Transcript Infowise Ultimate Forms vs. InfoPath

Infowise Ultimate Forms
vs.
InfoPath
Feature-by-feature comparison of form solutions for
SharePoint
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
InfoPath Forms
• XML-based form generator and filler
• Integrates with SharePoint
• Not a native SharePoint solution
• SharePoint Enterprise required
• Retired, no more new versions
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
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.
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
Features: Layout
Form layout
Tabs, tab permissions,
sections, groups, multicolumn layout
Sections, drag-n-drop
design
Look and feel
Configuration + CSSbased styling
Designer-generated
styling
SP UI integration
100% native look
Distinct, foreign look
Features: Permissions
Tabs
Tabs and groups with
subsections
Groups. Tabs can be
implemented as views
Tab permissions
Writable/read-only/hidden Writable/read-only/hidden
through conditions
using rules
Column permissions
Writable/read-only/hidden Writable/read-only/hidden
through conditions
using rules
View permissions
Based on current user,
with custom default view
None
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
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.
None
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 email/URL
patterns
Validating related items
Run validation rules based
on summary of related
items
Not supported
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
Features: Lookups
Cascading
Yes, unlimited levels
Yes*
Add new value
Yes
No
Filter values
Yes
No
Features: Signatures
Signature type
Electronic
Digital
Signature providers
Active Directory
credentials, hand-written
Digital certificate
Displayed in
Forms, views, print
Forms only
Features: Printing
Print templates
User-defined, multiple
templates with
automatic/manual
selection
Print screen
Export/email
Convert to PDF and email,
with attachments
None*
UI integration
Print from forms and
Print from forms only
views, print multiple items
at once
Features: External Data
Data sources
Any DB type, web services
MS SQL only, web services
Filter external data
Yes
Yes
Automatic import/export
Emails, web service, any
DB
None
Features: Color-coding
Type
Background color, font
color, icons
Background color, font
color, boldness, underline
Displayed in
Forms, views, calendars*,
print-outs
Forms only
Features: Item IDs
Templates
Multiple, automatically
selected
Not supported
Format
Combination of text,
column values, functions,
numerator
Not supported
Applied
New item, modified item
Not supported
And we didn’t even cover
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Actions*
Alerts
Color-coded calendars
Charts and graphs
Color-coded views
KPIs
List search
Voting
Much more…
Infowise Ultimate Forms
Freedom
to build the forms you need
Meet us: SharePoint Fest NYC 2014, WPC 2014
www.infowisesolutions.com