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Microsoft InfoPath
Microsoft InfoPath
Microsoft InfoPath
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Microsoft InfoPath
DeveloperMicrosoft
Final release
2013 (15.0.4805.1000)[1] / May 3, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-05-03)
Operating systemWindows Vista and later
SuccessorMicrosoft Forms
TypeCollaborative software
LicenseTrialware
Websitewww.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48734

Microsoft InfoPath is a discontinued software application for designing, distributing, filling and submitting electronic forms containing structured data. Microsoft initially released InfoPath as part of the Microsoft Office 2003 family. The product features a WYSIWYG form designer in which the various controls (e.g. text box, radio button, checkbox) are bound to data, represented separately as a hierarchical tree view of folders and data fields.

InfoPath 2013 became available for the first time as a freestanding download on September 1, 2015, when Microsoft made it available in its Download Center. However, unlike previous versions of InfoPath, the standalone version of InfoPath 2013 requires an active ProPlus subscription to Office 365.[2] The current version of InfoPath 2013 (15.0.4733.1000) is designed to be an optional component to the Office suite of applications for users that need it. Its indirect successor is Microsoft Forms, which is free to anyone with a Microsoft Account.

Features

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In order to use InfoPath to fill in a form, a designer must develop an InfoPath template first. According to Jean Paoli and John Godel, two of its developers, a key architectural design decision was "to adhere to the XML paradigm of separating the data in a document from the formatting."[3] A patent filed in 2000 by Adriana Neagu and Jean Paoli describes the technology as "authoring XML using DHTML views and XSLT."[4]

All the data stored in InfoPath forms are stored in an XML format, which is referred to as the "data source". The form template must have one primary data source for submitting data and can have multiple secondary data sources for retrieving data into the form. Secondary data sources can be built into the form or they can be accessed through an external data connection to SharePoint or a Web service. The files of the InfoPath form template are saved as an archive in the cabinet file format with the file name extension xsn.[5]

InfoPath provides several controls (e.g. textbox, radio button, checkbox) to present data in the data source to end-users. For data tables and secondary data sources, "Repeating Table" and other repeating controls are introduced. Template parts and ActiveX controls can also be added as custom controls in the designer.

For each of these controls, actions (called "rules") can be bound in. Rules come in three types: formatting rules such as hiding or coloring a control, validation rules (e.g. allow only a nine-digit number), and action rules such as setting a field's value based on other fields. Rules can be triggered either by a user action such as clicking a button or by the evaluation of various conditions such as field values. For example, a conditional rule could be: "Set field 'Total' to 100 when field 'field1' is not blank".

Paradigm

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  • Rules apply specific actions when triggered by button clicks or changing values in the form. They can change the values of fields in the data source, submit to and query databases, display messages, open and close forms, and switch to different views of the form.
  • Data validation tests the validity of input into fields by comparing the input to patterns, checking for the correct data type (such as a string or an integer), and in other customizable ways.
  • Conditional formatting can be used to change the appearance or visibility of objects based on values in the form.
  • InfoPath has many different ActiveX Controls, all of which have a value bound to a field in the form's data source. Common controls include list boxes, radio buttons, text boxes, buttons, and check boxes. Info Path also uses controls such as Calculated Values, which display the result of xPath expressions, and sections, which are containers for other controls. InfoPath also includes repeating fields and sections, which can store many different values.
  • XPath expressions and functions can be used to calculate values by applying functions to the value of fields in the form, such as "concat(string(field1 + field2), "#;", field3)" (the concatenation of the sum of two fields, the string "#;", and the value of another field). XPath functions for manipulation of strings, simple mathematical operations, and many other operations are included in InfoPath. In addition, data can be filtered (select individual values from a repeating field or database).
  • InfoPath supports connections to external datasources. SQL, Microsoft Access, and SharePoint databases can be connected to and submitted in the form.
  • JScript, Visual Basic, C#, and other languages can be used to extend InfoPath's capabilities by adding custom HTML taskpanes, iterating through data, using Active Directory, and generally accomplishing tasks that are impossible in the InfoPath design environment. The language support is facilitated by Visual Studio, although a specific version of Visual Studio is required to use with each version of InfoPath.
  • SharePoint integration (see Integration with SharePoint).
  • User roles can customize a user's experience by changing views or using conditional formatting based on the identity of the user.
  • InfoPath's formatting capabilities and user interface are similar to Microsoft Word 2003 and 2010, depending on version.

