questions about connection and .xsn

[Wandy]

I am brand new to Infopath. I created a the template filename.xsn before I
created the SQL Server database to show the customer what it would look like.
Then I created the Server database with all the fields that were part of the
template filename.xsn.
I had to create new from data connection. Once connected to the database I
changed the binding of all the fields in the filename.xsn to the DataFields
(not the QueryFields). Why do I have a set of identical fields under
QueryFields and another set under DataFields?
I lost the Rich Text Box properties in six of my fields and had to make them
Text Boxes.
I lost the File Attachments and InfoPath is asking for a source from the SQL
server database to create them. I guess I need to create the attachment
field in the Server database but don't know what datatype to assign to it.
When I add new columns to the database table, how do I get them to display
the new data source fields in InfoPath.
How do I create a SUBMIT button. Currently, I am working within my file
system. Eventually I will publish to a sharepoint web site.
Can you help?
Wandy

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Hi Wandy,

You have lots of questions in this post - I will try to address each
individually:

- Why do I have a set of identical fields under QueryFields and another set
under DataFields?
records returned back to your InfoPath form. In your SQL table has
thousands of records you will not want all of them returned back to
InfoPath as performance would surely degrade. As such, you add one or more
of these "query" fields to your form so a user can enter criteria and then
execute the query.

- I lost the Rich Text Box properties in six of my fields and had to make
them Text Boxes.
web service to read/write to your SQL table - you cannot bind a rich text
box directly to a SQL column.

- I lost the File Attachments and InfoPath is asking for a source from the
SQL server database to create them. I guess I need to create the
attachment field in the Server database but don't know what data type to
assign to it.
the data type for the field in SQL will be Image.

- When I add new columns to the database table, how do I get them to
display the new data source fields in InfoPath.
Design View, from the Tools menu option choose Convert Main Datasource and
complete the wizard - this will update your field list.

- How do I create a SUBMIT button.
Properties and then set the Action to Submit.

I hope this helps!

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Wandy]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the advice.

Still two questions related to:

1) After you modify your SQL database, open your InfoPath template (XSN) in

Design View, from the Tools menu option choose Convert Main Datasource and
complete the wizard - this will update your field list.

On design mode, I selected Options from the Tools menu. The Options Window
has the following tabs: General, Spelling, Design and Advanced. I could not
find Convert Main Datasource under any of those tabs.

2) Simply add a button to your form, right-click on the button and choose

Properties and then set the Action to Submit.

When I try to Submit new data into the SQL server database through the newly
created Submit button or the menu option Submit, it presents a MS InfoPath
window with the following message: InfoPath cannot submit the form. The
onSubmitRequest event handler returned a value indicating that the submit
failed.

However, when I Run Query the first record is displayed on the form. By the
way, a third questions, how do you get the form to display subsequent records?

Wandy

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Hi Wandy,

Please accept my apologies for the delay as I was unexpectedly out of the
office for a few days.

Did you get these issues resolved or do you still need assistance?

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Wandy]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for getting back with me. I was able to get the form to query the
database. My supervisor wants me to use the same form for querying and
updating/inserting all columns of the database. Do I really need to repeat
both sets of query fields and data fields on the form in order to accomplish
this?
Second, you mentioned that rich text boxes and file attachments need web
service. Can you elaborate a little more on how to I get them connected to
web service?
As you can see, I don't have much experience on this area.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Wandy