InfoPath Glossary

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003

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InfoPath Glossary


A
absolute URL: The full address of a page or other resource on the Internet. An absolute URL includes a protocol, such as "http," a network location, and an optional path and file name. For example, http://www.example.com/ is an absolute URL.
action: A part of a rule that is used in conjunction with conditions to automatically display dialog boxes, set values, query and submit data, and open forms.
active field: The field on a form in which the cursor or pointer is positioned.
ActiveX: A set of technologies that enables software components to interact with one another, regardless of the language in which the components were created.
ActiveX control: A reusable software component that incorporates Microsoft ActiveX technology. ActiveX controls can be inserted onto forms to produce interactive content. An ActiveX control can be written in a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, Java, and Visual Basic.
attribute field: A field in the data source that can contain data and that is an attribute, instead of an element. Attribute fields cannot contain other fields.

B
bind: To connect a control to a field or group in the data source so that data entered into the control is saved to the corresponding field or group. When a control is unbound, it is not connected to a field or group, and data entered into the control is not saved.

C
cascading list box: Two or more list boxes that are connected to each other in such a way that selecting a value in one changes the set of choices in the other.
cascading style sheet (CSS): One or more data formatting declarations that determine the appearance of specified elements in an .html or .xml file. CSS can be embedded in a Web page or .xsl file, or stored in a separate .css file linked to a Web page or .xsl file.
child element: In an Extensible Markup Language (XML) tree structure, the element contained by another element, which is called the parent element.
choice group: A control that is used to present a set of mutually exclusive choices. By default, a choice group contains two choice sections, one of which appears to the user as the default choice on the form.
choice section: A control that contains other controls and is used to represent a single choice within a set of mutually exclusive choices. Users can replace one choice section with another when filling out a form.
closed content model: A set of Extensible Markup Language (XML) document rules stating that an element in an XML document cannot include any information that is not declared in the schema that the document references.
COM: See Component Object Model
Component Object Model (COM): A specification developed by Microsoft for building software components that can be assembled into programs or can add functionality to existing programs that are running on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
conditional formatting: A set of conditions that change the appearance or content of a control based on values entered into the form.
control: An object, such as a text box, check box, or command button, that enables users to enter or display data, display data choices, or perform an action. Some controls, such as sections, can also make a form easier to read.
CSS: See cascading style sheet
CSS selector: In a cascading style sheet, a name identifying a user-defined style. Depending on how it is defined, a CSS selector can be used with a single type of element or any element in a document.
custom installed form: A form that is installed with a custom setup program, such as Microsoft Windows Installer, and that usually has access to files and settings on the computer.
custom task pane: An area within the Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 program window that displays a custom .htm file. Custom task panes can provide form-specific commands and Help content.

D
data adapter: An object used to submit data to and retrieve data from databases, Web services, and Extensible Markup Language (XML) files.
data connection: The connection between a Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 form and an external data source, such as a database, Web service, Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services library, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) file. Data connections are used to query and submit data from a form.
data source: The collection of fields and groups that define and store the data for a Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 form. The main data source contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) data that is saved with the form. A secondary data source contains XML data retrieved through a data connection, from an external location, such as a database. Controls on a form are bound to the fields and groups in a data source.
data type: A property of a field that defines the kinds of data the field can store. Data types include Text (string), Rich Text, Whole Number, Decimal, True/False (Boolean), Hyperlink, Date, Time, Date and Time, and Picture.
data validation: The process of testing the accuracy of data; a set of rules you can apply to a control to specify the type and range of data that users can enter into that control.
declarative programming: Rule-based programming in which each rule is independent and the order in which rules are declared or executed is not significant.
default role: A setting associated with a particular user role. Users who are not assigned to an existing role are automatically assigned to the role that is specified as the default.
design mode: The Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 design environment in which you create or modify a form template.
DHTML: See Dynamic HTML
dialog box alert: A data validation message that opens a dialog box that displays a custom error message when invalid data is entered into a control.
digital signature: An electronic, encryption-based stamp of authentication on a form or a section of a form. This signature confirms that the form or section originated from the signer and has not been altered.
Document Object Model (DOM): A World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) specification that describes the structure of dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents in a way that allows them to be manipulated through a Web browser.
Document Type Definition (DTD): The predecessor of a schema definition (.dtd) file that specifies rules for elements, attributes, and relationships in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.
DOM: See Document Object Model
DTD: See Document Type Definition
Dynamic HTML (DHTML): An extension of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) that allows you to add interactivity to content. DHTML supports multimedia and database access, and it provides an object model. Content that uses DHTML can change and update dynamically in response to user actions, and programs can change the styles and attributes of page elements or objects in that content as well as replace the existing elements or objects.