Usage

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InfoPath is used to create forms to capture information and save the contents as a file on a PC or on a web server when hosted on SharePoint. InfoPath can be used to access and display data from divergent sources (web services, XML, databases, other forms) and have rich interactive behaviors based on Rules, Conditions and Actions. An InfoPath form requires the client to have InfoPath Filler or InfoPath Designer installed, or by viewing the form in a browser when hosted on SharePoint. InfoPath is mostly used in business rather than by individuals, as it is a collaboration tool used to gather data from multiple individuals in a structured method, and to deploy requires either a SharePoint host and/or individual licensed Filler copies. InfoPath forms can be viewed on mobile devices if viewed from a browser (hosted on SharePoint) or by using a third-party product.

To run as a Web browser form, the file needs to be uploaded to a server running InfoPath Forms Services. The advantage of this is the client doesn't need InfoPath, just a Web browser. The form can then be set up to be e-mailed when completed or its fields can be added directly to a SharePoint list.

Integration with SharePoint

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One common use of InfoPath is to integrate it with Microsoft SharePoint technology. InfoPath forms can submit to SharePoint lists and libraries, and submitted instances can be opened from SharePoint using InfoPath Filler or third-party products. Alternatively InfoPath Forms Services enables a browser-enabled InfoPath form to be hosted on a SharePoint installation and rendered as an HTML page with client-side script and post back behaviors similar to an ASP.NET page.

In SharePoint, a "Form Library" is a document library having an InfoPath template as the designated document type. InfoPath fields can be promoted when publishing to SharePoint so they can be read and displayed as a "Column" data in a library View. As with other SharePoint documents, InfoPath forms can have workflows associated with them that can access the promoted fields.[6]

Support

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On January 31, 2014, Microsoft announced that InfoPath was discontinued and will be replaced by a more cross-platform solution called PowerApps, released in late 2016.[7] On March 1, 2016, Microsoft announced that the InfoPath 2013 client application will be supported through July 2026.[8] Microsoft specifies that "InfoPath Forms Services is included in the on-premises release of SharePoint Server 2016, as well as being fully supported in Office 365 until further notice."[9] Microsoft MVP Roger Haueter[10] states that InfoPath is still expected to be supported in SharePoint Server 2019 On-Premises.[11]

Server-side components

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Forms Server 2007 is a discontinued product that converts InfoPath client forms into Ajax HTML forms that can be accessed and filled out using any browser, including mobile phone browsers. Forms Server 2007 supports using a database or other data source as the back-end for the form. It requires Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and the .NET Framework version 2.0.[12]

InfoPath Forms Services (or Office Forms Services) takes over the features of Form Server 2007, allowing InfoPath forms to be hosted in a SharePoint web site and served via web browser. Originally a component of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise edition,[13] in 2013, it was made available with:

  • SharePoint Online Plan 2[14]
  • Office 365 E3/A3/G3 or higher
  • SharePoint Server 2013 Enterprise CAL

On January 31, 2014, Microsoft said they are discontinuing InfoPath Forms Services.[15] Later in an undated update to the original post Microsoft changed the plan and announced that InfoPath Forms Services would be included in SharePoint 2016 after all.[16]

InfoPath Forms Services is available to Office 365 Education subscribers (Office 365 A1, Office 365 A3 and Office 365 A5 plans).[17]

Versions

[edit]
Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 running on Windows Vista
Version Included in... Release date[18] Support end date[19]
InfoPath 2003 Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Enterprise November 19, 2003 April 8, 2014
InfoPath 2007 Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate, Professional Plus and Enterprise January 27, 2007 October 10, 2017
InfoPath 2010 Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus; Office 365 July 15, 2010 October 13, 2020
InfoPath 2013 Microsoft Office 2013 Professional Plus; Office 365 January 29, 2013 July 14, 2026

