Create a custom Document Information Panel for use with Word

Question

I am a one day novice to InfoPath.  I really don't know much about it, but I am interested in learning more and have managed to create a very simple form and publish it to dropbox.

However, now when I attempt to add this form as a custom Document Information Panel in Word using Developer>Templates>Document Panel and enter the url of the dropbox location:  https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64545773/IF%20Template.xsn,

I get and error:  The Custom Document Information Panel was unable to load.

When I click on about, I get this message:

The file is not a valid XML document.

DTD is prohibited.

  Line 1, Position 9

I don't have a server or an intranet. It is just me and my single stand alone PC.  That is why I published to dropbox instead of simply publishing to my C: drive.

Can anyone explain what I might be doing wrong of if what I am attempting is even possible without a server or intranet?  Thanks.

Best Regards,

Greg Maxey

Answer 1

Hi Graham.

Thanks for the reply, and thank you for pointing me towards all the info on User Forms -very thorough!!.

I was aware that user forms could be created, and thanks to your post I can now probably create one.  However, I had preference to avoid them in favour of manipulating the default Document Information Panel.  Although workable, the undesirable aspects of User Forms are...

1. They require macros, and in my example those macros would reside within a document template on a company network drive.  If the user is away from the network then then don't get access to the macros.
2. This method would also lead me to store the data in Document Properties, and they're not very slick to work with (e.g. requiring update field to refresh their values).

I was interested in using InfoPath to crack the problem because, from what I've read about InfoPath...

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/add-property-information-to-a-document-HA010163766.aspx

...it looks like it provides the ability to customise the properties which appear in the Document Information Panel, and also which can subsequently be inserted within the document as property controls (e.g. in Word, Insert > Quick Parts > Document Property > ...).

It's the customisation of those property control widgets that I'm ultimately trying to get to.  They're fantastically easy to work with as (a) you can change the value of the property by just clicking on the widget and typing, and (b) they instantaneously update throughout the document.  No need to update field and no need for macros (hopefully!).  The fact that you can also edit them via the Information Panel is a bonus.

Do you have any experience or advice relating to customising the available property controls?

Any useful pointers would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Luke

Answer 2

This sounds like a different issue from that which Greg was exploring. You could associate a userform with the template to collect the data required and write it to Document Properties or Document Variables as appropriate. This is quite simple to do - see http://www.gmayor.com/Userform.htm or visit Greg's site for a more in depth look at Userforms.

Answer 3

Hi Greg,

Can you please let me know if you ever found a solution to this problem?   I have a similar requirement... I need to create a customised Document Information Panel for a Word document template.  We don't run SharePoint.  I'm trying to find out if InfoPath can help with this.

If someone can suggest that InfoPath can help the I'll happily go out and buy it, but all the questions on this particular topic are unanswered.

Did you have success in the end?

Best regards

Luke Hickson