E
embedded object: An object that is created in a source file and inserted into a destination file, without maintaining a connection between the two files. After it is embedded, the object becomes part of the destination file and changes that you make to the embedded object are reflected only in the destination file.
event: An action, such as a mouse click or key press, that is recognized by an object and for which you can define a response. An event can be caused by a user action, script or programming code, or the operating system.
event handler: The script function code in a form that responds to a form event or data validation event.
expression box: A read-only control on a form that displays the result of an XPath expression, which retrieves or calculates the result from other data in the form.
Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML): A markup language that extends Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and reformulates it as Extensible Markup Language (XML).
Extensible Markup Language (XML): A subset of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), a language for creating customized data structures that allow for the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between programs, servers, and organizations.
Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL): An Extensible Markup Language (XML) vocabulary that is used to transform XML data into another form, such as a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document, and that defines the format or presentation of the data in the resulting document.

F
field: An element or attribute in the data source that can store data entered into controls on a form. If the field is an element, it can contain attribute fields.
file attachment control: A control that allows users to attach files to a form when they fill it out. A form designer can limit the types of files that users can attach.
filter: A set of conditions that is applied to data in order to display a subset of the data.
form: A document with a set of controls into which users can enter information. Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 forms can contain features such as rich text boxes, date pickers, optional and repeating sections, data validation, and conditional formatting.
form area: The area of the Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 workspace that displays the form you are working with.
form definition file: An Extensible Markup Language (XML) file that contains information about all other files and components within a form, including user interface customization, XML Schemas, views, business logic, events, and deployment settings. Form definition files have an .xsf file name extension.
form files: A collection of files that are used to implement a form. File types can include .html, .xml, .xsd, .xslt, script, and other file types that are necessary to support the functionality of the form.
form library: A folder on a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services site that stores a collection of forms that are based on the same form template. Each form in a form library is associated with user-defined information that is displayed in the content listing for that library.
form library columns: The vertical arrangement of data into one or more side-by-side sections of a form library on a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services site. For every form in the library, the columns display information entered into controls that the form designer associated with those columns.
form template: A file or set of files that defines the data structure, appearance, and behavior of a form.
formula: An XPath expression that consists of values, fields or groups, functions, and operators. Formulas can be used to calculate mathematical values, display dates and times, and reference fields.
function: A predefined XPath expression that returns a value based on the results of a calculation.

G
GIF: See Graphics Interchange Format
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF): A graphics file format frequently used to display indexed-color graphics on the World Wide Web. GIF is a compressed format that is designed to minimize file transfer time over the Internet, supports up to 256 colors, and uses lossless compression, which means that no image data is lost when the file is compressed. GIF-format files have a .gif file name extension.
group: An element in the data source that can contain fields and other groups. Controls that contain other controls, such as repeating tables and sections, are bound to groups.

H
HREF: See hypertext reference
HTML: See Hypertext Markup Language
hyperlink: A pointer from text, a graphic, or another page element to a Web page or file. On the World Wide Web, hyperlinks are the primary way to browse between Web pages and Web sites. A hyperlink is also called a link.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML): The standard markup language for documents on the World Wide Web. HTML is a subset of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). It uses tags to indicate how Web browsers should display page elements such as text and graphics, and how Web browsers should respond to actions such as the activation of a link by a key press or mouse click.
hypertext reference (HREF): An attribute in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document that defines a link to another location within the document, another document, or an e-mail address.

I

initiator role: An optional setting associated with a specific user role. A user who opens a new form is automatically assigned to this role, which overrides any other role assignments for that user.
ink: The writing or drawing strokes made with a tablet pen.
ink entry mode: The environment for filling out a form by writing in ink. On a Tablet PC, Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 automatically opens in ink entry mode.
ink guide: A shaded area that increases in size when data is written in a form field with a tablet pen.
ink section: An area inside a rich text box where users can draw or write with a tablet pen. Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 saves handwritten notes or drawings inside an ink section as ink.
inline alert: A data validation message that adds a dashed red border to controls that contain invalid data. Users can right-click a control with an inline alert to display an error message that explains the validation error.
Internet: The worldwide collection of computers, networks, and gateways that use TCP/IP protocols to communicate with one another.
intranet: A network within an organization that uses Internet technologies and protocols but is available only to certain people, such as employees of a company. An intranet is also called a private network.

J
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG): A graphics file format used to display high-resolution color graphics on the World Wide Web. JPEG graphics apply a user-specified compression scheme that can significantly reduce the file sizes of photo-realistic color graphics. A higher level of compression results in lower quality, whereas a lower level of compression results in higher quality. JPEG-format files have a .jpg file name extension.
JPEG: See Joint Photographic Experts Group
JScript: An interpreted, object-based scripting language that borrows from C, C++, and Java. It is the Microsoft implementation of ECMA script, as defined by the specification of the European Computer Manufacturers Association.

K
key field: A field in the data source that links related data in master and detail controls.

