InfoPath Dev

 Hi, I want to achieve the following scenario. We have arround 4 people doing inspections on lift equipment. They work now a days with ms-word files. To avoid this and build a database, I suggested to work with InfoPath and a SharePoint server. Our board said ok, you may start. In my attempts I noticed that this is not so easy as I thought.

My main problem is to create a unique list item with a repeating table in an InfoPath library form. This has to be unique because the inspector should be able to retrieve/pull that inspected item after a few months and see his notifications. 

My attempts: First I tried to achieve this with a SharePoint list. But a SharePoint list has his limitations concerning the layout and number of views. I made arround 100 views until the file was about 1,2Mb big. The file ones upload was very slow and the file also crashed a lot. Third I only could make a connection with the SharePoint server on a windows 7 operating system. I was trying to make an offline version. Because there isn't always 3G available. On one of our computers we had setup with Windows 8 prof, SharePoint server 2013 and Office 2013 prof plus, test account, but it didn't work. When the inspector should have finished his inspection, he should be able to print his report, this is not possible on a webbrowser SharePoint list form.

 So that's why I'm trying to seek help in order to have this scenario be built on SharePoint library form. 

My deadline was december 2012 but now they said end of March. And I'm affraid I'm not going to achieve this. Is there anybody who can help me on this one?

 Regards,

Otto  

Hi, it's me again. a follow-up in my attempts.

I will try the following setup:

Input via InfoPath form (Browser or Filler, depending on the operating system) and output, the report itself made via Ms-access. In that way I can reduze the InfoPath file and leave it with the checklist in InfoPath and the report itself can be easely costumized in ms-acces and also be printed. I just asking myself how large a databes can be in ms-access? Because in the past I noticed that it became very slow from about 10mb.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please contact me.

Regards,

Otto 

 Is SQL Server Express an option for you? It is free and more robust.

 Hi Hilary, Nice to meet you. I learned many InfoPath tricks from you. Your really are the expert when it has something to do with InfoPath.

 But concerning sql server, would I be able to manage this? My knowledge of InfoPath is growing but only with the basic tools, I can't apply code. The same counts for ms-access.

If a rookie can't manage this what is the other option?

My board just asked me to make a descision in the next week that I can or can't do it.

But like you mentioned, InfoPath and Ms-access are tools for small data banks, I think and not so robust.

And for these kind of inspections, it will be big. These inspectors, inspect about 10.000 items each year.

Could you let me know if I have any other options if this is over my head?

Regards,

Otto

 Frankly - and I don't mean to sound discouraging - from your initial post it sounds as if your needs here are complex and perhaps a little poorly defined? You need something that can work when users are offline, so if you use InfoPath, they need to use Filler. You need a solution that will print nicely (sometimes a challenge in an electronic forms tool) and requires reporting - and I'm having trouble imagining any scenario that would require 100 views in a form. I think you would be better off trying to define a firm set of requirements then picking a technology - right now it sounds as if you may have picked a technology first...

 I don't know if you already tested this, but can you achieve a connection with a SharePoint list and InfoPath filler form, with operating system Windows 8? With Windows 7 we haven't got any problem. But with Windows 8 it gives this problem.

I asked microsoft via our SharePoint service if they now this issue. But they haven't got any knowledge about this. Further they informed me to use SharePoint workspace (which in SharePoint server 2013 is Skydrive Pro) but this is not made to sync multiple list items. (Tried both, SharePoint workspace and Skydrive Pro, on a SharePoint server 2013 with Office 2013 and Windows 8).

It is not that I'm trying to pick the technologie first because we use InfoPath for other types of inspections but these are not that complex.It is just filling in and publish. No need to afterwards retrieve the submitted information. Or list every items that has been inspected. We are very satisfied of the possibilities for these kind of inspections (adding rules, formulas, permissions, etc....) 

In that same context I was thinking to automate our service for lifting equipment. 

Concerning the 100 views. Maybe you are right and there can be another option but until know I didn't see it. Our inspector has about about 50 ms-word files, which all represent a report and an item they can meet when they are doing inspections. Each file has different criteria which should be listed. Therefore I made a 100 views and put those all in the same list. Because afterwards, when they revisit they have to be able to pull that data out of the list. Also when a colleague is sick another inspector should be able to retrieve that same information out of this list. Not only the criteria is listed on that form but also the layout to print. After the inspection of the item there is a button on the form which will go to the layout of the report and have a nice structure for the customer to print out. That's why there are about 100 views (2*50)  

Because the file became to big, I thought in a direction like a combination of InfoPath with ms access. Input via InfoPath form, output via access templates. So, the InfoPath form is reduzed towards 50 views and can be used. And the layout is more flexible to adapt.  

Like you suggested, to seek a more stable environment like sql server, If I can't manage this with InfoPath and Access, do you know some people who will be able to create something with sql server?  So I can inform our board concerning this. 

This database I can reform into sql server database in time.

Also it gives me the possibilities to create web browsers based access forms.

I don’t know yet the possibilities with Access 2013, I saw something about Access Applications but need to test that out.

For this moment I will leave InfoPath for what is concerning these type of forms.

Regards,

Otto