Forms
-- Back to the Basics and Beyond -- Part Two
-- Advanced forms
In part one of this series we focused on setting up a basic
form on your website. We discussed the Form Element Attributes
and began the Form Element Properties. In part two of this
series, we will continue with the Form Element Properties
and move on to some more advanced form options.
If you missed part one, you can find it here:
http://www.web-source.net/html_forms1.htm
In part one of this series, we went over Text boxes, Hidden,
Password and the Checkbox Form Element Properties. We will
now continue with the remaining properties.
RADIO BUTTON
Enables the user to select multiple options.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<INPUT type="RADIO" name="selection1"> Selection
1
<INPUT type="RADIO" name="selection2"> Selection
2
<INPUT type="RADIO" name="selection3"> Selection
3
<INPUT type="Submit" value="Submit">
</FORM> |
Radio Button Attributes
TYPE - Radio
CHECKED - Specifies a default selection.
NAME - Name of the variable to be processed by the form processing
script.
VALUE - The value of the selected radio button.
SUBMIT
Enables users to submit the form information to the form
processing script.
| <INPUT type="SUBMIT" value="Submit"> |
Submit Attributes
TYPE - Submit
NAME - Name of the variable to be processed by the form processing
script.
VALUE - Specifies the text to be displayed on the submit button.
IMAGE SUBMIT BUTTON
| <INPUT type="image" SRC="url"> |
Enables users to submit the form information to the form
processing script. Instead of the regular submit button, an
image submit button will be displayed.
| <INPUT type="image" name="submit"
SRC="image.gif"> |
Image Submit Attributes
TYPE - Image
NAME - Name of the variable to be processed by the form processing
script.
SRC - Image URL.
RESET
Enables users to clear a form if necessary.
| <INPUT type="RESET" value="Reset"> |
Reset Submit Attributes
TYPE - Reset
VALUE - Specifies the text to be displayed on the reset
button.
SELECT
Surrounds the code for a selection drop down menu.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<SELECT SIZE="5">
<OPTION>option 1
<OPTION>option 2
<OPTION>option 3
</SELECT>
<INPUT type="Submit" value="Submit">
</FORM> |
Select Attributes
NAME - Name of the variable to be processed by the form processing
script.
SIZE - Specifies the number of visible selections.
MULTIPLE - Enables users to select multiple selections.
OPTION
Used with the SELECT element to display the options.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<SELECT>
<OPTION>option 1
<OPTION>option
2
<OPTION>option 3
</SELECT>
<INPUT
type="Submit" VALUE="Submit">
</FORM> |
Option Attributes
SELECTED - Specifies a default selection.
VALUE - Specifies the value of the variable in the select
element.
TEXTAREA
Specifies an open text area.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
Enter Your Comments:<BR>
<TEXTAREA wrap="virtual"
name="Comments" rows=3
cols=20 maxlength=100>
</TEXTAREA><BR>
<INPUT type="Submit" VALUE="Submit">
<INPUT
type="Reset" VALUE="Clear">
</FORM> |
Textarea Attributes
NAME - Name of the variable to be processed by the form processing
script.
COLS - The number of columns within the text area.
ROWS - The number of rows within the text area.
WRAP - Specifies the text wrap. The default setting is off.
The WRAP can be set to "VIRTUAL" or "PHYSICAL" and will wrap
the text as the user types.
Tip: In order to properly format your form, you may want to
place it within a table.
Here is a basic email form set up within a table:
<FORM action="mailto:you@yourdomain.com">
<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2">
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Verdana" size=2>Name:</FONT></TD>
<TD><INPUT name="Name" value="" size="10"></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Verdana"
size=2>Email:</FONT></TD>
<TD><INPUT
name="Email" value="" size="10"></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><INPUT
type="submit" value="Submit"></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</FORM> |
Advanced Forms
If you have a good form processing script, you will have the
option to create highly technical forms with additional options:
Multi-page Forms
Provides you with the ability to create a form that spans
more than one page. The data you specify will be collected
on the first form page and will be transferred to the second
page. You can have as many pages as you need and the data
will continue to be passed through each page until the final
submission. Placeholders are used within each form page to
collect and pass the data.
Customized Confirmation Page
Enables you to create a customized confirmation page that
may contain your visitor's name and any other information
you've collected. In addition, you can even include the date,
time and your visitor's IP address (Internet Provider).
Printable Confirmation Page
Enables you to provide your customers with a printable confirmation
page for data such as order receipts.
Templates
Provides you with the ability to completely customize the
information your form processes. You can use a template to
specify how your data will be displayed when it is sent to
your email address, and even use a template to set up a database
in a specific format.
Database
Enables you to collect your form's data and stores it within
a database.
The possibilities are endless. Keep in mind, most form processing
scripts will not provide you with these abilities.
The best form I have found is called, Master Form. This form
will enable you to have the results emailed to you or to a
specified address, can write your information to a database
file and even have a personalized thank you page. In addition,
you can even have multi-page forms with no limit on the number
of pages. This script costs $35 and can be found here:
http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/web/jump.cgi?ID=762
In the final part of this series, we will be focusing on some
great tips and tricks you can use to spice up your forms such
as:
Creating a Default Form Option
Customizing Your Input Boxes
Adding Color to Your Input Boxes
Disappearing Form Text
Flashing Cursor in Form on Load
Tabbing Through Forms
Customizing Form Colors
Make sure you don't miss the final lesson in this powerful
series.
Copyright © Shelley Lowery
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