Walkthrough: Create Form with InfoPath and use it in a SharePoint 2010 Form Library

In this walkthrough I want to show you the steps for creating a InfoPath form and use it with InfoPath Forms Services of SharePoint 2010.

1. First I downloaded a downloadable InfoPath form from Microsoft: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/new-travel-client-preference-form-TC001201306.aspx – It’s called “New travel client preference form”.

2. I create a document library where I store my InfoPath template(s).

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3. Open InfoPath Designer. Open the downloaded InfoPath form (see step 1).

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4. Go to “File” menu.

=> Click “Publish your form”

=> On the first time you will be redirected to “Publish” sub menu.

=> On “Publish” menu: Click “Quick Publish” or “SharePoint Server”

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A wizard starts…

On the first page enter the URL of the destination site.

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On the second page I choose “Site Content Type”. => So you can use the form on multiple lists.

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Create new Content Type.

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Enter the name of the Content Type.

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Specify the location where the form template will be saved. This URL will be used for the Content Type. You know: A Content Type can have a document template setting that is used to create new items (documents) based on this Content Type. The URL will be stored in the Content Type.

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Add all form columns to the resulting Content Type. This columns will be available in the SharePoint list items that represent a saved form. (Here I choose some columns for this example…)

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Now you are almost finished. – Click “Publish”…

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That’s the result for that:

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4. Go to the browser. Open your SharePoint site.

=> Click “Libraries” in the Quick Launch.

=> Create a new Form Library like this:

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Click “Library Settings” in the Ribbon.

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Edit the “Advanced Settings” of the library.

=> Select the option “Allow management of content types?” May be other options. Then save.

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Now edit the Content Types of the library on the “Library Settings” page:

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=> Press “Add from existing site content types”.

Now choose your previously created content type “TravelPreference”. Then press “OK”.

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Optional: Remove the standard “Form” content type from the list.

Now it looks like this:

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5. In InfoPath Designer

=> Open the “File” menu.

=> Open the “Info” sub menu.

=> Click “Submit Options”

Choose “To SharePoint Library”

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In the wizard: Specify the location for saving the filled forms:

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Go through the next wizard page… Click “Finish”

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=> Open the “File” menu.

=> Open the “Info” sub menu.

=> Click “Form Options”

Open “Compatibility” tab. Choose Form Type “Web Browser Form” and enter the site URL:

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Click OK.

The “Design Checker” will open. There are some problems in the form:

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This results in setting the form type to “Web Browser Form”: Such a form does not have some features. – Now remove the fields from the form…

Click “Refresh” in the “Design Checker” pane.

Now there’s only a warning. You can ignore this.

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=> Open the “File” menu.

=> Open the “Info” sub menu.

Click “Quick Publish”

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That’s it:

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6. Go to the browser. Open your SharePoint site. Open your “TravelPreferences” list.

=> Click “Add new document”

NOW YOU’LL GET YOUR BROWSER FORM!!!

Fill it out!

Click “Submit” (NOT: “Save” => You can disable the “Save” button in InfoPath Designer => “File” menu => “Info” pane => “Advanced form options” => “Web Browser” tab)

After clicking “Submit” you’ll get a document in your form library:

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This can be used with Workflows and any other SharePoint functionality…