| InfoPath | Ultimate Forms | |
|---|---|---|
Design and Integration | ||
| Design Environment |
X
Stand-alone application, local installation required
|
✓
Integrated into SP accessible anywhere
|
| Integration |
X
Non-native UI and functionality
|
✓
100% integrated
|
| SP License Required |
✓
Enterprise only
|
✓
Foundation (free), Standard, Enterprise
|
Layout |
||
| Form layout |
✓
Sections, drag-n-drop design
|
✓
Tabs, tab permissions, sections, groups, multi-column layout, custom fragments
|
| Look and feel |
X
Designer-generated styling
|
✓
Configuration + CSS-based styling
|
| SP UI integration |
✓
Distinct, foreign look
|
✓
100% native look
|
Permissions |
||
| Tabs |
✓
Groups. Tabs can be implemented as views
|
✓
Tabs and groups with subsections
|
| Tab permissions |
✓
Writable/read-only/hidden using rules
|
✓
Writable/read-only/hidden through conditions
|
| Column permissions |
✓
Writable/read-only/hidden using rules
|
✓
Writable/read-only/hidden through conditions
|
| View permissions |
X
None
|
✓
Based on current user, with custom default view
|
Data Structure |
||
| Storage |
✓
XML file based, stored in document library*
|
✓
List item based, completely integrated
|
| Repeating sections |
✓
Repeating sections in XML, do not map to SP items, not visible in views
|
✓
Real items in related lists, visible in forms and views
|
| Related items summary |
✓
Summary functions within the forms
|
✓
Automatically calculated, subject to filters. Columns do not need to reside on the form
|
Column Types |
||
| Support for built-in column types |
✓
Some column types are not supported (Managed Metadata), others: reduced or modified functionality
|
✓
All column types are supported
|
| Support for custom column types |
X
None
|
✓
All custom column types from all vendors supported
|
| Custom column types provided |
X
None
|
✓
Associated items, cascading lookup, color choice, KPIs, document link, etc.
|
Validation and Defaults |
||
| Default values |
✓
Common to all users
|
✓
User-specific; passed through URL; content type-specific
|
| Validation rules |
✓
Subject to conditions, support for email/URL patterns
|
✓
Specific to users, subject to conditions, regex pattern support
|
| Validating related items |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Run validation rules based on summary of related items
|
Actions |
||
| Types of actions |
✓
Set field value
|
✓
16 types of actions: update/create/delete items, manage permissions, create list/site, print, etc.
|
| Execution |
✓
On value change
|
✓
On value change, add/update/delete, on timer, manual (ribbon button)
|
Lookups |
||
| Cascading |
✓
Yes, in form libraries only
|
✓
Yes, unlimited levels
|
| Add new value |
X
No
|
✓
Yes, in-line or through pop-up
|
| Filter values |
X
No
|
✓
Yes, multiple filters
|
Signatures |
||
| Signature type |
✓
Digital
|
✓
Electronic
|
| Signature providers |
✓
Digital certificate
|
✓
Active directory, Topaz signature pad, touchscreens, declarative
|
| Displayed in |
✓
Forms only
|
✓
Forms, views, print-outs
|
Printing |
||
| Print templates |
✓
Print screen
|
✓
User-defined, multiple templates with automatic/manual selection
|
| Export/email |
X
None*
|
✓
Convert to PDF and email, with attachments
|
| UI integration |
✓
Print from forms only
|
✓
Print from forms and views, print multiple items at once
|
External Data |
||
| Data sources |
✓
MS SQL only, web services
|
✓
Any DB type, web services, REST APIs
|
| Filter external data |
✓
Yes
|
✓
Yes
|
| Automatic import/export |
X
None
|
✓
Emails, web service, REST, any DB, text files
|
Color-coding |
||
| Type |
✓
Background color, font color, boldness, underline
|
✓
Background color, font color, icons (with or without text)
|
| Displayed in |
✓
Forms only
|
✓
Forms, views, calendars*, print-outs
|
Item IDs |
||
| Templates |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Multiple, automatically selected
|
| Format |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Combination of text, column values, functions, numerator
|
| Applied |
X
Not supported
|
✓
New item, modified item
|
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