InfoPath Dev

 so I have a form that has a data connection to a list that is queried when the data is needed. the issue has occurred both with query at open and when needed. the issue that I have is when I have a field in the form that is formatted as a number and I am querying a field in another list that is a formatted at a number the ...

 Ok, I was wondering about that. I think that is doable with a workflow. ok sounds good.

 Awesome thank you so much. That works. Is there a way though to make it that no matter how many digits come after the "-" in the serial number that it will automatically use that number of digits. there are times that we may have xx-xxx and sometimes xx-xxxx. and just a quick clarification, if the sections are hidden they will not ...

  I tried putting that in and it is still showing all of the sections when I preview the form instead of hiding them all. I don't know what I am missing.

 well I have been playing around with and seem to missing something. wondering if you might be able to take a look at what I have and see where I went wrong. much appreciated

 ok, I think I follow. I will have to play around with it a bit more and see if I can figure it out fully. not sure how to go about getting it to work with a list based form but you have set me on the right track.  thanks

 so I figured out the optional attribute field (field attribute) deal. I can add that when creating a blank from or form library form but I don't see how to achieve that in a SharePoint list form. can this be done in a list form?

 Ok thanks, I will take a look at that. I look forward to the solution. So what I am asking is you mention that there were some helper fields in the form, and when I look in the list of fields in advanced view I see that they are gray in color rather than white like the normal fields. how to you add these helper/supporting fields? these ...

 thanks for getting back with me on that. that looks like it should work for me, the only thing thought is that I need to be able to do more than 20. is that just the way you set the form up and something that can be changed or is that internal to the software. also I need the serial number to be in the format of for instance 16-0010. when ...

 This is a two part question, I have a form with a repeating section, that repeating section will copy its contents down to the repeated section. one of the fields in that section needs to auto increment each time it is repeated which I did using the max +1 function. it works fine if it is just a number, but this field is being used ...