The future isn't quite clear, but hopefully we can shed some light on best practices moving forward. Microsoft InfoPath is a forms-creation and data-gathering tool that helps organizations streamline business process. Used broadly in SharePoint, InfoPath made form generation easy enabling the use of multiple data sources. Releases include: 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013 with the last two supported by Office 365.
Microsoft has opted to depricate the software, focusing on the combination of PowerApps and Flow for low-code business processing and workflow automation. InfoPath 2013 will be the final release and supported through SharePoint 2016, 2019 and Office 365 (including SharePoint Online). What now? The good news is that you've got mainstream and extended support for a while longer. That is unless you're still using 2003 or 2007 - in which case this message will self-destruct in five seconds.
Mainstream Support
- InfoPath 2013 support through July 13, 2021
- Forms Services in Office 365 will be 'supported until further notice'
Extended Support
- InfoPath 2010 support through October, 13, 2020
- InfoPath 2013 support through July 14, 2026
Mainstream vs. Extended Support
Support Options | Mainstream | Extended |
Ability to purchase a paid
support agreement | Yes | Yes |
Security update support | Yes | Yes |
Non-security hotfix support | Yes | Yes* |
No-charge incident support | Yes | No |
Warranty claims | Yes | No |
Design changes and feature
requests | Yes | No |
Self-service support (Microsoft
Knowledge Base and Microsoft Help & Support site) | Yes | Yes |
|
Support Options
|
Mainstream
|
Extended
|
|
Ability to purchase a paid
support agreement
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Security update support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Non-security hotfix support
|
Yes
|
Yes*
|
|
No-charge incident support
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Warranty claims
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Design changes and feature
requests
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Self-service support (Microsoft
Knowledge Base and Microsoft Help & Support site)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
*If extended hotfix agreement is purchased within 90 days of the eding of Mainstream Support.