This article describes why you may benefit by having a copy of Microsoft Office InfoPath on your computer. This article also describes some important features of InfoPath.

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Why you may benefit by having a copy of InfoPath on your computer

To fill out forms that are created in InfoPath and to use all the rich-client functionality and the data validation that is available in the InfoPath environment, you must have a copy of InfoPath that is installed on your computer. There will not be a free control or Web component for editing InfoPath forms.

Important features of InfoPath

•	Data Validation InfoPath provides a rich experience that goes beyond what you typically find with a Web-based form. For example, InfoPath provides data validation for the form as you fill out the form. This validation can detect errors at the schema level through both logical constraints and through script. This validation occurs immediately. Therefore, you do not have to submit the entire form before you find out that there is an error.
•	Conditional Formatting InfoPath also provides conditional formatting. This means that your form that was created in InfoPath can be more responsive to user input. For example, you may have a field that can change the background color to red whenever an unusual (but not incorrect) value is entered. The change in background color occurs as soon as the unusual value is entered. This permits the person who is entering the value a chance to react immediately.
•	Work on a Form Offline InfoPath permits you to work on a form offline or to interrupt work on a form and then come back to the form later. Web-based forms do not permit this.
•	Expanded Use Capabilities InfoPath can easily use Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access databases, in addition to existing XML files. If you use InfoPath, you do not have to write low-level code to use Web services.
•	Merge Data You can use InfoPath to easily merge the data in multiple forms to one document.

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For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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