Saving Files

Your forms can either be saved as SFX files or as XTemplate files:
  • SFX files are saved in a structured storage file that can be retrieved in your I-32 forms develop­ment applications. The files have an SFX extension. All form pages are embedded in the file when the file is saved.
  • XTemplate files are saved as XML files for use with an Expere Document Engine and can be saved with either an .xtempl extension or an .xml extension. The page composition information for each page you develop is saved in the XTemplate file.

You can also save SFX files as XTemplate files and XTemplate files as SFX files. So, if you create forms for both environments, you can convert them easily to the other format.

SFX files are security protected to prevent access by unauthorized parties, both during develop­ment and in the end-user environment. XTemplate files are not security protected in the I-32 Forms Design environment. Security protection is provided by the content management system within the Expere Authoring Environment.

As you develop a form, you will want to save your file periodically to ensure that you do not lose too much work in the event of a system crash or other external interruption. You can optionally set your system up to save a backup copy of your file whenever you save. Then, if you have problems with your current file, you can always restore the last good copy.