InfoPath/SharePoint/SharePoint Designer: Allow someone to only post once.

This is really a method that can be used to also run rules based on whether a user has submitted something before.

Create a single line of text field (Username), make a workflow to set the that field to the username of the person who created the item. Then create a text field (Filter) that you then set its Default Value to a filtered secondary data connection (copy of the original) using the Username as the filter. Then make a rule that looks to see if the Filtered text box is empty or not. If it is empty then the user has note filled out the form before. If it is not empty then the user has filled out the form before.

See Below of step-by-step directions:

Step 1
Create single line of text field (I named mine Username).

Step 2
Create a workflow in SharePoint Designer that will set the Username field to Created By: Login Name
– workflow action ex: Set Username to Current Item:Created By.

Step 3
In InfoPath add the list as a secondary data connection
– make sure Username as one of the fields to grab

Step 5
In InfoPath create new single line of text field (I called mine Filter)
– right click and go to properties or double click your new field
– in Default Value section next to Value: click fx.
– Click Insert Field or Group
– Click Show advanced view
– Under Fields you will see a drop down. Choose the data connection to Secondary one you created above
– Choose dateFields>d:SharePointListItme_RW>Username
– Click Filter Data… at the bottom
– Click Add
– In the first field click Select a field or group…
– Change the Data source to Main
– Choose choose dateFields>d:SharePointListItme_RW>Username
– Click OK
– For the last field choose select field or group
– Choose Username
– Click OK
– Click OK
– you should see Username = Username
– Click OK
– Click OK
– You should see a formula that says Username[Username=.]
– Click OK
– Beside Value you should see a formula that says Username[Username=.]
– Click OK

Step 5
Create a rule who’s condition is set to see if the Filter field is empty or not.