SharePoint Processes and Forms

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 provides built-in workflow templates to automate approval, review, and archiving processes. With Office SharePoint Server 2007, you can also create, maintain, and analyze custom workflows, enabling you to streamline your collaborative processes. Electronic forms provided through InfoPath Forms Services are an integral part of such workflows. These InfoPath designed electronic forms make it easy to collect and validate information that drives your business processes. And you can collect and validate this information right from the Microsoft Office client applications you use every day.

Browser-based forms with InfoPath Forms Services

InfoPath Forms Services, which is part of Office SharePoint Server 2007, extends your reach to organizations that do not use Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 by allowing you to fill out forms in a common browser or even a HTML-enabled mobile device.

Fill out Business Process forms in a common browser or on a mobile device. View a larger image.

With Office SharePoint Server 2007, you can:

• Deliver your forms with a consistent user experience regardless of where they are used. Office InfoPath 2007 uses built-in controls to deliver easy-to-use forms with predictable behavior, mouse-over tips, and built-in data validation.

• Streamline your business process applications through InfoPath forms, which collect and validate the data driving your workflows.

• Use built-in collaborative workflow templates to streamline approval, review, and archiving processes. Or you can create your own custom workflows with Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 to build interactive collaborative applications. These applications will automatically route documents for reviews or approval, send e-mail notifications to participants, and archive documents to meet retention policy requirements.

Loan application business process form and related document library and workflow template settings. View a larger image.