We would like to use an excel file as ODBC source to populate a drop down menu in a field on a LF Form. Someone told me to use an SQL table , is this the only way?
Forms supports use ODBC data sources since Forms 10.2 and you can use ODBC to connect to excel file. see online help here https://www.laserfiche.com/support/webhelp/Laserfiche/10/en-US/administration/#../Subsystems/Forms/Content/Settings/ODBC-Data-Sources.htm
Note that the ODBC source has to be on the Forms Server as Forms cannot resolve a network path to an ODBC file when tested in version 10.4.1.172 and I expect previous versions as well.
You can use network path with following changes:
1. In Registry Editor, at Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC\ODBC.INI, expand the folder for the data source name, manually change the DBQ entry to a UNC path (from P:\Test\... to \\v-sh-users\Depot\Test\...);
2. Use a windows domain user that has read and modify rights to the odbc file (or grant this domain user full control to the folder) to run the FormsAppPool, recycle the FormsAppPool.