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Is there a runtime version of InfoPath?

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This seems to be a fairly common question, and recently there was an especially well-crafted answer provided on an internal InfoPath user discussion alias. I asked, and received, permission to include it here. (Thanks to the person who wrote this and allowed me to share it with my readers!)

Q: Is there a runtime version of InfoPath?

A: In order to fill out forms created in InfoPath and to take advantage of InfoPath’s rich-client functionality, data validation and offline capabilities, users need a copy of InfoPath installed on their PC.

It is important to note, however, that it is possible to build browser-based solutions based on InfoPath forms. For example, you can build a solution in InfoPath (building a schema and Web services) that can be used for collecting information within the firewall, then use the same schema and Web services for building an ASP.NET solution for collecting information outside the firewall. For business solutions that require a “reach” (browser-based) solution, yet still use the power of InfoPath for the parts of the process that occur within an organization (where InfoPath can easily be deployed), there are two options:

  • Use ASP.NET forms in the solution to front-end the process. Data is gathered in the browser-based forms, then moved into the InfoPath forms where available. This combines the reach experience for initial data collection and the rich experience of interacting with that information via InfoPath. Customers can use the same schema and Web services for both the InfoPath and ASP.NET solutions.
  • Work with one of the many partners that have developed solutions based on InfoPath including Sourcecode, Teamplate, Ultimus and Cardiff.

Also, under the terms of the licensing of open and royalty-free XML schemas for Office (including InfoPath), companies can create a browser-based offering (or even a rich client, if desired) compatible with InfoPath. See https://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/format/ for more detail.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 05, 2004
    http://weblogs.asp.net/sbchatterjee/archive/2004/02/06/68718.aspx
  • Anonymous
    February 06, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    February 08, 2004
    Doing things the hard way with RSS Bandit leads to some interesting statistics; Stuff for my Boss and co-workers; SOA and Joe Developer -- Phillip gets it right (again); Bits on Reporting Services; Wake up and smell RSS.NET; htmlArea (drool); InfoPath duh; McD's
  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2004
    But I'd prefer it to come from Redmond...
  • Anonymous
    May 07, 2004
    Have you tried InfoView from Unique World Software?

    http://infoview.uniqueworld.net/

    http://www.uniqueworldsoftware.com
  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    Recently I have heard a number of people (Chris Kunicki and LauraJ for instance) musing why there isn't an InfoPath viewer application available to allow people without InfoPath installed to be able to see a read-only view of the data from a filled-in form. With a bit of free time last week I decided to see how easy it would be to put together a little app that would enable InfoPath forms to be viewed without any design-time modifications.