How to reconnect InfoPath task form to SPD workflow after moving it to the new Site Collection

Question

I have Globally reusable workflow (created in SPD) in my test site collection. This WF uses custom InfoPath task form. Now I am trying to move it to the new production site collection. I've done next steps.

1. Copy my globally reusable WF (in SPD) to make it reusable (I can't save GLOBALLY reusable WF as a template).
2. Save new reusable WF (not globally reusable) as WF template and deployed it to the production environment.

And now my WF is working well, but I've missed my custom InfoPath task forms and I don't know how to connect it to my WF.

Is there any way to reuse InfoPath task forms from my workflow after moving from test environment to production? May be I have to use another approach?

Every suggestions are very appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.

PS: I don't understand completely what is happenning behind the scenes, when I am creating custom InfoPath task forms in SPD. I googled about it, but couldn't find any good article to clarify. If you know any articles or books which could help me in my understanding of relationship between InfoPath and SharePoint 2010, it would be great if you recommend it.

PPS: SharePoint 2010.

UPDATE 1: It seems like InfoPath forms are missed in step 1 (I can't see forms in wsp file). If I create new reusable WF (not globally) with InfoPath forms, I can see them in the wsp file and WF deploys correctly with forms. It seems like the way which Microsoft recommends for converting Globaly reusable WF to reusable WF doesn't work well and miss InfoPath task forms.

Also I found an unanswered question about the same problem on MSDN forum.

Answer 1

Update:
The more structured and concise step-by-step description by Puhan.

---

The answer to this question is the same as answer(s) to question Infopath change Publish Location

• Update:
  Though the marked as best and the most upvoted there answers proposing the use UDCX data connection files are not applicable to Infopath Form templates of type/compatibility Sharepoint List Form and Workflow Form at all. The best answers should have been describing the hacking of template's source files which are unfortunately the less voted there

That is, if you open (by clicking on) Infopath XSN form template under Forms workflow section which are for Approval - Sharepoint 2010:

• reviewapproval_1033.xsn
  which is published as:
  • (HTTP or HTTPS)//( sharepoint_webapp_URL )/_layouts/FormServer.aspx?XsnLocation=/_catalogs/wfpub/approval%20-%20sharepoint%202010/reviewapproval_1033.xsn
• reviewapproval_task_1033.xsn
  which is published as:
  • (HTTP or HTTPS)//( sharepoint_webapp_URL )/_layouts/FormServer.aspx?XsnLocation=/_catalogs/wfpub/approval%20-%20sharepoint%202010/reviewapproval_task_1033.xsn

they should open in Infopath Designer 2010. And there in backstage view, by clicking on ribbon File > Publish you should see that publish location against Workflow button under:

• Publish a Sharepoint workflow form

• Update the current Sharepoint workflow form

  The form will be published to:
  (HTTP or HTTPS)//( sharepoint_webapp_URL )/_layouts/FormServer.aspx?XsnLocation=/_catalogs/wfpub/approval - sharepoint 2010/reviewapproval_task_1033.xsn

This (published location) is locked and link cannot be edited/changed through Infopath Designer GUI when Infopath forms is in Workflow (or Sharepoint List Form) compatibility mode

You can check the type/compatibility of form by pressing Form Options button while having XSN form opened in Infopath Designer 2010

Well, the main culprit is unmodifiable and locked (main) data connections/sources which can checked by clicking (still having an Infopath Task Form opened) in Infopath Designer 2010 the Data Connections under tab Data, on tibbon > choose Main Data Connection > "Modify..." button

So, you should save locally each of XSN templates under different custom name (not offered by default template.xsn)

Then open each in Infopath Designer 2010 (for example, by right-clicking the .XSN file in Windows Explorer and choosing Design) and in backstage (on ribbon File > Publish > ) click "Export Source Files" button and while saving, create a separate directory for each form template (originally a file with an .XSN extension).

Close Infopath Designer 2010

Open the manifest.xsf in text/XML editor. Find and replace all hyperlinks from old site URL to a new one (according your new site collection location). Save the file.

Open XSN form template again (by right-clicking on manifest.xsf > Design) in Infopath Designer and publish it by

• on ribbon, File > Info > Quick Publish

into now the new, just edited before, site location.

You should repeat it for each Infopath form

Update:

Also, you might want to make sure searching your old URL through all source files of Infopath template not just one, MANIFEST.XSF, I mentioned here (also they can be in view*.xsl).