xsn and moved / deleted templates

[Art]

We use IP 2003 and as a result, we email a lot of .xsn files around for
processing.

We discovered an issue and not sure how to plan for it.

We store the final xsn files in a library (some in SP, some in network
drives and some in a file storage system).

The original templates are all in a forms library in SP 2003.

If the template every gets moved in the forms library or deleted as no
longer used, the older forms can no longer be opened.

Since we know we will eventually move to SP 2007 and IP 2007, our SP
structure will change.

How can we ensure that our current forms are able to be opened and viewed
over time?

Thanks

 

[S.Y.M. Wong-A-Ton]

Have you already seen this article:
http://blogs.msdn.com/infopath/archive/2006/11/01/relinking-forms-and-form-templates.aspx

Tip: If you want to keep being able to open forms in InfoPath, NEVER delete
the form template.

 

[Art]

I think your tip is best but our network folks dont often think in those terms

 

[S.Y.M. Wong-A-Ton]

It is just a matter of educating the network folks about the consequences,
Art.

You might want to check out this tool
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...1C-CF4B-4D81-9234-38542F8D5039&displaylang=en)
when you're upgrading forms from 2003 to 2007 or when migrating them between
libraries in 2007. Let us know how it goes if you do try it out, since I've
just briefly tested it and found out that it does not work for
administrator-approved form templates in 2007.