Create html form

[Kim]

I need to make a form using Frontpage on a server that doesn't support FP
extensions. Any suggestions on how to go about this?

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Hi Kim,

Okay, a little background. A form is a special type of HTML page that does a
POST request to a web server. In essence, it POSTS its contents (that is,
the contenents of the form fields, not the HTML in the page) to a URL on a
web server. On the server, the URL is some kind of application, an
executable, an ISAPI (Internet Server Programming Intrerface), a CGI (Common
Gateway Interface) or other web server application. The application reads
the form data and does some form of programmatic processing of it, such as
collecting it in a file or database, emailing it to someone, or something
more complicated.

FrontPage server extensions are an ISAPI that includes form handlers. If
your web site is on a server that doesn't support them, you will need to ask
the hosting service what they DO have. Most often, they will have some CGI
scripts that they support for everyone, or they may support ASP (Active
Server Pages) or PHP (not sure what that stands for).

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Sometimes you eat the elephant.
Sometimes the elephant eats you.

 

[Jim Buyens]

Here are three ideas:

Check your host's support pages and see if they support any pre-written form
handlers. If so, they usually have sample HTML you can paste into your page.

If the host is Unix-based, consider programing your own form handler in PHP.

If the host is Windows-based, consider programing your own form handler in
ASP.NET or ASP.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*-----------------------------­-----------------------
|\----------------------------­-----------------------
|| Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Inside Out
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||----------------------------­-----------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/----------------------------­-----------------------
*-----------------------------­-----------------------

 

[Kim]

They do supply some info on forms. You have to 'install' their Order Form
Plugin , then they supply information on the form configuration, but it
doesn't appear to be complete, just includes information on parts you must
have included in order for it to work. For example:
Form Configuration:
===================

The action of your form needs to point towards this script (obviously), and
the method must be POST or GET in capital letters. Below is a list of form
fields you can use and how to implement them.

Necessary Form Fields:
======================

There is only one form field that you must have in your form, for
FormMail to work correctly. This is the recipient field.

Field: recipient

Description: This form field allows you to specify to whom you wish for your
form results to be mailed. Most likely you will want to
configure this option as a hidden form field with a value equal
to that of your e-mail address.
You can include multiple recipients by separating the values
with commas.

Syntax:
<input type=hidden name="recipient"
value="email\@your.host.com">
OR <input type=hidden name="recipient"

value="user\@yourhost.com,user2\@yourhost.com">

However, I am not sure how to create the rest of the form to go along with
this.....

 

[Ronx]

When you create the "essential" fields, write the email address as
[email protected]
that is remove the \ character before the @.

To add other fields, use Insert->Form from the FrontPage menu, and
pick the form fields you require.

A quick and dirty method to get a form up and running for testing is
to use the FrontPage feedback template (File->New and choose Page and
the Feedback Template [The exact sequence depends on FrontPage
version]). Then add the essential fields to this form, either in
code/html view, or using the Form Property sheets. Change the <form>
tag to the same as in your hosts example.

The form tag should end up similar to this:
<form method="POST" action="cgi-bin/formmail.pl">
where cgi-bin/formmail.pl is the path to the script - edit as per your
host's instructions.

 

[Kim]

The problem seems to be that they haven't really given instructions as to
what I need. I have already completed a form to try and inserted the one
line they say is necessary (the one including the email, and I did remove
the slash), but it seems like there's something missing. After POST it
reads:

<form method="POST" action="--WEBBOT-SELF--">

And that's it.

When you create the "essential" fields, write the email address as
[email protected]
that is remove the \ character before the @.

To add other fields, use Insert->Form from the FrontPage menu, and
pick the form fields you require.

A quick and dirty method to get a form up and running for testing is
to use the FrontPage feedback template (File->New and choose Page and
the Feedback Template [The exact sequence depends on FrontPage
version]). Then add the essential fields to this form, either in
code/html view, or using the Form Property sheets. Change the <form>
tag to the same as in your hosts example.

The form tag should end up similar to this:
<form method="POST" action="cgi-bin/formmail.pl">
where cgi-bin/formmail.pl is the path to the script - edit as per your
host's instructions.
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (FrontPage)
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

They do supply some info on forms. You have to 'install' their Order
Form
Plugin , then they supply information on the form configuration, but
it
doesn't appear to be complete, just includes information on parts
you must
have included in order for it to work. For example:
Form Configuration:
===================

The action of your form needs to point towards this script
(obviously), and
the method must be POST or GET in capital letters. Below is a list
of form
fields you can use and how to implement them.

Necessary Form Fields:
======================

There is only one form field that you must have in your form, for
FormMail to work correctly. This is the recipient field.

Field: recipient

Description: This form field allows you to specify to whom you wish
for your
form results to be mailed. Most likely you will want to
configure this option as a hidden form field with a
value equal
to that of your e-mail address.
You can include multiple recipients by separating the
values
with commas.

Syntax:
<input type=hidden name="recipient"
value="email\@your.host.com">
OR <input type=hidden name="recipient"

value="user\@yourhost.com,user2\@yourhost.com">

However, I am not sure how to create the rest of the form to go
along with
this.....

 

[Ronx]

What is the URL for the configuration file? From the wording I would
guess that is the form handler itself, and so your form action must
point to it -
<form method="POST" action="whereverTheConfigurationFileLives">

If you can post the URL for the configuration file or your Host's help
area, we may be able to assist further, otherwise ask your host for
more information.

action="--WEBBOT-SELF--" must be replaced by
action="path/to/formmail.pl"

--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (FrontPage)
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

The problem seems to be that they haven't really given instructions
as to
what I need. I have already completed a form to try and inserted the
one
line they say is necessary (the one including the email, and I did
remove
the slash), but it seems like there's something missing. After POST
it
reads:

<form method="POST" action="--WEBBOT-SELF--">

And that's it.

When you create the "essential" fields, write the email address as
[email protected]
that is remove the \ character before the @.

To add other fields, use Insert->Form from the FrontPage menu, and
pick the form fields you require.

A quick and dirty method to get a form up and running for testing
is
to use the FrontPage feedback template (File->New and choose Page
and
the Feedback Template [The exact sequence depends on FrontPage
version]). Then add the essential fields to this form, either in
code/html view, or using the Form Property sheets. Change the
<form>
tag to the same as in your hosts example.

The form tag should end up similar to this:
<form method="POST" action="cgi-bin/formmail.pl">
where cgi-bin/formmail.pl is the path to the script - edit as per
your
host's instructions.
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (FrontPage)
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

They do supply some info on forms. You have to 'install' their
Order
Form
Plugin , then they supply information on the form configuration,
but
it
doesn't appear to be complete, just includes information on parts
you must
have included in order for it to work. For example:
Form Configuration:
===================

The action of your form needs to point towards this script
(obviously), and
the method must be POST or GET in capital letters. Below is a
list
of form
fields you can use and how to implement them.

Necessary Form Fields:
======================

There is only one form field that you must have in your form, for
FormMail to work correctly. This is the recipient field.

Field: recipient

Description: This form field allows you to specify to whom you
wish
for your
form results to be mailed. Most likely you will want
to
configure this option as a hidden form field with a
value equal
to that of your e-mail address.
You can include multiple recipients by separating the
values
with commas.

Syntax:
<input type=hidden name="recipient"
value="email\@your.host.com">
OR <input type=hidden name="recipient"

value="user\@yourhost.com,user2\@yourhost.com">

However, I am not sure how to create the rest of the form to go
along with
this.....

I need to make a form using Frontpage on a server that doesn't
support FP
extensions. Any suggestions on how to go about this?