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You
can import Microsoft InfoPath files (XSN) into Designer. During
the conversion process, Designer extracts these components from
the input file and uses them to create Designer XML elements:
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An XML file describing the contents of the package
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An XML file describing the InfoPath form
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XSL files describing each view
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A schema file for the InfoPath form
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A script file, which is saved as comments in the Designer
XML source code
Designer displays the file import options each time you import
an InfoPath file.
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Select
File > Open.
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From the Files Of Type list, select InfoPath (XSN).
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Navigate to the file that you want to open, select the file,
and click Open.
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Do one of the following actions:
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If you want
to be prompted for a view, select the Prompt To Select View During
Conversion option. If the InfoPath file has only one view, a prompt will
not display even if you select this option.
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If you know the name of the view that you want to import,
type the name of the view in the View box. To convert the default
view, leave the box blank.
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Do one of the following actions:
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Select the
Import Print Settings option to import headers and footers, page orientation,
and page margins of the InfoPath form.
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If you know the page size of the InfoPath form, select one
from the list or select Default.
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If you know the page orientation of the InfoPath form, select
one from the list.
Note:
If you select
the Import Print Settings option, the page size and orientation are
taken from the InfoPath form and you do not have to select the page
size and orientation.
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(Optional) Select an option from the Generate A Log File
list.
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(Optional) To convert and embed any images into the form
design, select Embed Images In XDP.
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Click OK.
Note:
Designer uses Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later to transfer data while importing an InfoPath file. If you do not have Internet Explorer installed, you cannot import an InfoPath file into Designer.
How Designer converts Microsoft InfoPath objects
Designer preserves the
layout when converting a Microsoft InfoPath file. However, you may
need to do some manual repositioning of objects afterward to make
the form look as good as possible.
The table identifies the key objects in an InfoPath form and
indicates how Designer treats them when they are imported.
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Item
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Converted
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Not Converted
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Controls
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Text boxes, including rich text boxes, are
converted to text fields.
Drop-down list boxes are converted
to drop-down list boxes. Values are included only if the control
is filled manually.
List boxes are converted to list boxes.
Date
picker controls are converted to Date/Time fields unless the data
type for the date picker in InfoPath is set to “Text (String)”.
In this case, it is converted to a Text field.
Check boxes
are converted to check boxes.
Option buttons are converted
to radio buttons.
Buttons are converted to buttons.
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Validation rules
Scrolling
Images
embedded in rich text boxes
A group of option buttons may
not be converted to a single radio button group.
Submit actions
for buttons are not handled
Padding properties of check boxes
and radio buttons
Attachments
Custom controls
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Expression boxes
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Not converted
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Lists
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Numbered lists are converted to text.
For
bulleted lists, the text only is converted to text.
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Bullet symbols
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Pictures
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Pictures are converted to images.
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Ink pictures
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Schema
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If the InfoPath form has been designed based
on a schema, the schema is imported and binding is done automatically in
Designer.
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Scripts
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Not converted
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Scrolling regions
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Scrolling regions are converted to subforms.
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Sections
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Sections are converted to subforms.
Repeating
sections are converted to repeating subforms in a form. Add and
delete buttons are provided to add or delete the instance of the
section when filling the form.
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Include/exclude properties
Instructional
text
Only one instance of any optional or repeating sections
is converted
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Tables
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Tables are converted to tables.
Repeating
tables are converted to repeating tables in a form. Add and delete
buttons are provided to add or delete the instance of the section
when filling the form.
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Some border styles are not supported.
Only
the visible rows in a repeating table are converted.
Rows
that have been merged vertically are converted to subforms in a
positioned layout.
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Text
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Text is converted to text. Any highlight
color is converted to background color.
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Hyperlinks
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Differences between Designer and InfoPath objects
Designer and InfoPath do not support the same features
and object properties. The most obvious differences include these:
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