InfoPath Dev

Hi,

We have a range of users throughout the globe who need to compile offline forms. Their roles involve inserting numerous images into the form.

The issue being experienced is a result of todays typical digital images and (very) non-technical users. They are attaching images of huge dimensions/file sizes when there is no need for such image clarity.

Expecting them to reduce the images ahead of form insertion is proving impossible, so need to somehow force them via form control. 

Do any of you have any ideas on how we could automate during the attach/insert action that the images were made somehow 'web ready', by a reduction in their dimensions and/or filesize?

InfoPath 2007 Client forms & MOSS.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 

Hi Kev,

Other Office products (Word and PowerPoint) support compressing images, but sadly InfoPath does not.

Normally, we recommend people just replace the images with links - i.e. upload images to a web site and replace them with links. We sell a qRules form plugin that does this automatically in the background when users add images. It's one of the most popular scenarios because the resulting XML is very small and very fast to open. The image will display with just the link, so best of both worlds. However, this requires a connection.

In your case, since your users are offline, this won't work. We have aanother product (DBXL Client) which provides standalone synchronization of InfoPath forms for offline users (something SharePoint Workspaces does not support). Users submit the forms locally (it's very fast). When they reconnect to the net, the software synchronizes with the server and uploads the forms. This approach also supports converting the images to links on submit, so subsequent opens will be super fast and the links will point to local images so all is good there.

Both products will work with IP2007 and MOSS.

Send me email if you are interested and we can arrange a demo.

Regards,