Copy from one template to another

[Phil Ouikuff]

I have an existing Infopath (2003) form template that is used in a SharePoint
form library. Because the forms are being filled out continually, I didn't
want to work on extensive edits to add a large optional section to the
template. Instead, I created a new template, created the section and then
tried to cut and paste it into the original. Cutting and pasting didn't
bring all of the data sources with it so all of the fields are unbound and
none of the rules etc. work.

How do I copy from one template to another and bring along all of the data
sources?

 

[Clay Fox]

Hey Phil.
typically if doing a one off of a form template.
Open the original in design mode and do a save as and save it as another
template with a new name.
Now you have a second template, based on the first, that you can customize
and change.

 

[Clay Fox]

Sorry Phil.
iread this now more critically.
You can modify a form template in production and just wait to publish it.
There is no problem on the current process.
I would still probably make a new tempalte file and retain the original for
safe keeping.
Then you can publish the new version to another form library for testing etc.
Once you are ready you would publish to the production area, which will
overwrite the current one, and anyone opening the template afterwards will
get the new version.
this is one of the great things about InfoPath is how easy it is to update
and modify on the fly and publish those changes.

 

[Phil Ouikuff]

Clay,

Thanks for the response. My question was more along the lines that I have
created two forms and I want to cut and paste a section from one to the
other. When I do that I lose all of the data sources and all of the new
fields are unbound.

-Phil

 

[Clay Fox]

Yes when you cut and paste you can only copy the controls. none of the fields
and none of the bindings come across.
Even if you add the schema to the target form you will have to rebind the
fields.
You have to look at it and see which is the least amount of work and if
copying helps or not.

 

[Phil Ouikuff]

Oh, and there are about 60 "data sources" in the file that I want to cut from
to past into the other form so I don't really want to go back and redo
everything.

 

[Phil Ouikuff]

Doh!

Thanks for your reply.
--
Phil

Yes when you cut and paste you can only copy the controls. none of the fields
and none of the bindings come across.
Even if you add the schema to the target form you will have to rebind the
fields.
You have to look at it and see which is the least amount of work and if
copying helps or not.

 

[Clay Fox]

You can export your source files and manually copy and paste from the XML and
XSD files but this is an exact process but can be done and be faster if you
know what you are doing. Intheory you would inject the XML references in the
manifest file and then add the files for each of the data sources and then
repackage.