InfoPath is Dead (Deprecated): What is InfoPath’s Replacement? FoSl?

Here is the actual editor.  You can see there are a few of the controls we used to see in InfoPath available here.

Here we can see that you can move the fields around using a simple UI.

You can resize these fields and the canvas will resize accordingly.

Here is an example of integration with Access Services.

FoSl Timeline

So clearly FoSl is not quite ready to be a full-fledged replacement for InfoPath. It is a no-code solution that allows what many users do currently with InfoPath. But more complex forms, particularly those working with external data or web services will be out of luck until some unknown point in the future. Likewise, any functionality added with code is unavailable with FoSl and will have to remain in InfoPath or as another solution.

InfoPath Alternatives

Below we can see what exists and what will exist in the future as an alternative to InfoPath

Excel Surveys have been around for a while, but are not much more impressive than a SharePoint Survey.  This seems to be highlighted merely because of a lack of awareness.

List Forms (FoSL Forms on SharePoint Lists) is the next replacement for InfoPath for general users.  The end result is somewhat similar to what you could do with Data View webpart’s when creating a custom edit form, only with a simplified and much easier to use UI (No longer available in SharePoint Designer 2013).

Structured Documents (Word forms) but look to potentially have tighter integration with SharePoint.

App Forms (Access Services) Below you can see Access Services in use

What’s Happening to InfoPath?

Infopath will be supported until 2023 so existing solutions and even new ones should have a decent lifespan.

Right now the migration path is unknown. Microsoft has not announced any information on this. I am assuming the next version of SharePoint (OnPremise) will support InfoPath Forms much like 2013 supported 2010 workflows, despite there not being a migration path from 2010 to 2013 for workflows

Below is a slide shown at the SharePoint conference detailing some questions users have been asking.

More InfoPath Answers from Microsoft

• FoSL is best for a single form on a single table, access is for multiple forms/tables
• There is the Possibility of some Offline Access
• NO CODE BEHIND (possibly adding extensibility later on access forms)
• Cannot inject JS into either of the forms currently (Apps for office is the way to extend UI)
• Right now only live edits are supported (looking into options)
• Ability to package access apps (not sure for FoSl)
• Maybe ability to add worfklows currently unknown
• Still looking at multivalue and repeating fields more near term

Microsoft suggested commenting on their customer feedback to let them know what you think.

If you didn’t get a chance to go to the SharePoint Conference you can view the relevant session at Channel 9’s SharePoint Conference 2014. This is where InfoPath’s roadmap was discussed and where most of the information on this post comes from.