Workspace members who have designer access can replace an InfoPath Forms tool design with the design from another InfoPath Forms tool. This method of updating an InfoPath Forms tool design allows InfoPath Forms designers to keep design update work separate from the original InfoPath Forms tool for design features created in the InfoPath Forms tool designer, such as views and macros. This process also may make it easier for designers to experiment with design options before disseminating them to all workspace members. Additionally, if an InfoPath Forms tool has a locked down design, replacing a design is the only available method for updating the tool's design.

• Learn more about replacing an InfoPath Forms Tool design

• Replace an Infopath Forms Tool design

Learn more about replacing an InfoPath Forms Tool design

Workspace members who have Designer access can replace an InfoPath Forms tool design with the design from another InfoPath Forms tool. Although InfoPath Forms tool designers can always update an InfoPath Forms tool application's design directly in the tool, designers may sometimes opt to use a "Replace Design" process for the following reasons:

• It separates parts of the InfoPath Forms tool design process from the "production" InfoPath Forms tool and provides an environment for updating the tool design without entering the designer in the production InfoPath Forms tool.
• Designers can introduce and test design updates more freely, without needing to be immediately mindful of how the updates will affect users. The designer performs the Replace Design operation only after a specific set of updates are complete and tested.
• In an InfoPath Forms tool application in which the design is locked, meaning that access to the designer in not available, using the Replace Design process is the only option for updating the tool design.

Keep in mind that the Replace Design process affects only the design objects that are available for customizing in the InfoPath Forms tool designer. As such, for an InfoPath Forms tool, the Replace Design process is effective mostly for managing and updating views and macros. Updates to fields and form layout must still be imported from Microsoft InfoPath 2007.

Appropriate uses of Replace Design

The use of Replace Design is most appropriate only under the following circumstances:

• The designer is planning to introduce a significant number of design updates, particularly to views and macros.
• The design in the production InfoPath Forms tool is locked, and therefore (as noted above), using Replace Design is the only option.

Designers who have access to the designer in the production InfoPath Forms tool should avoid using Replace Design to introduce smaller, incremental design updates. This is because the Replace Design operation replaces every design object that was originally created in the tool (even those that are identical to the ones replacing them). Depending on the size and complexity of the InfoPath Forms tool design, this activity may push large numbers of updates to all workspace members. For example, if you update a single view for an InfoPath Forms tool application that contains multiple views, and then run Replace Design, the process will replace the design for all views in the tool design.

Requirements for using Replace Design with custom tools created via InfoPath Forms

The source InfoPath Forms tool referenced during the Replace Design process must meet certain requirements in relation to the target InfoPath Forms tool, as follows:

• The Source InfoPath Forms tool must contain at least all forms found in the target InfoPath Forms tool.
• The forms in the source and target tools must have originated from the same Microsoft InfoPath form templates.
• The forms in the source InfoPath Forms tool must be at least the same version as their matching forms in the target InfoPath Forms tool. For example, you can import an updated version of an InfoPath form template into the source InfoPath Forms tool and then replace the design of the target InfoPath Forms tool referencing the source tool. However, if you import an updated version of an InfoPath form template directly into the target InfoPath Forms tool, you will not be able to subsequently perform a Replace Design referencing the Source InfoPath Forms tool because the source tool will contain an earlier version of the form template.

Setting up a Replace Design process

For optimal results, it is best to use the following steps for setting up a Replace Design process:

1. Do the initial form design work in Microsoft InfoPath 2007, and import the design template into a Groove InfoPath tool.
2. Do the initial InfoPath Forms design work, such as creating views and macros, in the Groove InfoPath tool until it is ready for deployment.
3. Before inviting members, save the workspace as a template.
4. Create a new workspace using the workspace template.

You will now have two workspaces, each of which contains identical InfoPath Forms tools. However, you should consider the copy of the InfoPath Forms tool in the new workspace as the design "master". As such, you will use this tool for importing form template updates from Microsoft InfoPath 2007, and you will use this tool to do all InfoPath Forms tool updates such as changes to views and macros.

5. In the production InfoPath Forms tool, run the Replace Design process, referencing the workspace that contains the master InfoPath Forms tool template.

Alternatively, instead of saving the original workspace as a template, you could save the original InfoPath Forms tool as a template. You could then add this InfoPath Forms tool to another workspace or even to the same workspace. Some InfoPath Forms designers might opt to create a workspace that simply contains a set of InfoPath Forms tools used as design masters.

About the results of replacing an InfoPath Forms tool design

When you replace an InfoPath Forms tool design, you replace the set of design objects (that is, all views, macros, and selections under Settings and Options) in the current InfoPath Forms tool with those of the InfoPath Forms tool you select in the Replace Design dialog box. The resulting set of design objects will have these characteristics:

• Any design objects that were not previously in the InfoPath Forms tool design are added as new objects.
• Any design objects of the same name are simply replaced and use the properties of the replacement object.

For example, if you replace a view named "City" with another view named "City", this view changes only if the replacement view has different view settings and column properties.

• Any design objects from the original InfoPath Forms tool design that are NOT part of the InfoPath Forms tool used to do the replace design are deleted from the original Forms tool.

For example, if the original InfoPath Forms tool contains the view "City" and you replace design with an InfoPath Forms tool that does not contain this view, the "City" view will be deleted.

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Replace an Infopath Forms Tool design

To replace an InfoPath Forms tool design:

1. On the File menu, click Replace Design.
2. Select the workspace that contains the InfoPath Forms tool to use for replacing the design.
3. Select the InfoPath Forms tool you want in the selected workspace.
4. Click OK.

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