Jimirig

InfoPath is a great solution, that not many people are really familiar with to electronically save forms on a computer, network folder, or in a content management system like SharePoint. Here are some instructions on using a sample from InfoPath and adding a save button to save into SharePoint.

Start with your InfoPath Form. Modify anything or start from scratch. For this we used the sample status report that ships with InfoPath. Other free templates can be found at Microsoft Office Online.

Sample Status InfoPath Form

Place a save or submit button accordingly and right click on the button to set the properties. There are two ways to submit a form into SharePoint without the use to code. One is to just submit the form, two is using Rules. For this exercise we will just use submit. Rules and conditions apply more for advanced vallidations, and other actions upon submission like open a different form etc. Select Submit in the drop down and click on the Submit Options button.

InfoPath Submit Button Properties

Next you will need to enable the form to be submitted and then select SharePoint Document Library in the drop down list. Then click Add, to add a data connection for the form.

InfoPath Submit Button Options

After clicking add you will be asked to point to a document library for the form to be saved. At this point, since you haven’t already published the form, the libray probably doesn’t exist so you will need to go into SharePoint and add a new form library.

Create a SharePoint Form Library

Back to InfoPath, enter the name of the form library (full URL – http://domain/Form%20Library/) and then you will need to change the name of the form. By default the program chooses “Form.” This doesn’t work for multiple forms. So let’s concat a name based on information from the form. Click on the button to the right and you are prompted to enter fields, or formulas. We will concat a formula.

Concat Name Formula

Click OK and you will be back to the wizard and your naming convention will be in the name field. You should also check the box to Allow overwrite.

InfoPath Data Connection Wizard

Click Next and Finish. You have now created a new data connection for your form. Click OK until you are back at your form. Now it is time to Publish to SharePoint. Click File from the top menu bar, and the publishing wizard will open.

Publish InfoPath

InfoPath Publishing Wizard

If you haven’t saved your form at this point InfoPath will prompt you to save. Here you will select that you want to publish to a SharePoint server and click next. Enter the URL to the form library that you wish to save the form to and click next.The next screen you will need to select document library, and hit next. It is OK to leave the check box for Form Services checked if you are running Form Services. Next you want to update an exisiting form library. Select the appropriate library and hit next. Then hit next and then Publish.

InfoPath Publishing Wizard

After the form is successfully published go ahead and give it a test. Using InfoPath you can simply click preview at the top or go into SharePoint and click new in your document library. After saving the form you should have something like this in SharePoint.

Have fun!