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Microsoft InfoPath

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from Grokipedia
Microsoft InfoPath is a discontinued software application designed for creating, distributing, and submitting electronic forms containing structured data, primarily using XML technologies to streamline information gathering and business processes within organizations. First released as part of the suite, InfoPath enabled users to build rich, interactive forms with a designer, supporting integration with databases, web services, and XML schemas. Subsequent versions were included in Office 2007, 2010, and 2013, with the latter serving as the final release available both within Office suites and as a standalone download starting in 2015. A key feature of InfoPath was its tight integration with Microsoft , facilitated by InfoPath Forms Services, a server technology that allowed users to fill out and submit forms directly in web browsers without requiring the desktop application. This enabled browser-based experiences for form deployment on sites, supporting workflows, , and connections to external data sources like SQL Server or web services. Developers could extend forms with managed code using or script-based logic, while end-users benefited from controls such as repeating tables, choice groups, and digital signatures to create dynamic, reusable forms. InfoPath's XML foundation allowed forms to adhere to custom schemas, making it suitable for enterprise scenarios like expense reports, status updates, and compliance documentation. In January 2014, Microsoft announced that InfoPath 2013 would be the last version, citing customer feedback favoring more connected forms experiences across devices and the evolution toward modern platforms like Power Apps. Mainstream support for InfoPath 2013 ended on July 13, 2021, but extended support continues until July 14, 2026, after which no further updates, security patches, or compatibility assurances will be provided. Similarly, InfoPath Forms Services in Online will be retired post-2026, prompting organizations to migrate to alternatives such as , Power Automate, or third-party tools for continued form automation. Despite its discontinuation, InfoPath remains in use in many legacy enterprise environments due to its robust form capabilities and integration.

History and Development

Origins and Initial Release

In the early , businesses increasingly sought to transition from paper-based processes to digital forms, driven by the rise of XML technologies for structured data exchange and the need for more efficient information gathering. recognized this shift and developed InfoPath, originally codenamed XDocs, as a tool to enable the creation and management of XML-based electronic forms without requiring advanced programming skills. The application aimed to democratize XML form design for knowledge workers, allowing non-developers to build forms that adhered to XML schemas while integrating seamlessly with backend systems like databases and web services. Microsoft first publicly unveiled InfoPath on February 10, 2003, highlighting its support for industry standards such as XML, for data navigation, and elements inspired by the emerging W3C specification to ensure interoperability and future-proofing. A beta version followed shortly after as part of the System Beta 2, released to over half a million testers in March 2003, where it was praised for streamlining data collection from disparate sources into structured XML documents. This early testing phase focused on validating InfoPath's ability to reduce the complexity of form creation, addressing pain points in traditional tools that lacked native XML handling. InfoPath 2003 achieved general availability on November 19, 2003, bundled exclusively with the Professional Enterprise Edition to target enterprise users needing advanced collaboration features. The release positioned InfoPath as a direct alternative to PDF-based forms, such as those from , by emphasizing editable, data-driven XML forms that could merge with applications for broader adoption. Subsequent versions would build on this foundation, but the initial launch established InfoPath's role in accelerating the industry's move toward standards-based electronic forms.

Evolution Through Versions

Microsoft InfoPath 2007 was released on January 30, 2007, alongside the suite, marking a significant advancement in electronic form capabilities. This version introduced browser-based forms, enabling users to fill out and submit forms directly in web browsers without requiring the full InfoPath client, through integration with InfoPath Forms Services on . Additionally, it added support for data connections, allowing forms to bind to richer data sources and perform more complex data operations. These features expanded InfoPath's utility beyond desktop environments, facilitating broader deployment in enterprise settings. The subsequent release, InfoPath 2010, arrived on June 15, 2010, as part of the Office 2010 family, incorporating the interface for a more intuitive consistent with the broader Office suite redesign. Key enhancements included Quick Rules, a simplified mechanism for adding validation, formatting, and action-based logic to forms without extensive coding, accessible via the Rules task pane. Improved mobile support was also added, allowing forms to be optimized and hosted for access on mobile devices through SharePoint Server 2010, extending usability to field workers and remote users. These updates built on prior capabilities, emphasizing ease of design and cross-device accessibility. InfoPath 2013, released on October 22, 2012, served as the final major version of the product, integrated into Office 2013 and offering previews of cloud-based integration with emerging services like Office 365 for form hosting and collaboration. It enhanced handling, supporting more flexible signing of form sections and improved compatibility with cryptographic standards for secure data submission. Compatibility with Office 365 was emphasized, allowing forms to leverage and sharing features. This version refined existing functionalities without introducing entirely new paradigms, focusing on stability and alignment with Microsoft's shifting ecosystem. Throughout its versions, InfoPath offered edition variants to suit different needs: the full Standard edition for form design and filling, and the Filler edition, a client-only component for opening and submitting forms without design tools. After the 2007 release, InfoPath was excluded from retail suites, available instead through programs for enterprise customers, ensuring targeted distribution to organizations requiring advanced form solutions. Cumulative advancements included the introduction of template parts in 2007 for reusable form components and progressive improvements to secondary data connections, enabling forms to pull and submit data from multiple external sources like databases and web services across all versions.

