Outlook Integration.

[Alan]

Hi,

We have a requirement that I think can be resolved using InfoPath but I have
no detailed knowledge of the product and I'm looking for some advise (I have
a lot of Outlook experience).

The requirement is that within Outlook we have Forms that are under the
control of the customer and are not fixed by our developers by using the
Outlook Forms Designer. InfoPath seems ideal because this give the customer
all the control they need. However, I'm wondering how much control we have
from inside Outlook?

1. From inside an Outlook COM object can we launch InfoPath and specify a
template to use? Is this a programmtic or via a command line?

2. From inside an Outlook COM object can we tell whether the user has
finished creating the Form? We want to attach the form to the message when
they have finished.

3. Can we disable the 'Send to Recipient' features that InfoPath has - we'd
want to use InfoPath as an editor only. We have other tasks that can only
be done in Outlook.

4. The InfoPath Form is displayed in the preview pane of a received Outlook
message (read-only), when I reply to that message I get a read-write version
of the InfoPath Form embedded in the outlook message. However, I've noticed
I can delete fields from the Forms - Can I prevent this?

5. When is the Outlook Forms Designer going to be replaced by InfoPath

6. Do any white papers, articles etc. exist which describe this area?

Thanks for your help.

Alan.

 

[Brian Teutsch [MSFT]]

You might be able to get quite a bit of what you want. I'm going to answer
your questions inline...

Brian

Hi,

We have a requirement that I think can be resolved using InfoPath but I
have
no detailed knowledge of the product and I'm looking for some advise (I
have
a lot of Outlook experience).

The requirement is that within Outlook we have Forms that are under the
control of the customer and are not fixed by our developers by using the
Outlook Forms Designer. InfoPath seems ideal because this give the
customer
all the control they need. However, I'm wondering how much control we
have
from inside Outlook?

1. From inside an Outlook COM object can we launch InfoPath and specify a
template to use? Is this a programmtic or via a command line?

From Outlook, you can launch InfoPath from the OM, using NewFromSolution.
Just check out the Developer section of the help topics. I know it's
possible from the command line as well.

2. From inside an Outlook COM object can we tell whether the user has
finished creating the Form? We want to attach the form to the message
when
they have finished.

I doubt you'll be able to get something very satisfactory. There's no
InfoPath "OnClose" event. You might be able to use something in the OnSubmit
event to trigger a call to your COM object. Your InfoPath form will have to
be trusted, and that's only a wild guess.

3. Can we disable the 'Send to Recipient' features that InfoPath has -
we'd
want to use InfoPath as an editor only. We have other tasks that can only
be done in Outlook.

Using SP1, you can disable that functionality. Just go to Form Options->Open
and Save tab while you're designing a form.

4. The InfoPath Form is displayed in the preview pane of a received
Outlook
message (read-only), when I reply to that message I get a read-write
version
of the InfoPath Form embedded in the outlook message. However, I've
noticed
I can delete fields from the Forms - Can I prevent this?

That's not a "form", just an HTML view on the data. Users can edit the
message at will. I don't know if you can block editing during reply/forward
(I doubt it), but that's squarely an Outlook question.

5. When is the Outlook Forms Designer going to be replaced by InfoPath

We can't comment on future plans. Definitely use the types of forms that are
best for your situation today.

6. Do any white papers, articles etc. exist which describe this area?

Not particularly. You're at the best spot right now.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Brian.

I think for the time being we'll have to use the Outlook Forms, InfoPath has
a lot of potential for us but no OnClose event and the editable HTML view in
Outlook will cause us too many problems - I know we can't control the
preview pane / body display inside Outlook.

Alan.