should I use InfoPath?

[sean717]

Hi, I am just assigned a project to make a paper based process to be web
based. What I need to do is to allow user to fill out an online form and sign
it using his/her mouse. The data entered and the signature needs to be later
retrieved as a PDF file.

So, I've created a working prototype using ASP.NET webforms and a third
party PDF library ( iTextSharp), along with a mouse signature capture tool
that I purchased.

The prototype works fine. But my concern is, I may need to extend this
application to support many ( maybe hundreds of) forms. Each form has
different fields, but they all require a signature. It took me 2 days to
build the prototype for one form, including creating the web forms, mark
fields in PDF template, hook up web form fields with fields in PDF form,
etc...In the future I don't want to spend 2 days to set up each form, is
there a better way than building custom form using ASP.NET?

I know of InfoPath, but never used it, has anyone done anything similar
before? Is InfoPath with SharePoint a better solution to my problem? Or there
is something else? If anyone can give me some advice, I would greatly
appreciate it.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Frederik Van Lierde]

Infopath is defintly a good choice

1. Easy to create a form
2. Easy to add rules and conditions, otherwhise you need to program
3. InfoPath and SharePoint works smoothly together, and afterwards it
is easy to add workflows
4. You can publish the InfoPath to an InfoPath Template Library and
reuse the InfoPath Template in different Libraries
5. You can create the InfoPath Form and display in a webrowser if
needed
6. With an add-on you can create PDF from you InfoPath Forms

It will take less time then 2 days to create one document

The cost:
Ofcourse installing InfoPath for you and SharePonmt has a cost, but
developping many days also has a cost

The Belgian Giovernment, Health Care Department had to choose also
witch technology to use, had to create many templates and we went for
SharePoint + InfoPath.
We had Trading Companies to handle all trades and confirmations, we
used InfoPath and SharePoint

Are there negative points, ofcourse, like any other choice you have.


To have some information on InfoPath, have a look at http://BlueInfoPath.wordpress.com

Frederik Van Lierde
http://SilverSandsAssociates.com.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/SilverSands_IT

 

[sean cui]

It is interesting to see my post show up here. It is originally posted somewhere else. I found it thru google.

Anyways, thanks a lot for your advice. Also, do you know if it is easy to capture mouse signature in InfoPath?



Frederik Van Lierde wrote:

Infopath is defintly a good choice1. Easy to create a form2.
20-Oct-09

Infopath is defintly a good choic

1. Easy to create a for
2. Easy to add rules and conditions, otherwhise you need to progra
3. InfoPath and SharePoint works smoothly together, and afterwards i
is easy to add workflow
4. You can publish the InfoPath to an InfoPath Template Library an
reuse the InfoPath Template in different Librarie
5. You can create the InfoPath Form and display in a webrowser i
neede
6. With an add-on you can create PDF from you InfoPath Form

It will take less time then 2 days to create one documen

The cost
Ofcourse installing InfoPath for you and SharePonmt has a cost, bu
developping many days also has a cos

The Belgian Giovernment, Health Care Department had to choose als
witch technology to use, had to create many templates and we went fo
SharePoint + InfoPath
We had Trading Companies to handle all trades and confirmations, w
used InfoPath and SharePoin

Are there negative points, ofcourse, like any other choice you have

To have some information on InfoPath, have a look at http://BlueInfoPath.wordpress.co

Frederik Van Lierd
http://SilverSandsAssociates.com.wordpress.co
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/SilverSands_IT

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