Core Features

Form Design Paradigm

Microsoft InfoPath employs a declarative design paradigm that enables users to create structured, XML-based electronic forms without requiring extensive coding knowledge. This approach centers on a drag-and-drop interface within the InfoPath Designer, allowing designers to define XML schemas, add views, and incorporate controls such as text boxes, drop-down lists, and repeating tables directly onto the form layout. By leveraging XML Schema Definition (XSD) files, InfoPath ensures that the form's data structure is predefined, facilitating structural validation of input and output XML documents during design and runtime. The visual designer provides intuitive layout tools for arranging elements, including sections, tables, and optional controls, while supporting advanced features like conditional formatting and data validation rules. Conditional formatting allows dynamic changes to control appearance—such as font color, bold text, or visibility—based on XPath expressions that evaluate form data conditions, ensuring the form adapts to user input without manual intervention. Similarly, data validation uses XPath-based rules to enforce constraints like required fields or numeric ranges, displaying error messages to guide users toward compliant entries. These elements promote a user-friendly design process focused on visual composition and rule-based logic rather than imperative programming. At its core, InfoPath's template-based approach results in the creation of .xsn files, which are compressed cabinet (.cab) packages containing the , view definitions (in XSL transformations), , and the (.xsf) file that orchestrates all components. This packaging encapsulates the form's , , and into a single deployable unit, streamlining distribution and maintenance. Forms support multiple views per template, enabling to create distinct layouts—such as summary or detailed perspectives—that users can switch between dynamically. Additionally, the includes preview modes for real-time testing of form functionality, allowing seamless transitions between design and end-user without saving intermediate files. To implement calculations and logic non-programmatically, InfoPath offers built-in expressed as functions, which can be inserted via a formula dialog without writing custom . For instance, the concat() function combines text from multiple fields or constants into a single output, while today() retrieves the current system date for timestamping entries. These integrate directly into controls for default values, validations, or rule conditions, empowering non-developers to add sophisticated behavior like dynamic text generation or date-based computations.

Data Management and Security

Microsoft InfoPath facilitates through dynamic data connections that link forms to external sources, enabling the retrieval and submission of structured data. These connections support XML files as primary or secondary data sources for storing form data in a schema-defined format. Databases such as or Access can be connected via , allowing queries to populate form fields or submissions to update records. Web services, including those using protocols or (WCF), provide integration for real-time data exchange, while email connections enable form submissions directly to recipients as attachments or embedded XML. Validation in InfoPath ensures data accuracy and compliance by enforcing XML schemas inherent to the form template, which check structural and content rules during input to prevent invalid submissions. Custom validation rules can be applied to controls like text boxes or date pickers, specifying conditions such as required fields or value ranges, with user-friendly messages displayed via ScreenTips or alerts. Error handling includes options for blocking form submission until corrections are made, providing immediate feedback to users and maintaining without halting the overall process. Security features in InfoPath include digital signatures compliant with the W3C XML Digital Signature (XML-DSig) standard, which verify form integrity by detecting alterations and authenticate the signer using digital certificates from trusted authorities. Signatures can apply to the entire form or specific data sections, supporting non-repudiation through embedded timestamps and environmental details, while allowing multiple signers for collaborative scenarios. This mechanism protects sensitive data during transmission and storage, ensuring trustworthiness in enterprise environments. For offline use, InfoPath caches secondary data sources within the form template or local storage, allowing users to query and populate fields without an active connection by retrieving previously stored data. Forms can be filled and saved locally in the absence of connectivity, with submissions queued for later dispatch upon reconnection, thus supporting mobile or intermittent network scenarios while minimizing data loss. Data expiration policies can be configured to refresh cached information after a specified period when online. Export capabilities in InfoPath enable the conversion of completed forms to various formats for archiving or analysis, including for fixed-layout preservation that maintains visual fidelity and restricts edits. Form data can be exported as files for programmatic processing or integration with other applications, and merged into workbooks to aggregate multiple submissions for reporting, filtering, or charting without altering the original structured data.

