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Forms Chapter 4
The Form Handler
Java Script Users, Please go to the Java
Script Form Now.
Here is our Form with all of the dialog boxes completed so far. Notice how
the initial value caused the "title" of each of the
text boxes to show within the field? If your form ONLY had text boxes, you
could get away with not using the "titles" outside of the form
fields, though this would be very different from what most people are
accustomed to and it may cause a great deal of confusion for your visitors.
It is certainly not a nice thing to say, but not every individual is able
to "figure things out," so we must make it easy for them. The whole
idea to collecting reliable data is to gather responses from a widest variety
of people possible; if you only collect comments visitors who can and will
take the time to figure out your own way of doing things, you are not going to
get a very clear idea of your visitors thoughts. I would even venture to
guess that you will get a lot of complaints!
Now it is time to set the form so the cgi, (either via the FP extensions, a
preinstalled script on your server, or a cgi script you install yourself)
script can handle it.
Remember, way back in Chapter One, I said all forms need two parts? All of
what we have done so far is Part One, the HTML. So let's get started on that
Second Part!
Right Click on the Form
(Again, I have altered this dialog box just enough to make
it easy to read at this size.)
Since we are creating a Comments Form, which will email the results
to us. We can delete the text in the File Name box at the top (this
would be used if you were creating a guest book, or a discussion forum.)
Enter the email address you want the form results sent to in
the next line. That is usually YOUR email address.
Leave Send to Data Base unchecked.
Form Properties is where we will type the Name of Our Form. In
this case it is Comments.
Press on the Options Button.
(Once again, I have had to make minor changes so the dialog
box will be viewable at this size.)
Click on the Email Tab.
Fill in the email address you want the form sent to.
Email Format is a Drop-Down Box with many choices, I prefer
my email in Formatted Text. But you can experiment to see what you
prefer.
The next section of this dialog box is: Email Message Header
In the text box Subject Line, it is referring to the subject
on the email that is sent to you from the form. Type in Comments, the
name of our form.
Reply to Line, causes the email from the completed form to have your
visitors email address in the from column of your email inbox. Check
the Form Field Box, and type in the name given to the email field on
the form. If you do not remember the EXACT name. Go back a few
steps, Right Click on the Email Field, choose Form Field
Properties, and you will find the EXACT name. EMAIL is what
we will type in for this form.
Click on Confirmation Page. Both the Confirmation Page and the Validation
Page will have defaults created by FP, and many cgi scripts on servers
also have defaults, they are generally just fine for the validation
page. But a Confirmation Page, matching the layout and design of the rest
of your site is preferred. Create one the same way you would create any other
page. Thank your visitor for being kind enough to offer their comments,
and provide your sites' navigation. You will see a Browse
Button that will enter the URL for you.
The Saved Fields Tab is the final step. It is completely self
explanatory.
Click OK. Your Comments Form will now work, if you have FP
extensions.
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