SharePoint Saturday New Hampshire 2012

SharePoint Saturday New Hampshire 2012

I had the great honor of presenting at my first SharePoint Saturday @ New Hampshire on Saturday, September 2, 2012.  Thanks to the NH crew for all the hard work.  My topic was a comparison of using InfoPath with a list or a library.

The slides from my talk are located here.

The summary of my talk:
I discussed the pros and cons of list InfoPath forms (what I like to call "InfoPath lite" vs forms libraries.  The considerations:

• Data connections
• List forms come with a data connection:  the list. 
• Data connections tend to trip the casual user up.  So keep it simple.
•  More complex data connections should lead the user to a form-library.
• Need for Repeating Content
• Repeating tables/sections are not available in a list InfoPath form.
• Following the KISS principle.

I also talked about design:
It's important to take the time to make sure you have a robust process in place prior to looking towards SharePoint or InfoPath to provide a solution.  Pre-work is vital.  I compared this project stage to preparing to cook a meal using a wok.  In wok cooking, the cook must cut/measure/prepare everything before the start of cooking.  The actual cooking itself is quick and efficient.   Preparing for any SharePoint/InfoPath implementation is a lot like cooking with a wok.  (What made this analogy even more appropriate was the room I presented in was a college cooking demonstration room:  think Rachel Ray/Martha Stewart set.  If you want the Duck recipe I shared at the beginning, just ask!).

Conditional content simplifies the form and multiple pages prevent scrolling:  remember, people HATE to scroll.  

So what are you doing to make the end user's work life easier via InfoPath?