1. Infowise Ultimate Forms vs. InfoPath
Feature-by-feature comparison of form solutions for SharePoint

2. Why do we need forms in SharePoint?
Lists are a great for information
Built-in forms are quite basic
More advanced solution needed for real life applications

3. InfoPath Forms XML-based form generator and filler
Integrates with SharePoint
Not a native SharePoint solution
SharePoint Enterprise required
Retired, no more new versions

4. InfoPath Forms InfoPath-generated list forms: Replace built-in forms
Submits to SharePoint items
Limited functionality
Mainly a layout feature
Form libraries:
Non-native solutions
Saves data as XML files
Extended functionality
Layout and data structure

5. Infowise Ultimate Forms
A complete code-free platform for building SharePoint forms and business solutions
Extremely feature rich, up to 18 individual components inside
Works on free SharePoint Foundation
Much more than just forms: reporting, business logic, integration, etc.

6. Design and Integration
Design environment
Integrated into SP, accessible anywhere
Stand-alone application, local installation required
Integration
100% integrated
Non-native UI and functionality
SP License
Foundation (free), Standard, Enterprise
Enterprise only

7. Features: Layout Form layout
Tabs, tab permissions, sections, groups, multi-column layout
Sections, drag-n-drop design
Look and feel
Configuration + CSS-based styling
Designer-generated styling
SP UI integration
100% native look
Distinct, foreign look

8. Features: Permissions
Tabs
Tabs and groups with subsections
Groups. Tabs can be implemented as views
Tab permissions
Writable/read-only/hidden through conditions
Writable/read-only/hidden using rules
Column permissions
View permissions
Based on current user, with custom default view
None

9. Features: Data Structure
Storage
List item based, completely integrated
XML file based, stored in document library*
Repeating sections
Real items in related lists, visible in forms and views
Repeating sections in XML, do not map to SP items, not visible in views
Related items summary
Automatically calculated, subject to filters. Columns do not need to reside on the form
Summary functions within the forms

10. Features: Column Types
Support for built-in column types
All column types are supported
Some column types are not supported (Managed Metadata), others: reduced or modified functionality
Support for custom column types
All custom column types from all vendors supported
None
Custom column types provided
Associated items, cascading lookup, color choice, KPIs, document link, etc.

11. Features: Validation and Defaults
Default values
User-specific; passed through URL; content type-specific
Common to all users
Validation rules
Specific to users, subject to conditions, regex pattern support
Subject to conditions, support for /URL patterns
Validating related items
Run validation rules based on summary of related items
Not supported

12. Features: Actions Types of actions
16 types of actions: update/create/delete items, manage permissions, create list/site, print, etc.
Set field value
Execution
On add/update/delete, on timer, manual (ribbon button)
On value change

13. Features: Lookups Cascading Yes, unlimited levels Yes* Add new valueNo
Filter values

14. Features: Signatures Signature type Electronic Digital
Signature providers
Active Directory credentials, hand-written
Digital certificate
Displayed in
Forms, views, print
Forms only

15. Features: Printing Print templates
User-defined, multiple templates with automatic/manual selection
Print screen
Export/
Convert to PDF and , with attachments
None*
UI integration
Print from forms and views, print multiple items at once
Print from forms only

16. Features: External Data
Data sources
Any DB type, web services
MS SQL only, web services
Filter external data
Yes
Automatic import/export
s, web service, any DB
None

17. Features: Color-coding
Type
Background color, font color, icons
Background color, font color, boldness, underline
Displayed in
Forms, views, calendars*, print-outs
Forms only

18. Features: Item IDs Templates Multiple, automatically selected
Not supported
Format
Combination of text, column values, functions, numerator
Applied
New item, modified item

19. And we didn’t even cover
Actions*
Alerts
Color-coded calendars
Charts and graphs
Color-coded views
KPIs
List search
Voting
Much more…

20. Infowise Ultimate Forms
Freedom to build the forms you need
Meet us: SharePoint Fest NYC 2014, WPC 2014