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Microsoft is giving users a chance to test enhancements to its InfoPath XML forms manager in a free downloadable preview. The enhancements are scheduled to appear in Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 products, due for release in late June.

Called InfoPath 2003 Service Pack 1 Preview, the update not only bundles software fixes, but also adds a host of new features. The new features are why Microsoft is offering a beta version, says Bobby Moore, product manager for InfoPath. With the preview, released on Monday, both users and software makers can prepare for the new functionality, he says.

Available in Office

InfoPath is Microsoft's new Extensible Markup Language (XML) forms manager. It joined the Office family last October as part of the Office 2003 release.

The InfoPath 2003 Service Pack 1 Preview is a fully functional copy of InfoPath that is set to expire on July 31. It is available as a free download in U.S. English only.

InfoPath 2003 is part of Microsoft Office Professional 2003 Enterprise Edition, and stand-alone versions are available through Microsoft's volume licensing channels as well as at retail outlets for an estimated price of $199.

SP1 updates to InfoPath fall into four main areas: security, reliability, user experience, and programming environment, Moore says.

New Features

On the security side, Microsoft has improved support for digital signatures, adding the ability to sign different parts of a form, as well as cosigning, among other features. Reliability is improved by expanding automatic and offline document-saving support, enhancing filtering to quickly find relevant content, and fixing bugs. The user experience should improve through additional handwriting recognition support for Tablet PCs and the ability work on XML forms sent via e-mail, instead of having to retrieve them from a server, Microsoft said.

But perhaps the most appealing will be improvements and additions in the InfoPath programming environment. Developers using Microsoft's Visual Studio .Net can now create InfoPath applications using managed code. Previously InfoPath developers were limited to using scripting.

Also, the update adds tools for working with ActiveX controls and complex XML schemas, as well as layout controls for working with printed forms; it also promises easier integration into existing business process and workflows, according to Microsoft.

Stay Tuned

LLI Technologies, an engineering and construction firm in Pittsburgh, is upgrading its internal Web-based business opportunities management applications. The company recently reviewed the current InfoPath product but decided not to use it, says Dave Burke, a senior software developer.

"The company president discovered InfoPath as part of our recent Office 2003 upgrade, felt it had potential, and asked me to determine if it could add any efficiencies to our operations," Burke says.

He took a week to evaluate InfoPath and recommended against using the software because it does not have a rich user interface and the architecture from a .Net developer viewpoint is too limited, among other reasons, Burke says. However, although not all the SP1 updates are useful to LLI, Burke may take another look at InfoPath.

"Richer page layout controls for printing sounds great, but since we try to stay digital at LLI, better printing support isn't a big draw. Managed code support, on the other hand, is something that will definitely keep me tuned in and open to giving InfoPath another look," he says.