Chapter 5. Utilizing XML and Web Service Data Sources

XML is quickly becoming the standard file format when working with data not only transferred between multiple business systems, but also used within single business systems. Nothing points this out more than Microsoft InfoPath, where besides some of the main data file formats being used (XML schemas and Web services), the physical structures of the forms themselves being maintained use Extensible Markup Language (XML) technology.

Once you have worked with XML schemas for a bit they lose a lot of their mystery, but you gain respect for their simplicity. This chapter lifts the veil of some of the mysteries and has you:

• Look at some of the file structures used for XML technology.

• Create an InfoPath form based on an existing XML schema.

• Use XML data for a data source of an InfoPath form.

• Take a quick look at the XML files that make up an InfoPath form.