How to: Create and Use a Data Connection Library

A Data Connection Library (DCL) in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 is a library that can contain two different types of data connections: an Office Data Connection (ODC) file or a Universal Data Connection (UDC) file. Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 uses data connections that conform to the Universal Data Connection (UDC) file schema and typically have either a *.udcx or *.xml file extension. Data sources described by these data connections are stored on the server and can be used in standard form templates and browser-enabled form templates.

Procedures

Uploading data connection files to a Data connection library allows InfoPath form templates to use the data sources described by these files to retrieve and submit information.

To Create a SharePoint Data Connection Library

1. Browse to an Office SharePoint Server 2007 or Office Forms Server 2007 site on which you have at least Design rights. If you are on the root site, or portal, go to the Document Center or create a new site before proceeding to the next step.

2. Click Create on the Site Actions menu.

3. On the Create page, click the Data Connection Library link in the Libraries section.

4. On the New page, type a name for the library and click the Create button.

5. Copy the URL of the new library.

To Create a New Data Connection File in InfoPath

1. Open Office InfoPath 2007 and click Design a Form Template.

2. On the Design a Form Template dialog box, click Blank and click OK.

3. On the Tools menu, click Data Connections.

4. Click the Add button.

5. In the Data Connection Wizard, click Create a new connection to and Receive data.

6. Click Next.

7. Click the type of data source you are connecting to, such as Database, Web service, or SharePoint library or list.

8. Click Next.

9. Configure your data connection as needed to retrieve data. Once the Data Connection Wizard is completed, choose this data connection in the Data Connections dialog box.

10. Click Convert.

11. On the Convert Data Connection dialog box, enter the URL of the data connection library that you previously copied.

12. Delete "Forms/AllItems.aspx" in the URL.

13. Enter a name for the data connection file at the end.

14. Click OK.

15. Confirm that the data connection has been converted successfully by examining the Details section of the Data Connections dialog box while the converted data connection is selected.

16. Browse to the SharePoint data connection library and, if necessary, Check In and Approve the UDC file created.

To Use a Data Connection File in InfoPath

1. Open Office InfoPath 2007 and click Design a Form Template.

2. On the Design a Form Template dialog box, click Blank and click OK.

   Note

   Only Database and Web service connections can be used for main data sources. To create a main data source from one of these types of connections, choose Connection Library instead of Blank and proceed to step 5.

3. On the Tools menu, click Data Connections.

4. Click the Add button.

5. In the Data Connection Wizard, click Search for connections on a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and click Next.

6. Select the site where you created a data connection file, and select the data connection.

7. Click Next.

8. Continue configuring the data connection as needed for the type of connection you have selected.

9. When finished, add some controls to the form and Preview the form to ensure that data is returned.

To Manage Data Connection Sites

1. Open Office InfoPath 2007 and click Design a Form Template.

2. On the Design a Form Template dialog box, click Blank and click OK.

3. On the Tools menu, click Data Connections.

4. Click the Add button.

5. In the Data Connection Wizard, click Search for connections on a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and click Next.

6. Click the Manage Sites button.

7. On the Manage Sites dialog box, click the Add button.

8. Enter the URL of the site containing one or more data connection files, and enter a friendly Display name for the site, if desired.

9. Click OK, then click Close.

10. You can now select the site from the Site drop-down box to browse the available data connections located on the site.

See Also

Concepts

About Data Connections, Authentication, and Alternate Access Mapping