InfoPath and SharePoint WCM So Happy Together

Overview Although we frequently think of data collection sites as being internal or intranet sites, and sites that leverage web content management tools as being used for internet scenarios, using InfoPath and SharePoint WCM, we’ll see an example of an end-to- end solution that begins with the internal collection of information that ultimately ends up on a public-facing site.

Scenario Setting: Hospital Task: Allow parents to post pictures of their newborn babies to a “Cradle Roll” page on the internet, with their permission. Tools: InfoPath 2007, Forms Server, Windows SharePoint Services, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2008, Windows Workflow Foundation

Concepts InfoPath ◦Retrieving content from a SharePoint list ◦Saving content to a SharePoint list Windows Workflow Foundation: ◦Creating a custom SharePoint workflow using the SharePoint Publishing API Web Content Management ◦Creating a page from a custom Page Layout

Key Players Hospital staff person who takes the baby photos. New parent(s). Hospital staff person who collects the information from the parents. HR staff person who reviews the content to verify its accuracy before it’s posted to the web.

User Skill Level Although the staff is composed of skilled care providers, they are not IT folks! The solution must be easy to use for basic computer users.

Solution Step 1: Create a site for data collection. Step 2: Create a place where photographers can upload photos. Step 3: Create an InfoPath form to collect information from parents. Step 4: Create a SharePoint list to save the InfoPath form data to. Step 5: Create the Publishing Page Layout to use when publishing the information on the web. Step 6: Create the Workflow that creates a new Publishing Page when the Form is submitted.

Resources Web Content Management ◦Professional Web Content Management by Andrew ConnellProfessional Web Content Management InfoPath Forms ◦InfoPath Resource Center on MSDNInfoPath Resource Center SharePoint Workflows ◦SharePoint Workflow Solutions on MSDNSharePoint Workflow Solutions on MSDN My blog: