Newbie Form Help

Adam.Thomas · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

I'm new here and I know just enough about HTML to be dangerous... I've read quite a few pages and tutorials on form creation but I haven't found one that seems to answer my question

I'm helping out a friend who owns a small business. Right now she she has what could be called a bill of sale (invoice) that she hand writes. What I'm trying to do is create a basic web form where she can input information (name, address, phone number, prices, etc.). When she hits submit the information is organized, formatted and a few, simple calculations are performed. The only goal right now is to create a printable page, there is no need to retain the data (although at some point that might be nice too).

I can create the "form" but I'm not quite sure what to do next. If anyone could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate the assistance.

Thanks!

Adam

PayneLess Designs · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 3598 Location: Biloxi, MS

Hi Adam. Not sure what you mean by direction. You created the form. I take it you created the php form processor file or have one installed on the server to do what needs to be done when the Submit button is clicked. The form's action="" attribute is where the form is to be sent. That could redirect to another page that has the information in printable form if that's what you need.

I don't do PHP, so that will be up to you to get that work done if that's how you need it done.

A printable page uses certain guidelines to make it printer compatible. In fact a separate link to a CSS "print" file can be made.

Adam.Thomas · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks for the help. Maybe I'm more confused that I thought I was (which is very likely!). When I said I created a "form" I meant in HTML, no script of any kind. I just figured I could add the appropriate script at some point in time. I really don't know much about scripting and I guess that's what I meant being pointed in the right direction.

Didn't know about CSS for printing. Thanks for the heads up.

Adam.Thomas · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

In the past I had done a "contact" form where it sent an email. That worked just fine. I guess I thought that doing this was just as easy (at least the concept sounded easy to me).

Thanks again!

PayneLess Designs · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 3598 Location: Biloxi, MS

There are a few ways to do a Contact Form. One is using a client-side email form which opens the client's email program after they click Submit button. It is dependent on them clicking the Send button after that since it opens the default email program.

The other is to use a server-side script which makes it totally independent of the client's programs and all action is done by the script processing file on the server.

The server-side can redirect to a Thank You page, send you the email or send multiple people the same email information and even send the client a copy. Lots of things can be set up for a server-side script. Even a Print button, hidden fields, etc..

The following might help with more guidance...

For making forms:

These are really good online form makers. Just follow the instructions for making it and uploading file(s).

http://www.phpform.org/ (Best-est)
http://www.tele-pro.co.uk/scripts/contact_form/
http://jotform.com/ (WYSIWYG Form Maker)
http://www.thesitewizard.com/wizards/feedbackform.shtml
http://www.thepcmanwebsite.com/form_mail.shtml

http://emailmeform.com/
http://www.freecontactform.com/
http://www.reconn.us/content/view/12/34/ (Download - Contact Us Script)
http://formsmarts.com/
Freebie: Good looking Fluid Contact Form: http://www.flashuser.net/flash-components/freebie-good-looking-flash-contact-form.html

Forms with Attachments:

FormMail (Paid - Encryption, etc.): http://www.tectite.com/formmailpage.php

Flash Attach contact forms ($10 for all): http://www.flashattach.com/

Form to Email with Attachment: http://www.hotscripts.com/listing/form-to-email-with-attachment/
PHP Email Form With Attachment: http://www.jaymeblackmon.com/php-email-form-with-attachment
Solution for a custom contact form with file attachment (use form API): http://drupal.org/node/68265

Basic Client-Side Mailto: Form: