Re: forms

G'Day Sherry,

At 13:21 31/10/99 -0800, you wrote:
>I recently finished the first class in HTML4.0 and a Dreamweaver class.  =
>I find that there are things I would like to do that take more skill =
>than I have developed.

Sounds like you are ready for the next step - programming :)

>I have created a form which submits data using =
>the mailto: tag.  The data comes through great, however when I tested =
>this page with others in my department I was receiving multiple =
>submissions of the same data.  This was because the individual sending =
>the form wasn't sure anything happened so they sent it again.  Is there =
>something I can add that will allow me to link to a page to let them =
>know the form was sent?

The best way of doing this is using a CGI (common gateway interface).  You 
point the form at a program on the server (instead of the mailto: ) which 
accepts the form data, posts it to whoever (usually held in a hidden field 
on the form), and then redirects the user to a "thank-you" page.  You don't 
need to know a lot about programming for this, since there are a heap of 
pre-prepared scripts you can use.  You simply(?) need to play around with 
directories and permissions (assuming you have CGI capability on your 
site). - in my case it's even simpler - there is already one provided!!

Otherwise, you are left with a few Javascript hacks - assuming the person 
has Javascript enabled!

Here's the one I use:
   http://www.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-mailer/

Have a look at the documentation, and you will see what I mean about how 
simple it is to use.


Chris Higgs <c.higgs(at)landfood.unimelb.edu.au>
Institute of Land and Food Resources
University of Melbourne http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au
Firefighter, Werribee Fire Brigade, CFA

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