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MS Office Forum / General MS InfoPath Questions / November 2007Schedule daily delivery of emails
Hi, I'm evaluating InfoPath for sending out daily emails. Is it possible to do this with InfoPath? If not, could a person write a custom application (C#, VB...) to integrate with InfoPath? Thanks, Nathan This can be done but it takes a server side service to automate. There is an example included with the Database Accelerator at http://www.qdabra.com  SignatureThanks Clay Fox Qdabra Software http://www.qdabra.com InfoPathDev.Com The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World http://www.infopathdev.com > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Nathan I'd rather not have to download a whole trial app just to get this figured out... Does anybody know how much work it would take to set this up? And what approach might be most feasible? Nathan > This can be done but it takes a server side service to automate. > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > > > Nathan An InfoPath form can be the template for the email and the information can be contain in it. The more dificult piece is automating the sending and where the information is going to come from. To create a IP form that a user would complete and email to a distribution group is pretty simple. What I was referring to was a solution that would pull data, say from a database, and then email this out on a schedule. It also emails form statistics, how many were submitted within the time frame and other workflow analysis. Another option is that the InfoPath form can just pull the latest information everytime it is opened and instead of emailling a static copy out regularily, users can open it at any time for the latest data. The problem you run into client side is that you need full trust to be able to email without user consent. What exactly are you wanting to do? SignatureThanks Clay Fox Qdabra Software http://www.qdabra.com InfoPathDev.Com The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World http://www.infopathdev.com > I'd rather not have to download a whole trial app just to get this figured > out... Does anybody know how much work it would take to set this up? And what [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > > > > > Nathan Thanks Clay - that helps a bit. We are planning to implement a time tracker that will send out a form to about 30 people on a daily basis. The form would be dynamic - it contains a list of tasks that each individual is assigned to. Upon receipt of the email, they should fill out the number of hours spent on each task and hit submit. I was looking at other solutions, but infopath seems to be a good fit. The only problem I anticipate is that scheduling the emailing of the dynamic forms might be tricky... Thanks, Nathan > An InfoPath form can be the template for the email and the information can be > contain in it. [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > > > > > > > Nathan Again, the Database Accelerator has a complete Project Tracker Solution included, with Timecards, which has assignments and workflow via email. Plus you can have SQL reports on the backend for analysis and reporting. I believe it is easier to have a form they fill out daily which pulls their specific tasks which they have been assigned from a central database, which I think you will need anyway, rather than emailing them a static form which may get out of date. Other than a reminder I would just link to the form they need. You can identify each user of the form and then show them just their tasks. You may also need a form to make the assignments. InfoPath is a good solution for this but the architecture and the setup are key. SignatureThanks Clay Fox Qdabra Software http://www.qdabra.com InfoPathDev.Com The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World http://www.infopathdev.com > Thanks Clay - that helps a bit. > [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > > > > > > > > > Nathan We will definitely have a database with the tasks and users from which the forms will be generated dynamically on a daily basis. So we were thinking if it's not too hard to implement, it would be nice to deliver the form directly as an email. You seem to imply that it would be relatively complex to deliver dynamic forms by email. Is that correct? Nathan > Again, the Database Accelerator has a complete Project Tracker Solution > included, with Timecards, which has assignments and workflow via email. Plus [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > Nathan All you need is one dynamic form. You have a table of your tasks with the username as one of the fields. The form would identify the user on open, with an AD Web Service. And then Query the data for records which match the user and possibly a time frame. So one form template would be used for all users or at least groups of users. Emailing out a copy of the actual form is more difficult then just a link to the form becuase they would need to be created by a user or a server process. A generic reminder which everyone use the same link is much easier to put in a reminder or email. I am assuming the data input by the user would be submitted back to the database not emailed back statically. If you want a demo of the Project Tracker solution or a Timecard form with a backend DB then let me know. SignatureThanks Clay Fox Qdabra Software http://www.qdabra.com InfoPathDev.Com The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World http://www.infopathdev.com > We will definitely have a database with the tasks and users from which the > forms will be generated dynamically on a daily basis. So we were thinking if [quoted text clipped - 78 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nathan Thanks Clay. Unfortunately I'm on a $0 budget for this project, so I have to be resourceful... We are also considering creating a custom Outlook plugin that would allow users to perform the updates from within Outlook. But I think due to the time limits on this project it might be more feasible to set up a InfoPath form on a server. I probably won't end up emailing the form since it sounds like too much of a hassle for the few clicks that we would save the end users. Nathan > All you need is one dynamic form. > [quoted text clipped - 98 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nathan I think that it is actually faster for the end user to use the link then open the attachment. A server based template is ideal, the challenge will be interacting with your data without web services and being able to query and submit your tables. The Database Accelerator tool kit is free to download so you can get your proof of concept together. It includes the ActiveDirectory Web Service so you can identify your users even if they are using a VPN connection. Then be able to control and secure your forms. Typically you do not want to mess around with peoples time reporting. Good Luck. SignatureThanks Clay Fox Qdabra Software http://www.qdabra.com InfoPathDev.Com The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World http://www.infopathdev.com > Thanks Clay. Unfortunately I'm on a $0 budget for this project, so I have to > be resourceful... [quoted text clipped - 109 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nathan |
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