Question on InfoPath form upgrade

[Ken Ng]

Currently, we have several form templates in use by users. We are planning to
consolidate all those into one form templates for easy maintainance. As part
of the work, we need to modify the schema and the name of the for template.
As the exist form templates are already in use and users have saved form data
XML into sharepoint library, here are my two questions:

1) The form data XML files are referencing the old xsns which are now all
combine into one new xsn with a different name. How can I make sure when the
users double click on the XML files, the new xsn will be opened to show the
form?

2) Once I can handle the name change, is upgrade.xsl the answer to handle
the change in the form schema?

 

[Gavin McKay]

Hi Ken,

This can all be done - I won't call it all that simple though In answer
to your questions:

1. You need to update the template location in all the Xml files you want to
change. I wrote a short article explaining the manual steps:

http://www.infopathkb.com/Knowledge...te location in an existing InfoPath form.aspx

which explains the section you need to modify. I had to do this same task
for a client and ended up writing a simple utility to bulk-change the Xml
files all at once. The utility opened the Xml file as text, and then did a
search-and-replace of the old template name to the new one. I didn't use an
Xml object to do it because I couldn't remember how to change pre-processor
Xml directives but a text replace works just as well.

2. I don't think you'll be able to use upgrade.xsl because you said you are
changing a number of different forms. upgrade.xsl only works when you are
modifying one version of the same form to another version. You will probably
need to write your own custom Xsl file that will convert the old Xml files
into your new compatible format. Again, writing a simple utility is the way
to go I think. You will also have complete control over the Xml migration
process.

You can also use the XSD from your new template to verify that the Xsl
process has worked correctly - that's if you want the "bonus mark"

Hope all of that makes sense!

HTH

Gavin.