Re: forms (the typewriter is dead)

>>> Thinker <thinker(at)thoughtprogress.com> 7/15/2004 11:54:15 AM >>>
... I need to create an HTML form that can be filled out, 
and when the submit key is clicked, I need the values to automatically

appear in the correct places on a preexisting word document to be 
printed off.


On-line forms are one of those this that take time and effort to set
up, but provide great time savings in the long run. 
I think I have a love-hate thing on with them.

Choosing a solution might depend on whether the user is internal to
your office or external. Internal audiences are much easier to predict.
Also, when you mention, "preexisting word document" do you mean a Word
document, as in Microsoft Word? if so, if your users are internal, it
might be easier to create the form as a Microsoft Word template. The
fields will expand as the user fills out the form, and then they just
save or print it off - easy as pie ... provided the users have the same
office application you expect them to have.

A php solution that I use for forms that do not get submitted on-line,
but rater get printed out and mailed to us, is to have the form submit
the form values to itself and then display them with a desired printer
friendly format. There is no database or form processing script
involved.

There are many options for handling forms these days. It's a good bet
most of them are better than digging out the typewriter and white out.

Good luck.

Dennis K

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