How do I modify the Asset Tracking Form in Infopath?

[trdbkapl]

I am new to Infopath and finding it very frustrating. There is an asset
tracking form in the sample forms built into Infopath. I want to set up a
similar form where you can click on any repeating row on the summary page and
get its details on a detail page. I tried using this form and editing it but
you cannot edit the data sources. And I tried creating it from scratch but I
don't know how. I'm particularly baffled by the "Preserve Code Block" that
appears in the middle of the Individual Asset Details view and then is
miraculously replaced with the view from the Detailed List view. Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

I am new to Infopath and finding it very frustrating. There is an asset
tracking form in the sample forms built into Infopath. I want to set up a
similar form where you can click on any repeating row on the summary page and
get its details on a detail page. I tried using this form and editing it but
you cannot edit the data sources. And I tried creating it from scratch but I
don't know how. I'm particularly baffled by the "Preserve Code Block" that
appears in the middle of the Individual Asset Details view and then is
miraculously replaced with the view from the Detailed List view. Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi,

A quick answer on some of your points.

I assume that the Asset Tracking form template has been created from a
connection to a database. So, if that's the case, it makes sense that
you can't modify the data source - otherwise when you submit data it
won't be structured correctly and will cause problems.

The "Preserve Code Block" refers to underlying XSLT code that a
developer has marked as not to be changed by the InfoPath user
interface/engine. That lets a developer provide functionality that
InfoPath might not provide natively. So all that means is that it is a
part of a view which you shouldn't be able to change.

It sounds as if you need to get some basic reading done. On the book
front I wrote Microsoft InfoPath 2003 Kick Start. There are other more
recent books too.

Or visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857921033.aspx and
begin to get an understanding of InfoPath.

Or work through some online excercises at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/infopath/training/default.aspx.

Parts of InfoPath are very easy to use. But it certainly has its
quirks and gotchas. And sometimes it only feels easy to use "if you
know how".

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[trdbkapl]

Andrew,

While I now understand why I was having trouble modifying it, I am still
having trouble finding resources to explain how this was created. Maybe I
can ask my question more specifically. In one view I would like to have a
repeating table. For each row in the repeating table, I want a button that
allows you to switch to a second view that displays the details for that row
in the repeating table. I can't find anything in the help or online or
anywhere else that explains how to create this relationship between the
views. Can you offer any assistance?