Working with "Choice Groups" ----@#$%^*$#@

[Tom]

This is another newbie question.

Again, I am doing things backwards. My management wants me to build the
form, then IF they decide, we will bind to a database ... that has caused
lots of problems. This time, I am being driven crazy by "Choice groups,
sections, and radio buttons". Also, I have the constraint that upgrading to
2007 is NOT an option.

My form needs to have two, mutually exclusive radio buttons (e.g. "yes",
"no"). I read that to make the buttons mutually exclusive, I must put them in
a "choice section" which has to be in a "choice group", especially if I want
to bind to a database later.

I have several problems with this "choice" stuff:

- Size: they want to print from the data entry view. By the time I get my
buttons, section, and group all nested, the vertical size taken by these
controls is huge and unacceptable.

- Binding and naming: In the data source pane, I try to keep the controls,
groups, etc. with meaningful names and arranged in a logical, sequential
sequence. One, I cannot name the "choice sections". Two, heaven help me if I
ever lose the binding. It is hard to get them reassociated with the correct
groups. When I get done, I have all kind of warning "flags" on the form
telling me that something is bound incorrectly, duplicates data, or can't
hold data.

QUESTION: Can anyone point me to some examples of practical ways to work
with the "choice" objects? Sizing, naming, re-connecting if they get unbound?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

 

[Russ]

My form needs to have two, mutually exclusive radio buttons (e.g. "yes",

"no"). I read that to make the buttons mutually exclusive, I must put them in
a "choice section" which has to be in a "choice group", especially if I want
to bind to a database later.

The InfoPath Option Button control provides a way to insert mutually
exclusive radio buttons. In my opinion, the easiest way to insert the radio
buttons would be to create your field in the Data Source view, right click on
it, and select the "Option Button" item. A dialog will pop up, asking you
how many buttons you want in the group.

 

[Tom]

Russ,

I have seen that dialog. What is confusing is the "Choice Section". How are
those 2 different? I was under the impression that 2 mutually exclusive radio
buttons had to be in a "Choice Section" which then had to be in a "Choice
Group".

Because I am teaching myself all of this without the aid of a course or
book, it seems like I keep doing these things in reverse order?

Is there any documentation or tutorial online that I could look at to learn
more about the correct way to build these? In lieu of that, can you recommend
a good book on IP that covers beginner and intermediate topics?

Thanks!

 

[Russ]

The choice sections are for giving users of your form the option of choosing
between multiple sections to fill out. Microsoft provides a nice tutorial on
them here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011185181033.aspx

which I found from the Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 assistance page at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH010966841033.aspx

My main text resource when learning InfoPath was Roger Jennings'
"Introducing Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003" published by Microsoft Press.

 

[Tom]

Thanks for your help! :d

The choice sections are for giving users of your form the option of choosing
between multiple sections to fill out. Microsoft provides a nice tutorial on
them here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011185181033.aspx

which I found from the Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 assistance page at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH010966841033.aspx

My main text resource when learning InfoPath was Roger Jennings'
"Introducing Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003" published by Microsoft Press.