilize?

And yes, all data is reported upon...

Thanks again,

Mark

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

Hilary Stoupa — Wed, 18 May 2016 17:58:40 GMT

This is why I am suggesting using a single list. But if you have to have two, you can find samples of parent child stuff online - http://www.sharepointhillbilly.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=26 is one example.

You could use CAML to submit back to your list - without code I find it clunky because you generally end up submitting one row at a time - again, there are lots of examples online and in this forum.

Any special reason the data needs to be in lists and not in a library? Reporting on update dates or something?

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

markmcq — Wed, 18 May 2016 17:40:56 GMT

Dynamically creating columns as in this example. Now I have Update, Update_Type, Update_Date in my Projects list. As you described adding as many columns in my list as I could possibly ever need I can imagine creating Update1, Update_Type1, Update_Date1 & Update2, Update_Type2, Update_Date2 and so on until (50). It would be nice if I didn't have to create the 50 iterations to accommodate what might come. But instead dynamically create Update3, Update_Type3, Update_Date3 columns when and if (2) is ever populated.

I did try a parent/child solution first. The problem was trying to update both lists on the same form and write them back to the lists. I could update one or the other but not both. I also tried using the same concept via InfoPath webparts, but the same problem, only one was editable. I need to be able to edit both on the same form which is why I've combined them.

Do you have a link to a customized list example/solution? I'm not familiar with that? I suppose I wouldn't have the same retrieving issues as the repeating table if you're suggesting that.

So in my new (combined) Projects list I need to be able to modify the project data (percentage complete, etc) and also be able to add updates to the project in a 1 to many relationship. This works well until I try to bring the data into my form as in my original post.

Do you know of a CAML or light code solution that could work for this?

Thank you!

Mark

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

Hilary Stoupa — Wed, 18 May 2016 16:15:17 GMT

When you say dynamically create new fields as the list grows - are you talking about a change in the number of columns? Or just rows? If you are trying to also handle for column changes, you are going to have quite a time in InfoPath. It sounds like you just need some parent / child solution for your lists? Is that a good interpretation of what you are trying to do? But then you mentioned having combined into a single list - in which case, why not just use a customized list form that can manage multiple items? You may have to do a little formatting / rules magic for the user experience you are wanting (so for the faux parent data they only need to enter info one time) but I think if you try anything OTHER than a SharePoint list form you are going to have a really hard time implementing this.

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

markmcq — Wed, 18 May 2016 15:19:34 GMT

Hilary, Thank you very much for your response!!!

It's just that really, getting the data from a repeating table. All the rest is just fluff. :-)

I had considered your solution, and as a last resort I suppose I could go that way, if nothing else works. The only problem is that there is no limit to the possibilities. What I had considered was trying to find a way to dynamically create the new fields as the list grows. Even if it ends up being a workflow solution?

I cannot install any 3rd party software and I'm now considering a CAML solution? Or perhaps a code solution if necessary. From what I've read qRules will work, but it's not an option for my company.

I guess the part that has me stuck is that SharePoint knows how to parse the repeating table data, when I click on the list data to bring the record into my InfoPath form, and so does MS Access. When I link the table in Access the data breaks out into multiple rows, just like SharePoint does. Why is there not a way to parse the data or address individual rows in InfoPath?

Thank you!

Mark

Re: Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

Hilary Stoupa — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:34:49 GMT

Hi - I'm sorry, I'm a little confused by the description - but it is not simple out of the box to copy repeating data into an InfoPath form, as you are seeing. The only no code option I know of is to use default data - basically, you add as many rows by default as you'll ever think you'll need, then you use rules to populate them.... I can put together a sample for you if that is something you would like to try to implement?

Retrieve Repeating Section into InfoPath 2013 form w/NoCode?

markmcq — Tue, 17 May 2016 20:06:20 GMT

I need to have a Project List and multiple updates for those projects (1 to many). I have tried a few ways to create a solution and keep running into dead-ends.

When creating two lists and doing a lookup I can only update one list or the other on one form, not both. I need to be able to update the project and the update on the same form. I also need the ability to create new projects or updates on that form as well.

The best solution I can create follows:

I have combined the projects and updates into the same list. I am using a repeating section for the merged update fields (Update, Update_Type, Update_Date) so that I can have 1 to many.

I have a main data connection (no query fields), and a secondary data connection (with query fields). Both point to the same list called Projects.

I query the secondary data connection for a specific project and then set the fields individually on the main data connection from that queried result.

It works great until I get to the Repeating Section. I can only copy the first item to the main connection.

The question is. How can I replicate what happens when you simply click on a list item in SharePoint and it populates all the form fields including the repeating section, just as it was saved?

- or how can I loop thru the repeating section data and populate my main connection repeating table?