L
layout table: A framework that includes rows and columns for organizing and arranging content on a form, including controls, control labels, sections of a form, logos, and other types of graphics.
linked object: An object that is created in a source file and inserted into a destination file, while maintaining a connection between the two files. The linked object in the destination file is updated automatically when the source file is updated.
list control: A control on a form that can be formatted as a bulleted, numbered, or plain list. A user can enter text into a list control, which repeats as needed.

M
master/detail control: Two related controls in which selection in one control (the master) determines what is displayed in the other control (the detail). When a user selects data in a master control, additional information about that data appears in a detail control.
metadata: Data that describes other data. For example, the words in a document are data; the number of words in the document is an example of metadata for that document.
method: A procedure similar to a statement or function that operates on specific objects. For example, in the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, you can apply the Print method to the Debug object to transfer printed output to the Immediate window.
Microsoft Script Editor (MSE): A programming environment used to create, edit, and debug Microsoft JScript or Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition code in a Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 form.
Microsoft Windows Installer: A tool that is used to create installation packages for software that is to be deployed on Windows operating systems.
MSDN: A Microsoft Web site and subscription program that provides developers with the latest tools, information, code samples, and training materials for Microsoft development tools (http://msdn.microsoft.com).
MSE: See Microsoft Script Editor

N
namespace: A mechanism that uniquely qualifies element names and relationships to avoid name collisions on elements that have the same name but come from multiple sources.

O
object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects that are created in one program, such as spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in a document for another program are OLE objects.
object browser: In the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, a window that displays information about objects, properties, methods, and constants in the current project and in referenced object libraries. You can use the window to search for an element, get help on it, or paste it into a code module.
object model: A hierarchical library of objects and collections that represents the content and functionality of a program. Objects and collections have properties, methods, and events that can be used to manipulate and interact with a program.
object model diagram: A graphical representation of the objects and collections within a specified object model.
offline: In reference to one or more computers, not being connected to a network or the Internet.
open content model: A set of Extensible Markup Language (XML) document rules stating that an element in an XML document can contain child elements and attributes that are not declared in the schema that the document references.
optional section: A control on a form that contains other controls and that usually does not appear by default. Users can insert and remove optional sections when filling out the form.

P
parameter: A value that is assigned to a variable at the beginning of an operation or before an expression is evaluated by a program. A parameter can be text, a number, or an argument name assigned to another value.
parent element: In an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, the element that contains another given element, which is called the child element.
PNG: See Portable Network Graphics
Portable Network Graphics (PNG): A file format for compressed bitmap graphics, similar to the GIF format. PNG supports variable transparency of images (alpha channels) and control of image brightness on different computers (gamma correction). PNG-format files have a .png file name extension.
processing instructions: Information stored in the prologue of an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document. This information is passed through the XML parser to any application that uses the XML document.
property: A named attribute of a control, a field, or an object that defines a characteristic of an object, such as size, color, or screen location, or an aspect of its behavior, such as whether the object is hidden.
publish: The process of making a form available for others to fill out. A published form template is saved to a shared location such as a Web server or a file server.

R
recursive section: A control that contains other controls, can be inserted within itself, and is bound to nested reference fields.
reference field: A field that is associated with another field so that their properties always match. If the properties in one field are changed, the properties in the other field are updated automatically.
reference group: A group that is associated with another group so that their properties and the properties of the groups and fields they contain always match. If the properties of one group are changed, the other group is updated automatically.
relative URL: The address of a document or other resource in relation to the active document or resource. Unlike an absolute URL, a relative URL does not include the domain of or the full path to the resource. It might include only the file name and file name extension, and possibly part of the path to the resource.
repeating field: A field in the data source that can occur more than once. Controls such as repeating sections, repeating tables, and bulleted, numbered, and plain lists can be bound to repeating fields.
repeating group: A group in the data source that can occur more than once. Controls such as repeating sections and repeating tables are bound to repeating groups.
repeating section: A control on a form that contains other controls and that repeats as needed. Users can insert multiple sections when filling out a form that contains repeating sections.
repeating table: A control on a form that contains other controls in a table format and that repeats as needed. Users can insert multiple rows when filling out a form that contains repeating tables.
Resource Manager: The interface for adding and removing resource files that support the functionality of a form.
rich text field: A field that can show formatting and graphics, such as an embedded object, in addition to text.
root element: The element in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document that contains all other elements in that document. It is the top-level element of an XML document and must be the first element in the document.
rule: One or more conditions and actions that automatically perform tasks based on events and values in the form.

