SharePoint Document Issues

How to Add a Save Draft Button to an InfoPath Form

John Wilson Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

Configure an InfoPath form to allow users to save incomplete drafts to a SharePoint library and receive a continuation link via email.

How to Add a Save Draft Button to an InfoPath Form

Product: InfoPath, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Users need the ability to save unfinished, lengthy forms and continue filling them out at a later time.
Observed behavior: The form requires a mechanism to pause progress without submitting the final version, while maintaining the existing submit button for completed forms.

Before you start

Ensure you have Design permissions in InfoPath and Site Owner or Full Control permissions in SharePoint to create the required draft document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure a Draft Library and Save Button in InfoPath

This method uses a dedicated SharePoint Document Library and InfoPath Action Rules to save drafts and email users a resume link without affecting final submissions.

By separating drafts from final submissions, you prevent incomplete data from triggering automated workflows attached to your main form library.

Create a SharePoint draft library

Navigate to your SharePoint site and create a new Document Library dedicated specifically to form drafts. Ensure you configure the required columns and set permissions so users can only access their own drafts.

Add a Save Draft button in InfoPath

Open your form in InfoPath Design Mode. Insert a new Button control onto the form canvas and change its display label to 'Save Draft'.

Configure the draft data connection

Go to Data Connections and add a new submit data connection targeting a SharePoint Document Library. Link it to the new draft library you created and map the necessary form fields to the library columns.

Set up action rules for the draft button

Select the 'Save Draft' button and add a new rule. Set the first action to submit data using the newly created draft data connection. Add a second action to send an email to the user containing the URL of the saved form.

Publish and verify permissions

Keep your original Submit button configured to submit completed forms to the main library. Publish the updated form to SharePoint, then test the 'Save Draft' button to ensure the form saves to the correct draft library and the email is dispatched.

Configure a Draft Library and Save Button in InfoPath

Tip: Use a unique filename formula (like username + timestamp) in your draft data connection to ensure users don't accidentally overwrite each other's saved drafts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Save Draft button overwriting existing final submissions?

This happens if both the draft and final submit buttons share the same data connection or filename formula. Ensure your Save Draft button uses a dedicated data connection pointing only to the draft document library, and generates a unique filename.

How do users access their saved InfoPath drafts?

Users can resume their work by clicking the form link automatically emailed to them through the button's action rules, or by navigating directly to the SharePoint draft library and clicking their saved file.

Can I restrict users from seeing other people's drafts?

Yes. In the SharePoint draft document library settings, go to Advanced Settings and configure the Item-level Permissions so users can only read and edit items that they created.

Document & File Issues