Client Background
The client was using physical on-premises servers which was outdated and slow in today’s cloud world generation.
They wanted to create new SharePoint sites collection to migrate all data from on-premises.
Alif delivered exact solution as per client requirement.
Problem
One of the biggest drawbacks of InfoPath is its inability to render on mobile devices. Apart from the platform compatibility, there are some limitations on file uploads owing to browser incompatibility.
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Scaling up InfoPath forms as per the current standards is extremely tricky due to its complex build. Consequently, Microsoft has made all InfoPath-based services and solutions obsolete.
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Moving the Microsoft InfoPath forms to the cloud is immensely challenging and time-consuming. Additionally, a user is required to redesign an entire form and make a lot of laborious manual updates to XSD files and XSN documents.
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For Microsoft InfoPath users, the security level is dependent on the location of the form template rather than where a user opens or stores the resultant XML documents. Thus, there arises a security concern.
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Microsoft InfoPath forms contain a lot of bugs. Each time you make any changes in the forms, required to make respective changes in the old version too. This eventually shoots up the maintenance costs.
Assessment
Understanding the existing workflows, data management procedures, and business processes within the organization. This includes identifying manual tasks that could be automated for efficiency gains.
By conducting a thorough needs assessment, organizations can make informed decisions about how to best leverage Power Platform to streamline operations, improve productivity, and achieve their business goals effectively.
What are internal pain point and what effect do they have on the bottom line, and (or) employee activity.
Solution Delivered
The data of InfoPath forms is either stored in lists in the form of items or sent to libraries. The InfoPath to Power Apps migration approach depends on how the data is utilized and stored.
Create inventories of InfoPath forms in SharePoint
The first step is to build inventories of forms you wish to migrate from InfoPath to Power Apps in SharePoint. For this, it is vital to have every detail of InfoPath forms inventory, like these forms are hosted in which library or list. Based on this information, you can use modern tools or technologies to build inventories of these forms in SharePoint.
Migrate data from InfoPath using migration tools
The second step is to migrate data from InfoPath to XML files in SharePoint libraries using state-of-the-art migration tools. For migrating data from InfoPath lists, you can utilize Power Scripts or any other migration tool. While to migrate data from the InfoPath form library, you can use custom scripts. Then, you can extract metadata from these libraries and upload it to SharePoint lists.
Replace InfoPath libraries with SharePoint list
The third step is to replace InfoPath libraries with list data through a SharePoint list. For this, you need to move all the data stored in InfoPath libraries to lists. To do this, you need robust planning and careful execution, or else you could end up missing out on complex fields or values like repeating sections/tables.
Redesign forms in Power Apps
In the fourth step, you will need to identify data sources and screens, as well as explore alternative controls to those used in InfoPath. Subsequently, redesign the Power Apps forms using the extracted data. For code-based forms, it is important to first verify the code and then implement it with equivalent functionality in Power Apps.
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Integrating Power Apps with SharePoint allows for a more efficient workflow by leveraging SharePoint’s improved data management and collaboration features.
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The data of InfoPath forms is either stored in lists in the form of items or sent to libraries. The InfoPath to Power Apps migration approach depends on how the data is utilized and stored.
Create inventories of InfoPath forms in SharePoint
The first step is to build inventories of forms you wish to migrate from InfoPath to Power Apps in SharePoint. For this, it is vital to have every detail of InfoPath forms inventory, like these forms are hosted.
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in which library or list. Based on this information, you can use modern tools or technologies to build inventories of these forms in SharePoint.
Migrate data from InfoPath using migration tools
The second step is to migrate data from InfoPath to XML files in SharePoint libraries using state-of-the-art migration tools. For migrating data from InfoPath lists, you can utilize Power Scripts or any other migration
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tool. While to migrate data from the InfoPath form library, you can use custom scripts. Then, you can extract metadata from these libraries and upload it to SharePoint lists.
Replace InfoPath libraries with SharePoint list
The third step is to replace InfoPath libraries with list data through a SharePoint list. For this, you need to move all the data stored in InfoPath libraries to lists. To do this, you need robust planning and careful execution, or else you could end up missing out on complex fields or values like repeating sections/tables.
Redesign forms in Power Apps
In the fourth step, you will need to identify data sources and screens, as well as explore alternative controls to those used in InfoPath. Subsequently, redesign the Power Apps forms using the extracted data. For code-based forms, it is important to first verify the code and then implement it with equivalent functionality in Power Apps.
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Integrating Power Apps with SharePoint allows for a more efficient workflow by leveraging SharePoint’s improved data management and collaboration features.
Architecture Design-
Result/Outcome
With Power Apps, it is easy to build feature-rich, custom applications as it does require less or no coding.
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Power Apps enables developers to add conditional business logic to forms with many other added functionalities.
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When utilized with SharePoint on-premises, Power Apps provides a modern SharePoint experience to developers.
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When taking the benefits of Power Apps development into account, one of the highlights is the ability for developers to swiftly create custom applications.
Power Apps simplifies automating and moving applications or forms as it offers a rich set of workflow capabilities.