Re: using 'mailto' in place of 'formmail'

I can't respond to forms using mailto:  because from this client's office, I 
use hotmail instead of the regular pop mail service through Novell 
groupwise.  (I'm outside the client's firewall so therefore have no access 
to the network)

So using mailto: to handle your form would mean that only people with pop 
mail configured would be able to use your form.  Anyone using the web based 
emails like hotmail etc would be unable to complete the form.

Also anyone filling the form out at another computer than their own, would 
send the form from that other person, not themselves.  (confused? you won't 
be after you've seen the coming episode of SOAP!)

My advice?  be self-contained with your forms processing.  Handle it using 
your own cgi, that way you know anyone can use it and you have control over 
what format your info arrives in.

Cheers,
Mike Kear
AFP Web Development
Windsor, NSW, Australia
http://www.afp.zip.com.au



>From: "Robert Clendaniel" <robert(at)baylogic.com>
>To: <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org>
>Subject: using 'mailto' in place of 'formmail'
>Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 13:28:01 -0400
>
>I was surprised to see a site today that used "mailto" as the
>agent to deliver form content to an email address.
>
>The syntax is thus:
>
><FORM METHOD="POST" ACTION="mailto:where2go(at)someplace.com"
>	ENCTYPE="text/plain">
>     <input type="hidden" name="recipient"
>	value="where-else">
>     <input type="hidden" name="subject"
>	value="Form Output">
>
>I tried it and it seems to work, although Netscape did give me a
>warning about the message not being encrypted or some such.
>
>Is this an acceptable substitute for using "formmail.pl" or other
>CGIs?  What are the downsides?
>
>TIA to anyone who can advise.
>
>Robert
>robert(at)baylogic.com
>

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