Field Not Editable

[chipdavis]

I have an InfoPath form that is linked to a Access database. When I create a new form document and submit, the form data is inserted into the database and submitted to a SharePoint library.

Issue: If I add a new field to my form (either a new database field or a field not tied to the database), the field is not editable on the SharePoint forms that have already been created. If I open the existing SharePoint form, the field is viewable but can not be changed. However, if I create a new form document, the field works just fine.

I tested this same scenario using a form that is not linked to a database. The new field is editable on existing forms in that situation.

Why can't I edit new fields on existing SharePoint forms when the form is linked to a database? Is there any way around this? We have a new field that needs to be available on all forms, new and old. Is this a SharePoint issue or InfoPath?

Thanks,

Chip

 

[wolvie3421]

Did you republish the form?

 

[chipdavis]

Yes, I've republished the form. I've also tried to relink. Like I mentioned before, this only seems to be a problem with the form that is tied to the Access database. I also noticed that if I change the field name, I have the same problem. Let me know if you need more clarification on the problem or need additional information.

This is a major problem for us because we need to add a few new fields to the form, but then we can't edit the fields on the old SharePoint form (even though we can see the fields)!! This seems like fishy functionality because everyone makes changes to forms somewhere down the line. And if you reuse a submitted form (like we do on SharePoint), this causes a problem.

FYI: The form docs we are submitting to SharePoint are job documentation. A new job gets a new form. If the job has already been created/submitted, the user will "checkout" the existing SharePoint form and make changes. We need to add two new fields to the form, and we want the fields to be active in the new AND existing documentation (currently only the new form docs work).

HELP!

Chip

 

[wolvie3421]

So you're saying, you added a new field in the database, a new field in the infopath form, uploaded the new form to replace the old form, but the new form doesn't have the new field?

 

[chipdavis]

Not exactly.

1. I created a form that is tied to an Access database.
2. I set up the form to submit to the Access database and a SharePoint library.
3. I published the form to a SharePoint library.
4. I created several new form documents using the "fill out this form" button on SharePoint. The forms were submitted to the database and the SharePoint library.
5. I opened the form template and added a new non-database field to the form.
6. I added a new field to the Access database, refreshed the data source in the form template, and added the new database field to the form.
7. I saved my changes (and I've republished a couple of times just to see what happens)
8. I return to the SharePoint library from #4. I currently have three form docs that I created from step #4.
9. I open one of the existing form documents.
10. I can see the two new fields from #5 and #6 (non-database and database), however, the fields are not editable.
11. I can edit and submit any of the fields that existing in the original form I created.
12. I close the form doc.
13. I click "fill out this form" in the SharePoint library to create a new form doc.
14. I can edit ALL of the fields (including the new fields) in the new form doc.

#10 is my issue. Why can't I edit the new fields in the existing forms?

Does this make sense? It would probably be easier to understand with screen shots.

Chip

 

[Beowulf005]

Try going into the database and manually make a change to the field that was added. Infopath might not be allowing the field to be edited becasue the newly add field in Access is Null. I have had something similar when I added Yes/No Field. When created all old records were neither Yes/No until I changed them in Access.

HTH

When frustrated remember, in the computer world there is almost always a backdoor.

 

[chipdavis]

If I update the field directly in the database, the field is still not editable and the value does not appear on the form.

Keep in mind that I also added a non-database field to the form. That field also does not work.

Chip

 

[Beowulf005]

Check the data connection (or recreate it) That field might be missing in the connection file.

GL

When frustrated remember, in the computer world there is almost always a backdoor.

 

[chipdavis]

The data connection is okay. I can create a new form doc (using the "fill out this form" button in SharePoint), edit the fields, and submit the form to SharePoint and the Access database. The fields are updated and everything works.

I can't update the fields in forms that were created prior to the fields being added to the template.

Chip

 

[Beowulf005]

Well I am out of ideas. Sorry

When frustrated remember, in the computer world there is almost always a backdoor.

 

[wolvie3421]

maybe something to do with permissions on the access database? wild guess..

 

[chipdavis]

No problems with the Access permissions. Is anyone using Access/SQL Server, SharePoint, and InfoPath? If so, do you reuse forms that have been submitted to SharePoint? Have you added new fields?

Chip