SQL Server™ 2005 Bible

Chapter 33. InfoPath and SQL Server 2005

In This Chapter

• Overview of InfoPath 2003

• Creating a form template

• Other features of InfoPath

• Additional sources of information

Among the essential tasks of applications accessing SQL Server 2005 are retrieving information from the database and displaying it effectively to information workers, and supporting information workers in storing business information.

These important tasks are typically achieved using forms. Many people who work with information spend significant parts of each working day filling in forms. Some of the data collected in or displayed in those forms originates in SQL Server databases. In a business context with rapidly changing information needs, the ability to flexibly create and adapt business forms is important.

There are several approaches to creating forms to use with data stored in SQL Server, including Windows forms and web forms. Microsoft's InfoPath 2003 provides an alternative way to create forms, one that can retrieve data from SQL Server and submit data to SQL Server.

This chapter presents an introduction to InfoPath 2003, describing several of its features and how it can be used with SQL Server.

Overview of InfoPath 2003

InfoPath 2003 is a graphical authoring tool that is used to create XML-based forms. With InfoPath, it is easy to create many types of forms, yet it has more complex functions. InfoPath 2003 is available as part of Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Enterprise Edition or as a stand-alone product. ...