Usage and Applications

Standalone Form Creation

Microsoft InfoPath enables standalone form creation through its dedicated applications, InfoPath Designer for building form templates and InfoPath Filler for completing them, allowing users to work entirely on local desktops without requiring server infrastructure. In Designer, users construct forms by dragging controls onto a , defining data sources in , and adding rules for validation or calculations, resulting in a .xsn file package that encapsulates the template, views, and logic. Filler then opens these templates for , supporting and saving as .xml instance files, which store user-submitted data separately from the template. Distribution in standalone mode occurs via simple methods such as emailing the .xsn template or .xml instances directly to recipients, who can open them in Filler if installed, or hosting templates on accessible file shares for users to and use locally. To email a template, designers use the Publish Wizard in InfoPath, selecting recipients and attaching the file, which maintains the form's structure and any embedded rules upon receipt. File share publishing involves saving the .xsn to a network , enabling multiple users to access and fill instances independently, with updates propagated by replacing the template file. Common use cases for standalone InfoPath forms include internal business processes like expense reports, where employees fill out details such as receipts and approvals offline before submission; surveys for quick feedback collection; and HR documents like leave requests, which benefit from structured data entry without complex routing. For instance, an expense report form might include repeating sections for line items and calculations for totals, filled locally and emailed back for review. However, standalone mode has key limitations: forms render only in the desktop Filler application, requiring users to have InfoPath installed, with no support for browser-based viewing or filling. Security levels restrict features—such as disabling connections in restricted mode—unless elevated to full trust via digital signing or installation, potentially limiting advanced functionality without additional setup. To enhance user adoption, designers can incorporate digital signing in forms to establish trust and enable full-trust execution, where users verify signatures before filling, reducing concerns over authenticity in emailed distributions. Additionally, merging multiple form responses is supported by enabling the feature in , allowing users to combine .xml instances from various submissions into a single aggregated form for analysis, such as consolidating survey data via File > Merge Forms in Filler.

Enterprise Workflow Integration

Microsoft InfoPath supports integration of electronic forms into enterprise workflows, primarily through server-side components like , to automate business processes such as approvals and . Basic rule-based submissions, such as emailing forms or connecting to web services, can trigger simple actions based on data without custom coding, but advanced sequential tasks, routing, and notifications typically require SharePoint integration. This enables dynamic workflows informed by user inputs, enhancing efficiency in departmental operations. Workflow attachments in InfoPath allow for the inclusion of supporting documents or diagrams, such as those created in Microsoft Visio for process visualization, which can be attached to forms and referenced during automation when integrated with SharePoint. Custom scripts, often developed using managed code, enable further automation by processing attachments and integrating them into workflow logic, such as validating diagrams against form data before advancing to the next approver. For instance, Visio diagrams can model complex approval paths that are then associated with InfoPath forms to guide task execution. Role-based form routing utilizes rules to direct submissions to multiple users based on predefined criteria, such as department or hierarchy level, ensuring sequential or parallel reviews when deployed in a SharePoint environment. This supports scenarios like multi-level approvals, where forms are routed to designated groups and tracked through status fields that update in real-time, such as "In Progress" or "Approved." Status tracking is achieved by binding form fields to workflow metadata, allowing participants to view progress without leaving the form interface. In enterprise applications, InfoPath forms are commonly deployed for compliance processes, including regulatory submissions that require structured and validation to meet standards like (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA in browser-based deployments. Approval processes can route requests through review cycles, capturing justifications and attachments. Scalability challenges in high-volume submissions arise from form complexity and demands, which can be addressed by optimizing view structures and limiting repeating sections to reduce load times. Custom extensions via (VSTO) add-ins allow developers to enhance forms with advanced logic, such as for thousands of submissions, ensuring performance in large-scale environments. Best practices for enterprise deployment include maintaining version control of form templates through iterative publishing and testing to prevent disruptions during updates. Auditing submission history involves configuring forms to capture timestamps, user details, and modification logs where supported by the deployment environment, enabling comprehensive tracking of workflow instances for compliance and troubleshooting.

