the trials of supporting end users with sharepoint infopath forms
DESCRIPTION
The Trials of Supporting End Users with SharePoint InfoPath forms InfoPath is one of the most popular products used in business to derive added value from SharePoint. Jon presents a real world view of how InfoPath is used within a local major business, the promise, the challenges, and how best to manage it all. Topics include end user support, governance, and upgrade challenges.TRANSCRIPT
InfoPath- an introduction to InfoPath- Challenges supporting InfoPath
Who is presenting today
2
Jon Vicary Experience
Since 2008 SharePoint 2003 SharePoint 2007 SharePoint 2010
Governance User Adoption Change management
Quick Question
Who has no idea what InfoPath is?
Who has filled out an InfoPath form?
Who has created a form?Basic form?Complex form?
Who supports end users with InfoPath?In one word what do your end users think of
InfoPath?
3
Agenda
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1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The challenge of supporting InfoPath
3. Questions and answers
4. Questions and answers
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
Agenda
5
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The basics of template creation
3. Data sources
4. Formatting a template
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- What can InfoPath do for you- What can form creators do with InfoPath- Understanding the different InfoPath programs
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
6
Fill out the form InfoPath filler Browser (Internet Explorer)
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Fill out the form InfoPath filler Browser (Internet Explorer)
Submit the form By email To a SharePoint list / library To a database
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
8
Fill out the form InfoPath filler Browser (Internet Explorer)
Submit the form By email To a SharePoint list / library To a database
Aggregate and view from details SharePoint
Agenda
9
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The basics of template creation
3. Data sources
4. Formatting a template
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- What can InfoPath do for you- What can form creators do with InfoPath- Understanding the different InfoPath programs
Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
10
Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
11
Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
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Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
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Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
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Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
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Introducing InfoPathWhat can form creators do with InfoPath
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Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser
SharePoint Server
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser
SharePoint Server
SharePoint library
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser
SharePoint Server
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser
SharePoint Server
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser Filler
SharePoint Server
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser Filler
SharePoint Server Email form
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser Filler
SharePoint Server Email form
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Networkshare
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser Filler
SharePoint Server Email form
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Networkshare
Email to users
Introducing InfoPathTypes of InfoPath forms
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Browser Filler
SharePoint Server Email form SharePoint
SharePoint library
SharePoint list
InfoPath web part
Networkshare
Email to users
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Connect to a wide range of data sources
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Connect to a wide range of data sources Design themed forms
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Connect to a wide range of data sources Design themed forms Provide different views
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Connect to a wide range of data sources Design themed forms Provide different views Use a rich array of tools to capture data
Introducing InfoPathWhat you can do with InfoPath
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Connect to a wide range of data sources Design themed forms Provide different views Use a rich array of tools to capture data Not just a tool to create forms, but a tool
to create business solutions
Agenda
32
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The basics of template creation
3. Data sources
4. Formatting a template
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- What can InfoPath do for you- What can form creators do with InfoPath- Understanding the different InfoPath programs
Introducing InfoPathUnderstanding the different InfoPath programs
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InfoPath Filler Client side program Fill in forms
Introducing InfoPathUnderstanding the different InfoPath programs
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InfoPath Filler Client side program Fill in forms
InfoPath Designer Client side program Design themed forms Provide different views Use a rich array of tools to capture data Not just a tool to create forms, but a tool
to create business solutions
Agenda
35
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The challenge of supporting InfoPath
3. Business scenarios
4. Questions and answers
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- A common SharePoint story- Supporting InfoPath – the options
Agenda
36
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The challenge of supporting InfoPath
3. Business scenarios
4. Questions and answers
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- A common SharePoint story- Supporting InfoPath – the options
The challenge of supporting InfoPathA common SharePoint story
In my experience supporting end users with SharePoint, I see a clear and worrying trend:
SharePoint takes you 95% there out-of-the-box. The last 5% requires development to make end users truly satisfied
1 2 3
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The challenge of supporting InfoPathA common SharePoint story
SharePoint Product Marketing:SharePoint can be used to solve
business problems
to….
SharePoint can be used to almost solve business problems
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Examples Workflows Alert emails Web Parts
Agenda
39
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The challenge of supporting InfoPath
3. Business scenarios
4. Questions and answers
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
- A common SharePoint story- Supporting InfoPath – the options
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• Switch it offDon’t support it at all
• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
The challenge of supporting InfoPathSupporting InfoPath: The options
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• Switch it offDon’t support it at all
• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
The challenge of supporting InfoPathSupporting InfoPath: The options
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Eliminates support burden
• One less thing for users to learn
• Preventing users from creating dynamic solutions to some of their common business challenges
• Users continue to use Excel / Word which don’t meet their requirements
• Business functions invest in expensive standalone solutions
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• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
The challenge of supporting InfoPathSupporting InfoPath: The options
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Give access to a create tool
• People will use it to find solutions that make a difference
• Users will ask for support anyway
• User frustration will increase when IT says no to support
• Users may create forms that are not technically built correctly
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• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
The challenge of supporting InfoPathSupporting InfoPath: The options
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Give access to a create tool
• People will use it to find solutions that make a difference
• Users will ask for support anyway, even for the complicated stuff
• User frustration will increase when IT says no to support
• Users may create forms that are not technically built correctly
44
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
• Let people use it but tell them they are by themselves
Don’t support it at all
• Support users with basic forms but not complex forms that contain business logic
Support it within limits
• Gather requirements and build forms with end users
Fully supported
The challenge of supporting InfoPathSupporting InfoPath: The options
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Give access to a create tool
• Great solutions can be provided to business customers
• Perception of IT increases
• SharePoint is adopted by more people
• Can be very costly
• IT need to gain skills
• IT will need to consider this in next platform migration
Agenda
45
1. Introducing InfoPath
2. The challenge of supporting InfoPath
3. Questions and answers
4. Questions and answers
5. Using controls to collect data
6. Browser forms
7. Finishing and publishing the form
Questions?
Thank you!