How to create generic infopath form to auto-populate drop downs

Question

I would like to add some code behind on form load. I will be calling web services to populate few drop downs, Like department, manager, etc.

Is that the best approach to do this? or Should I consider another way.

Also, I dont want to hard code the webapplication in the code. Could this be automatically picked up by the code? or What I take this http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff961895 approach then would the publishing to a new farm (because we have 4 different farm) automatically resolve the target farm address. I hope I am making sense.

May I please have your 2 cents on this.

Answer 1

The context of your question is too vague and the the answer depends on dozens of factors.

IMO, the best approach is to avoid custom code in Infopath forms and I could not find anything that cannot be done without coding. Also, the coding in Infopath is not hard or manually written but constructed through Infopath Designer GUI.

Update:
For example, I have a filled ClientList with ClientName column

Fig.1. ClientList with ClientName column (screenshot from browser)

In Infopath Designer I create an Infopath form and put on designer surface Drop-Down List Box control, click on it and press Alt+Enter to open it properties.

There, under Data tab, against I choose "Get choices from an external data source" and press add press "Add..." button against "Data Source:"

Fig.2. Starting data connection wizard for Drop-Down List box in Infopath Designer 2010

Note that data connection can be created separately by a dozen of variants

Note that you could have selected different sources including:

• REST Web Service
• SOAP Web Service
• etc.

Fig.3. Step2 of Data Connection Wizard "Select the source of your data"

Fig.4. Step3 of Data Connection Wizard "Sharepoint site details"

Fig.5. Step4 of Data Connection Wizard "The Sharepoint site site that you slected has the following lists and libraries you can use as your data connection"

Fig.6. Step5 of Data Connection Wizard "The Sharepoint list has the following fields you can can select from"

Running it:

Fig.7. Running Infopath form with Drop-Down List Box linked to a column ClientList of ClientList list

Answer 2

Roman,

I know what you are asking. Basically, I want to create a form Generic enough that i can be moved from farm to farm (say QC to Production, etc.). And you don't want to open infopath form in design to make those changes. See the Url below and it might help with your situation. Basic idea is to use "Data Connection Library".

http://blueinfopath.blogspot.com/2009/06/prepare-your-infopath-for-deployment.html

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/gg435970.aspx