Microsoft Ecosystem Integration

SharePoint Compatibility

Microsoft InfoPath enables seamless integration with by allowing users to publish form templates directly to libraries as .xsn files, facilitating browser-based form filling through InfoPath Forms Services. This process uses the Publishing Wizard in InfoPath Designer to upload templates to a site collection, where administrators can approve them for deployment, enabling end-users to access and complete forms without installing InfoPath on their devices. Browser-enabled forms render in standard web browsers such as , , or , supporting collaborative environments where multiple users can interact with forms hosted on servers. Form libraries in SharePoint serve as centralized repositories for storing InfoPath form submissions, leveraging SharePoint's built-in capabilities for metadata management and versioning. Each submitted form instance is saved as an XML document within the library, accompanied by customizable metadata columns that capture additional context, such as submission date or approver notes, which can be promoted from the form fields during publishing. SharePoint's versioning feature automatically tracks changes to these submissions, allowing users to view historical versions and maintain audit trails for compliance purposes, while content types enable reuse of form templates across multiple libraries or site collections. InfoPath's compatibility with SharePoint spans several versions, beginning with initial support in SharePoint Server 2007, which relied on Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 for basic form hosting. Subsequent iterations, including InfoPath 2013, extended compatibility to SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, ensuring that form templates remain functional in supported on-premises versions and cloud environments like SharePoint Online until the extended support end date in 2026. InfoPath Forms Services is not supported in SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. This backward and forward compatibility allows organizations to deploy InfoPath forms without major redesigns during SharePoint upgrades, though some configurations, such as data connections, may require adjustments for site collection boundaries in newer versions. Key features of this integration include digital workflows created via , which can associate InfoPath forms with approval processes in lists or libraries. For instance, workflows can initiate tasks based on form submissions, displaying status updates within the form through rules that adjust views or fields dynamically. Additionally, form-to-list mappings allow InfoPath submissions to populate lists directly, promoting specific fields as list columns for querying and reporting, which enhances data-driven workflows without manual data entry. Despite these capabilities, browser mode imposes limitations on certain controls and features to ensure cross-browser compatibility. controls, for example, are entirely unsupported in browser-enabled forms, as are ink picture controls and file attachments on mobile devices, requiring users to rely on InfoPath Filler for full functionality in such cases. Digital signatures are restricted to sectional signing in only, and rich text boxes offer limited formatting in non-IE browsers, potentially affecting form usability in diverse environments.

Office Suite Synergies

Microsoft InfoPath enhanced productivity within the suite by enabling seamless data exchange and integration with applications like Excel, Word, Outlook, and Access, allowing users to leverage form data across desktop environments. These synergies facilitated workflows where structured form data could be analyzed, embedded, or stored without manual re-entry, streamlining tasks such as reporting and document management. InfoPath supported importing Excel workbooks to create form templates, converting spreadsheet structures into interactive XML-based forms while preserving and layout options. Conversely, users could export form data directly to Excel for , charting, and further manipulation, with InfoPath 2007 automatically generating XML maps to enable seamless reopening in Excel. This bidirectional flow was particularly useful for aggregating multiple form submissions into spreadsheets for quantitative review. Forms designed in InfoPath could be embedded in Outlook for email-based submissions, where recipients opened, filled, and submitted them directly within the email client without launching InfoPath separately, provided both applications were installed and configured. In Word, InfoPath templates imported documents to hybridize forms with rich text elements, supporting scenarios like embedding fillable sections in reports or contracts. These integrations allowed for forwarding editable forms via email or merging form data into Word documents for collaborative review. InfoPath integrated with Access databases through data connections, enabling synchronization for backend storage and querying by designating Access as a primary or secondary data source via the Data Connection Wizard. As a primary source, forms submitted data directly to Access tables using ADO, provided simple structures without complex joins, while secondary connections populated controls like list boxes from queries. This setup supported real-time querying and updates, ideal for maintaining relational data from form inputs in desktop databases. Form templates could be published to shared network locations accessible via , facilitating template sharing among users, though co-authoring of active forms was limited in later versions like InfoPath 2013, lacking the real-time editing capabilities of native files. Integration with Teams occurred indirectly through OneDrive-stored templates, but without dedicated co-authoring support for form design or filling within the platform. Automation across Office applications was achievable via VBA macros, where scripts in Excel or Word used COM interop to instantiate the InfoPath Application object and manipulate forms, such as creating new instances from templates or opening existing ones with predefined data. For example, VBA code like Set objInfoPath = CreateObject("InfoPath.Application") enabled external apps to automate form submission or data import, extending custom behaviors without native scripting in InfoPath itself. This approach was common for building interconnected workflows, such as pulling form data into Excel macros for processing.

