Edit with InfoPath XML generated by another program?

[Eric Compas]

Group:

I've created a form in InfoPath that I'd like to use not to generate
new XML data, but to edit XML that's been created by another program.
I've naively tried pasting an InfoPath header into this XML generated
by another source (that does match the schema by the way). I've added
something like the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?mso-infoPathSolution
solutionVersion="1.0.0.6" productVersion="11.0.6357"
PIVersion="1.0.0.0" href="file:///D:\projects\compas\NPS\InfoPath\BioProfile2.xsn"
name="urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:infopath:BioProfile2:"
?><?mso-application progid="InfoPath.Document"?>

When I open this modified XML in InfoPath, it starts to display the
page--everything seems to be parsed just find. However, I get an
hourglass cursor and InfoPath locks up, never to recover.

Questions:
* Is InfoPath just meant to generate new XML and not edit existing?
* If the latter is also possible, how does one properly modify or
import this XML into a previously generated InfoPath form?

As always, any help or comments appreciated.

Thanks,

Eric Compas
UW-Madison

 

[Brian Teutsch [MSFT]]

What you did should have been just fine, sorry it ended up sitting and
spinning. The best way to bring existing XML into an InfoPath form is to
design a new form, and start using the XSD for that XML, or an XML example
that has all the possible elements you'll ever expect.

The resulting solution will then be usable by an XML to which you add the
Processing Instruction (PI) you used below.

If you'd like to post your XML and XSN form template, we can have a look to
see if there's a change you can make, or at least try and prevent the issue
in future versions.

Thanks,
Brian