how do I change an InfoPath text field to a rich text field?

[Mark, State of Ohio]

I have an existing InfoPath 2007 form already filled out multiple times. I
was forced to make multiple text box fields plain text, since making them
rich text removed the capability to set the fields as required. The customer
is concerned that this limit, when coupled with the use of IP Form Services,
shows these text boxes as three lines only with a scroll bar. They would
rather see the whole set of text than make the fields required. Is there a
way to take an existing form field that is text only and make it rich-text?
Otherwise, is there a way to force IP Form Services to show all the content
in the field, as it does for a rich-text field automatically? I know I can
just add new fields, but that will break the template and force the users to
enter the data all over again.

 

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

Here's what you could try: Open the form template, extract the form files,
open the XSD, look up the fields you want to give RTF support, change them to
allow RTF, repackage the files (open the manifest.xsf, save, and republish),
convert the text fields in InfoPath (design mode) into RTF fields, and
republish the form template.

RTF fields have a special signature definition in the XSD. To find out what
it is, create a blank form template with a Rich Text Box, save it, extract
the form files, open the XSD, and look at the definition for the RTF field.
You will see something like

<xsd:complexType mixed="true">
<xsd:sequence>
<xsd:any minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"
namespace="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" processContents="lax"/>
</xsd:sequence>
</xsd:complexType>

defined within the RTF field element. You need to use a similar definition
for the text fields in your existing form.

Warning:
It's best to try this out in a test environment before doing it in the live
environment.