S
script: A type of computer code that sends a set of instructions to a program, such as a Web browser. A script is run directly by a program that can interpret the language in which the script is written. On the World Wide Web, script is frequently used to customize or add interactivity to a Web page. In Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003, script is used to add functionality to a form.
scrolling region: A control that contains other controls and that can display vertical or horizontal scroll bars. Scrolling regions are used for layout purposes only and are not bound to fields or groups in the data source.
section: A control on a form that contains other controls.
server: On a network, a computer that provides access to files and other resources that are also part of the network. On the World Wide Web, a computer that hosts Web pages and responds to requests from Web browsers. Also referred to as a host.
shortcut key: A function key or key combination, such as F5 or CTRL+A, that you can press to perform a command. In contrast, an access key is a key combination, such as ALT+F, that you can press to move the focus to a menu, command, or control.
shortcut menu: A menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a particular item. To display a shortcut menu, right-click an item or press SHIFT+F10.
sizing handle: One of the small circles or squares that appear at the corners and sides of a selected object. You drag these handles to change the size of the object.
structural editing: Editing that occurs within a structured document, such as a well-formed Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.
subscript: Text that is slightly lower than other text on a line. Subscripts are often used in scientific formulas.
superscript: Text that is slightly higher than other text on a line, such as a footnote reference mark.

T
table: One or more rows of cells frequently used to display numbers and other items for quick reference and analysis. Items in a table are organized into rows and columns.
Tablet PC: A computer that runs Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. With a Tablet PC, you can write directly on the screen by using a tablet pen and use the pen to perform mouse functions. Also referred to as a tablet computer.
tablet pen: A pen-like device that comes with a Tablet PC and is used to interact with the tablet screen.
task pane: An area within a Microsoft Office program window that contains commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while viewing and working on files that also appear in the program window.
text box: A control into which a user can enter text. Rich text boxes allow data entry with text formatting choices, whereas standard text boxes do not.

U
Unicode: A character encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium. By using more than one byte to represent each character, Unicode enables almost all of the written languages in the world to be represented by using a single character set.
Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): A character string that identifies a resource on the Internet by type and location.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL): A unique address that identifies the location of a page, file, or other type of resource on the Internet or an intranet. It typically includes four elements: the protocol for accessing the resource, such as http://; the server type; the server name, which is often the name of the organization that maintains the resource; and a suffix, which typically identifies the type of organization that maintains the resource.
Uniform Resource Name (URN): A scheme for uniquely identifying resources that may be available on the Internet by name, without regard to where they are located.
URI: See Uniform Resource Identifier
URL: See Uniform Resource Locator
URN: See Uniform Resource Name
user role: A predefined category that can be assigned to form users based on job title, network domain, or another criterion. Roles are typically used to present customized versions of a form to different types of users.

V
valid: Error free or acceptable according to an established set of rules or standards. For example, data entered into a form is valid if it meets the form's data validation rules.
valid XML: A well-formed Extensible Markup Language (XML) document that conforms to a specific set of constraints, usually defined in an XML Schema.
VBScript: See Visual Basic Scripting Edition
view: A form-specific display setting that can be saved with a form template and applied to form data when the form is being filled out. Users can switch between views to choose the amount of data shown in the form.
Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript): An interpreted, object-based scripting language that is a subset of the Microsoft Visual Basic programming language.

W
Web browser: A program that interprets Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files, formats them into Web pages, and displays them. You can use a Web browser to go from one Web page to another by following hyperlinks, to download files from the Internet to your computer, and to play audio or video files that are embedded in a Web page.
well-formed XML: An Extensible Markup Language (XML) document in which there is only one root element, and all of the elements nest properly within each other and are syntactically correct.

X
XHTML: See Extensible Hypertext Markup Language
XML: See Extensible Markup Language
XML attribute: An Extensible Markup Language (XML) structural construct. A name-value pair, separated by an equal sign and included in a tagged element, that modifies features of an element. All attribute values are text strings and must be enclosed in quotation marks.
XML data: Data that is saved in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 forms are saved as XML data files.
XML element: An Extensible Markup Language (XML) structure that consists of a start tag, an end tag, and the information between the tags. Elements can have attributes and can contain other elements.
XML parser: A software component used to process Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents by validating their structure and producing views or transformations of their content.
XML Path Language (XPath): A language used to address parts of an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document. XPath also provides basic facilities for manipulation of strings, numbers, and Boolean values.
XML Schema: A formal specification, written in Extensible Markup Language (XML), that defines the structure of an XML document, including element names and data types, which elements can appear in combination, and which attributes are available for each element.
XML Signature: An Extensible Markup Language (XML)–based digital signature that can be used to help secure the data contained in an XML document. XML Signatures are a standard governed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
XML template file: An Extensible Markup Language (XML) file that contains the sample data that appears in the fields of a form before a user fills it out.
XPath: See XML Path Language
XSL: See Extensible Stylesheet Language
XSL Transformation (XSLT): A language that is used to transform Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents into other types of documents, such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) or XML. It is a subset of Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL).
XSLT: See XSL Transformation

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