Using InfoPath is not necessarily the ideal solution, however. As I understand the OP's description of the task or project, the on-the-road people may not have a functional internet connection always, and the licensing of InfoPath is such that the InfoPath Filler cannot be separated from a fully-licensed Microsoft Office Professional license.
However, if the HQ is using SharePoint and the internet connection is good, InfoPath would be part of a good solution. If there is no internet connection (ie, clients fill in forms on the laptop, unconnected), then InfoPath would be OK if each "road-warrior" has Office Pro on the laptop. Otherwise, designing an "InfoPath Filler form" is not an option. I'm not familiar enough with SharePoint and InfoPath to know how other InfoPath forms would be client-available in the circumstances that Greg H described. I do know, however, that the Adobe designer for PDF forms (LiveCycle) is a bit of a bastard, but Adobe Reader (PDF reader application aka Acrobat Reader) is free and can fill in those forms created with LiveCycle Designer (as can many other free or cheap PDF readers). Microsoft's InfoPath Filler is not free. _____ Ian Thomas Victoria Park, Western Australia From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Katherine Moss Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:20 AM To: ozDotNet Subject: RE: A simple tick the boxes data entry system Acceptable, and not to mention, accessible. You never know whether the folks you are working with use screen readers and forms in word and as PDFs via scanning are completely inaccessible. Not recommended if you have screen reading and text-to-speech software among those in your environment. From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] [ <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ian Thomas Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 9:38 PM To: 'ozDotNet' Subject: RE: A simple tick the boxes data entry system That's a good suggestion, Katherine. InfoPath would be quite acceptable - perhaps best choice if Greg H must also handle the data, after the clients / form-fillers have completed the forms. The XML data format is intrinsic to InfoPath. PDF Forms also export (the filled data) as XML. _____ Ian Thomas Victoria Park, Western Australia From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] [ <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Katherine Moss Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 10:19 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: RE: A simple tick the boxes data entry system Don't forget Microsoft InfoPath, guys. InfoPath has some hot .net extension features from what I have read on it. From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] [ <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 2:12 AM To: 'ozDotNet' Subject: RE: A simple tick the boxes data entry system Omnipage has an api that could achieve some of this I think From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] [ <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Greg Harris Sent: Monday, 24 June 2013 10:21 AM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Subject: A simple tick the boxes data entry system Hi Everybody I have a client that needs a simple tick the boxes data entry system. This is to be used by their client's who may or may not know how to navigate web applications and will be of a wide age, educational and ethnicity range. This will often be used on the road with poor access to the internet and general support. Expected volume is 30 questionnaires with up to 30 questions on each, all of which must be processed with less than 30 minutes human processing time per day. I was thinking of printing a questionnaire page for each of them and then getting a data entry person to enter the results. But, I also want to be able scan the pages, because it is being used on the road, I don't think that it is realistic for the client to take a scanner with him, I was thinking he could just use a camera and take a photo of the completed questionnaire. The photo would be scanned for a QR code to identify the document and also scan the rest of the document for ticks in boxes, all of which will be in fixed locations on the page. Questions: 1. Has anyone done anything like this? 2. Do you have any suggestion on how to best implement it and how to avoid problems ? 4. Do you know of any good .NET libraries that could help me? Many thanks Greg Harris