Server-Side Components

InfoPath Forms Services

InfoPath Forms Services is a server-side component of that enables the deployment and browser-based filling of InfoPath forms, allowing organizations to host form templates centrally without requiring the InfoPath client on user machines. The architecture integrates with Server, utilizing web front-end (WFE) servers and a shared database farm to manage form processing. Key elements include IIS and for handling HTTP requests, an HTTP handler that routes traffic to the page generator, a converter for transforming form templates, and the page generator for managing session state and data interactions. Central Administration provides the primary interface for configuring InfoPath Forms Services, particularly for data connections and user roles. Administrators can manage universal data connection (UDC) files through the "Manage data connection files" option, approving or rejecting connections to external data sources like web services or to ensure controlled access. User roles are defined via SharePoint's permission model, integrated with the Microsoft.Office.InfoPath.Server.Administration namespace for automating tasks such as enabling the web service proxy, which facilitates cross-domain data queries. The rendering engine converts InfoPath form templates (.xsn files) into and pages for browser compatibility, primarily supporting and compatible browsers; requires compatibility mode. This process occurs via the Converter component, which transforms the template into an .aspx page and caches it for reuse, while FormServer.aspx and MobileFormServer.aspx handle the actual rendering, incorporating for client-side interactions and AJAX-like postbacks. Security in InfoPath Forms Services relies on SharePoint's claims-based , where user identities are mapped through the Secure Store Service to handle multi-hop scenarios without exposing credentials. Forms operate in a sandboxed environment to restrict code execution, and connection whitelisting is enforced by administrators approving UDC files in data connection libraries, preventing unauthorized external access. Authentication supports methods like Kerberos and forms-based, with the proxy enabling unauthenticated outbound connections on behalf of users. Performance tuning focuses on caching and resource limits to optimize form rendering and data handling. The solution cache stores form templates up to 300 MB per web application, configurable via PowerShell cmdlets like Set-SPInfoPathFormsService, reducing load times by avoiding repeated disk access. Session data is limited to prevent overload, with defaults around 4 MB per form session managed by the page generator, and administrators can adjust thresholds to balance responsiveness and server load. This is a configurable setting in Central Administration. Deployment differences exist between on-premises and cloud environments: on-premises setups offer full control, including support for full-trust forms and custom code, whereas SharePoint Online restricts configurations to tenant-level defaults, disables full-trust forms, and imposes stricter limits like 30-second publishing timeouts and 5 MB attachment sizes due to managed infrastructure.

Deployment and Hosting Options

Microsoft InfoPath Forms Services requires specific prerequisites for deployment, primarily tied to Server editions that include Enterprise Client Access Licenses (CALs). Organizations must possess Server with an Enterprise CAL to access InfoPath Forms Services, as it is an enterprise-only feature not available in Standard editions. Additionally, the environment demands the appropriate .NET Framework version aligned with the installation; for instance, Server 2010 requires .NET Framework 3.5, while Server 2013 and 2016 necessitate .NET Framework 4.5 or later. Server administrators should ensure these components are installed prior to configuration to avoid compatibility issues. Deployment begins with farm-level configuration in . First, navigate to General Application Settings and select Manage InfoPath Forms Services to configure global options, such as enabling browser-enabled form templates and setting data connection limits. Next, activate the service at the site collection level by going to Site Settings > Site Collection Features and enabling InfoPath Form Web Part and InfoPath Forms Services features. To upload form templates, use or later to publish the .xsn file via the Publishing Wizard, selecting the target site or ; alternatively, administrators can upload templates directly through under Manage Form Templates. Finally, test deployment by opening the form in a browser from the , verifying rendering and functionality using the Design Checker task pane in InfoPath Designer with the "Verify on server" option enabled to identify any server-side incompatibilities. For hybrid hosting, InfoPath Forms Services supports both on-premises Server and cloud-based Online (now part of ), though pre-2014 deployments in Office 365 faced limitations such as restricted full-trust form support and fewer customization options compared to on-premises setups. On-premises environments allow full control over configurations like custom code deployment and for data connections, while Online requires Plan 2 or Enterprise E3/E5 licenses and operates under managed settings with timeouts on complex form publishing (e.g., 30 seconds) and attachment size caps (5 MB in libraries). As of December 2024, publishing new InfoPath forms to Online is restricted for inactive tenants (no usage in the past 90 days). Hybrid scenarios, such as extending on-premises forms to cloud sites, demand careful alignment of methods to avoid cross-environment discrepancies. Alternatives to SharePoint for hosting InfoPath forms are limited and uncommon, as browser-enabled forms fundamentally rely on InfoPath Forms Services within ; however, custom IIS configurations can host InfoPath Filler forms via the InfoPath FormControl assembly for .NET applications, though this does not support full browser rendering without . Third-party servers or solutions, such as those integrating with non-Microsoft form engines, are rare and typically require custom development to mimic InfoPath's object model, but they lack official support and native browser compatibility. Common deployment issues include connection errors and browser compatibility problems. Connection errors often stem from data connection authentication failures, such as UDCX files with explicit credentials in Online, which are disabled by default; resolve by configuring alternate access mappings in and ensuring consistent across the farm. Browser compatibility is restricted to specific versions, including 6.0–7.0 (32-bit on Windows), 1.5, 1.7, 7.2–8.1, and 2.0 (on Macintosh); unsupported browsers may fail to render controls or execute , necessitating client-side verification and fallback to InfoPath Filler. For file-not-found errors during access, check for missing configuration files and repair the installation.

