Data missing in form where it previously existed

[68jcode]

I have a strange and critical problem. We just implemented an expense report
form using InfoPath on SharePoint. One of the users completed the form using
FireFox 3.0.5 and submitted the form without problem. I looked at the
expense report myslef and could see that there were dollar amounts filled in
for every line item on the form. The workflow rules we have setup flow to an
approving manager and then to finance. The form now is missing the amounts
for every line item, showing zero. I have interogated anyone involved and
believe them when they say they did not remove the data. Has anyone
experienced this problem before? Is there a known conflict of some kind that
could cause this? I am under the gun and need to find some answers.

Thanks

 

[Swathi (GGK Tech)]

Hi,
Once verify that are you removing the amounts anywhere in the workflow
process.

 

[68jcode]

Hi Swathi,
No, the workflow does not alter any of the data contained in the form. It
alters status changes only (apprved or declined), which are not fields on the
Infopath form, but rather properties of the expense report on the SharePoint
list.

 

[68jcode]

I was able to locate the root cause. It seems that a handful of people had
InfoPath installed on their machines as part of our base IT image. When they
clicked an expense report to view it before approving, the form opened in
InfoPatch rather than the browser, despite having this configured to always
open in the browser. Based on my research, this is a known bug that MS
hasn't resolved yet. Anyway, when the form is opened in Infopath, for some
reason all of the values in the amount fields were reset to zeros and the
user must have hit the save button not realizing the impact. I have since
removed InfoPath from all machines and am hoping this problem never surfaces
again.

 

[68jcode]

Thanks for the reply, but I was able to locate the root cause. It seems that
a handful of people had InfoPath installed on their machines as part of our
base IT image. When they clicked an expense report to view it before
approving, the form opened in InfoPatch rather than the browser, despite
having this configured to always open in the browser. Based on my research,
this is a known bug that MS hasn't resolved yet. Anyway, when the form is
opened in Infopath, for some reason all of the values in the amount fields
were reset to zeros and the user must have hit the save button not realizing
the impact. I have since removed InfoPath from all machines and am hoping
this problem never surfaces again.

 

[PumaMan]

You may want to disable the "Save" option in the Tools - Form Options so
problems like that don't arise again. I disable everything the user doesn't
need personally...they always find a way to give you a new problem!