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When designing a new form based on an existing XML Schema (XML Schema: A formal specification, written in XML, that defines the structure of an XML document, including element names and rich data types, which elements can appear in combination, and which attributes are available for each element.) (.xsd) file, you can work with the form in many of the same ways as when you design a new, blank form, including inserting and laying out controls, adding data validation (data validation: The process of testing the accuracy of data; a set of rules you can apply to a control to specify the type and range of data that users can enter.) and conditional formatting (conditional formatting: Changing the appearance of a control, including its visibility, based on values entered into the form.), and publishing the form.

The new form will automatically re-use the data validation of the existing XML Schema.

1. On the File menu, click Design a Form.
2. In the Design a Form task pane, click New from XML Document or Schema.
3. On the first page of the Data Source Wizard, click Browse.
4. In the Open dialog box, browse to the XML Schema you want to base the form on, and then click Open.
5. On the next page in the Data Source Wizard, click Next.
6. On the next page in the Data Source Wizard, do one of the following:
   • If you want to include an additional XML document or XML Schema in your form, click Yes, click Next, and then repeat steps 3 through 5.
   • If you are finished adding XML documents or XML Schemas to your form, click No, and then click Finish.
7. To begin adding controls to the form, right-click a field (field: An element or attribute in the data source that can contain data. If the field is an element, it can contain attribute fields. Fields store the data that is entered into controls.) or group (group: An element in the data source that can contain fields and other groups. Controls that contain other controls, such as repeating tables and sections, are bound to groups.) in the Data Source task pane, and then on the shortcut menu, click the control you want to insert.

Notes

Because existing XML Schemas can be more restrictive than new, blank forms, the following limitations apply:

• You cannot automatically create the data source (data source: The collection of fields and groups that define and store the data for an InfoPath form. Controls in the form are bound to the fields and groups in the data source.) when inserting controls.
• You cannot modify existing fields or groups in the data source.
• Depending on the schema, you might not be able to add fields or groups to part or all of the data source.

The information in this topic may not apply if you are working with a form designed using Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 without the service pack installed.