Discontinuation and Legacy

Announcement and Timeline

Microsoft announced the discontinuation of future development for InfoPath on January 31, 2014, via an official blog post detailing the end of new versions beyond InfoPath 2013. The decision was driven by customer and partner feedback emphasizing the need for a shift toward cloud-first, cross-platform forms technologies that better support modern workflows and device compatibility. As part of the replacement strategy, outlined a transition to more contemporary form-building solutions, later specifying Power Apps as the primary successor for creating and managing electronic forms within the ecosystem. This move aimed to provide enhanced integration with services while addressing limitations in InfoPath's desktop-centric design. The discontinuation timeline began with no new releases after InfoPath 2013, which launched on January 29, 2013. Mainstream support for InfoPath 2013 concluded on July 13, 2021, marking the end of feature updates and non-security fixes. Extended support, limited to security updates, will end on July 14, 2026, after which InfoPath Forms Services in Online will be fully retired with no further functionality or support available. On-premises deployments, including those integrated with SharePoint Server 2016 and later, will receive support until this 2026 date, aligning closely with the extended end-of-life for related Office server products. This phased retirement provided organizations with an extended period to adapt, minimizing immediate disruptions for users reliant on InfoPath for form-based processes. supported the transition through ongoing communications, including detailed roadmaps released in 2014 and updated migration guides published between 2014 and 2023 to assist in moving forms to Power Apps and other tools.

Support Status and Migration

Microsoft InfoPath 2013 entered extended support on July 14, 2021, and this phase will conclude on July 14, 2026, during which provides only updates without introducing new features or non-security fixes. InfoPath Forms Services, which enable browser-based form rendering in environments, follow the same timeline, with services being fully removed from SharePoint Online across all tenants, including government clouds, after the extended support end date. As of 2025, InfoPath remains functional within on-premises deployments such as Server 2019 and Server Subscription Edition, where it is deprecated but supported until July 14, 2026, allowing continued operation for existing forms during this period. In environments, including Online, InfoPath Forms Services are similarly operational but marked as deprecated, with Microsoft advising against new implementations to facilitate timely transitions. Post-2026, unsupported systems may face compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, and inability to render forms in modern browsers or integrated ecosystems. For migration, recommends transitioning to Power Apps for form creation and Power Automate for associated workflows, leveraging tools such as the Assessment Tool to inventory forms and assess impact, alongside the Power BI InfoPath Report for detailed analytics on usage and dependencies. Organizations can also utilize Power Automate flows to replicate form submission processes or third-party converters, such as the Lightning Tools Form Migrator, to automate the transfer of form structures and data to Power Apps or list forms. serves as a simpler alternative for basic surveys, though it lacks advanced customization available in Power Apps. Migration from InfoPath presents several challenges, particularly in replicating advanced functionalities; for instance, complex validation rules and conditional logic must be rebuilt using Power Apps formulas, which can require significant redevelopment effort due to differing syntax and behavior. Digital signatures, a native InfoPath feature for form authentication, do not have a direct equivalent in Power Apps, necessitating integrations with external services like or custom implementations via Power Automate to maintain compliance and security. Similarly, secondary data connections—used in InfoPath to pull or submit data from external sources—often demand remapping to Power Apps data connectors, potentially introducing compatibility issues with legacy databases or APIs that are not natively supported. Despite these hurdles, InfoPath retains legacy value for archival purposes, enabling organizations to view and process historical forms on supported installations until the 2026 cutoff, provided systems remain patched. urges proactive backups of form templates, submission data, and associated libraries using tools like the SharePoint Migration Tool to preserve records, as post-support access may be limited to offline InfoPath clients without server-side rendering. This approach ensures while minimizing risks from unmaintained software.

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