Controls not bound to database...

[INTP56]

If I design a form, New from Data Connection, is it possible to add a text
box control that is not bound to the database?

The situation I am trying to address is the user already has some data, in
this case Excel, that needs to be moved into the database. (I know there are
several ways to do this, I am interested in an InfoPath way) The form has a
repeating table in the data section, and the columns match what is in Excel.
If I copy a range in Excel (say 20 rows worth), and move to Infopath, select
the first "cell" and hit CTRL-V, InfoPath will accept as many rows as I've
already made space for by hitting Insert Item ... in this case, I have 20
blank rows in my InfoPath form ready to go.

The problem with this approach, is if the user only has 19 rows ready, the
last row is simply not included and the user can easily miss the fact the
last row never made it.

I thought I might include a button and a textbox, where the button would
make sure there were as many blank rows available as the number in the
textbox. Then the user would type "20" into the textbox, hit the button, and
paste the information. But I can't seem to add a textbox without associating
it with a field in the Data Connection.

Actually, I had hopes that InfoPath would simply add the extra rows it found
from the paste ... but I could not figure out how to make that happen, or if
that's even possible.

In general, I am interested in finding out what InfoPath can do without
writing code, so I'm not interested in a solution along that path.

Thanks, Bob

 

[S.Y.M. Wong-A-Ton]

Yes. Add a text field to the Main data source of your form by using the "Data
Source" pane. Then drag this field from the "Data Source" pane and drop it
onto the form; it won't be bound to the database.

 

[INTP56]

Thanks, I was able to add a field not bound to the database.

However, it seems I can't do what I wanted without writing code. But, part
of what I am trying to determine is what InfoPath can do "Out of the Box" so
to speak. Thanks again for your help.

Bob