1.3.3 Form View Files (XSLT)

A form view is a specific visualization of a form file in a Web browser. It specifies what controls are used to represent the fields in the form and how they are laid out. It also provides information to the form server about the editing behavior for each control. For example, it tells the server what actions to take when a particular field’s value changes.

A form view is represented by an XSL Transformation (XSLT) file, which uses the .XSL file extension. There are one or more of the following XSLT files in the form template:

• one default XSLT file, for example view1.xsl, used to render a form file when it is first opened or created.

• other XSLT files, for example view2.xsl, which can be used to render the form (1) as it is edited.

The default XSLT file is specified in the form definition (.xsf) file.

The contents of an XSLT file are used to transform the data in a form file into HTML, so that the form (1) can be rendered and edited in a Web browser. The resulting HTML visualization consists of HTML used to lay out and represent the controls and informative text. The HTML for a control also contains properties specifying its behavior.

The following table lists the controls that can be used in a form (1). Controls are usually tied to specific fields (3) in the form file and are used to edit such fields (3). Some controls, as noted in the table, are not the direct representation of any particular fields (3).

Control	Description and sample visual representation
Button	A control used to run an action. It is not tied to a field (3). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a button control. Figure 2: A button control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.5. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.1. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Check Box	A control that allows users to set yes/no or true/false values by adding or removing a check mark from a small square box. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a check box control. Figure 3: A set of check box controls The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.6. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.2. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Choice Group, Choice Section	A choice group control allows users to choose between two or more choice sections to include in the form (1), where each choice section can contain one or more controls. When filling out a form (1), users can replace the default choice section with a different choice section. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a choice group control and its default choice section control. Figure 4: A choice group control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.1. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.1. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Combo Box	A control that allows users to either type an entry or make a selection from a list of options. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a combo box control. Figure 5: A combo box control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.2. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.2. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Contact Selector	A control that allows users to select one or more contacts from a protocol server user list. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a contact selector control. Figure 6: A contact selector control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.7. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.3. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Date Picker	A control that contains a box where users can type dates and a calendar button that allows users to select a date. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a date picker control. Figure 7: A date picker control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.8. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.4. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Date and Time Picker	A control that allows users to type a date and time or select a date from a calendar display. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a date and time picker control. Figure 8: A date and time picker control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.3. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.3. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Drop-Down List Control	A control that presents users with a list of choices in a box. To select an item from the list (1), users click an arrow to open the list (1) of choices. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a drop-down list control. Figure 9: A drop-down list control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.9. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.5. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
External Item Picker	A control that allows users to select or enter an instance of an external content type from a business data catalog on the protocol server. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of an external item picker control. Figure 10: An external item picker control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.4. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.4. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Expression Box	A read-only text control used to display information. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of an expression box control. Figure 11: An expression box control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.10. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.6. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
File Attachment	A control that allows users to attach files to their form files. Each file attachment control permits one file to be attached. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a file attachment control. Figure 12: A file attachment control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.11. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.7. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Hyperlink	A control that can be used to link to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a hyperlink. Figure 13: A hyperlink control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.12. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.8. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Hyperlink Input	A control that allows users to insert a hyperlink in a form by entering a URL and display text. The following figure illustrates a typical representation hyperlink input control. Figure 14: A hyperlink input control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.6. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.6. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
List (Bulleted, Numbered, Plain)	A control that allows users to enter text in a bulleted, numbered, or plain list (1). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a bulleted, numbered, and plain list control. Figure 15: A bulleted, numbered, and plain list control (left, center and right respectively) The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.7. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.7. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
List Box	A control that presents users with a list of choices in a box from which users select the appropriate item. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a list box control. Figure 16: A list box control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.13. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.9. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Multiple-Selection List Box	A control that allows users to select multiple values from a list of options. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a multiple-selection list box control. Figure 17: A multiple-selection list box control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.9. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.9. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Option Button	A control that lets users select from a set of mutually exclusive choices. When one option button in a group is selected, the other option buttons are cleared. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of an option button control. Figure 18: A set of option button controls The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.14. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.10. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Picture (Embedded and Linked)	A control that allows users to insert a picture in the form (1). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of an embedded and linked picture control. Figure 19: A picture control The visualization and properties of the control are described in sections 2.4.1.21.5 and 2.4.1.21.8. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in sections 2.3.2.5 and 2.3.2.8. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Picture Button	A control that allows users to run an action. Users can replace the button graphic with a custom picture that is displayed on the form (1). It is not tied to a field (3). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a picture button control. Figure 20: A picture button control; the right image shows it in the hover state The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.10. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.10. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Rich Text Box	A text input control that can contain formatted text, including bold and italic text, and a variety of fonts, font sizes, and font colors. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a rich text box control. Figure 21: A rich text box control; the top image shows it in the editing state The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.17. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.13. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
SharePoint File Attachment	A control that allows users to attach multiple files to the form (1). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a SharePoint file attachment control. Figure 22: A SharePoint file attachment control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.21.11. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.2.11. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Table	A table used to lay out the form (1). It is not tied to a field (3). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a table control. Figure 23: A table The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.19. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.15. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Text Box	A text input control that can contain any unformatted text. Text box controls cannot contain formatted text. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a text box control. Figure 24: A text box control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.20. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.16. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Repeating Table	A control that displays repeating information in a tabular structure. Each item appears in a new row in the repeating table control. When filling out a form (1), users can add or delete rows in a repeating table control as necessary. Repeating table controls can contain other controls. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a repeating table control. Figure 25: A repeating table control with three text box controls per row The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.16. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.12. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Section, Optional Section	A control that is a container for other controls. An optional section control is the same as the section control, but does not need to be initially displayed in the form (1). The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a section control. Figure 26: A section control containing two text box controls The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.18. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.14. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.
Repeating Section	A control that is a container for other controls and is used to display repeating information. When filling out the form (1) that includes a repeating section control, users can add additional occurrences of the repeating section control. The following figure illustrates a typical representation of a repeating section control. Figure 27: A repeating section control The visualization and properties of the control are described in section 2.4.1.15. The relationship to the XML schema of the form template is described in section 2.3.1.11. Behaviors affecting the control are described in sections 2.2.1.2.126 and 2.2.1.2.43.

The structure of an XSLT file that defines a form view is described in section 2.4. The role of each XSLT file is described in section 2.2.1.2.103. Examples are provided in section 3.4.