Forms

[dorayme]

Suggestions wanted please for online tutorials on how make website forms
that have required fields and that pick up user mistakes quickly for the
user to correct.

 

[Inger Helene Falch-Jacobsen]

Suggestions wanted please for online tutorials on how make website forms
that have required fields and that pick up user mistakes quickly for the
user to correct.

My humble attempt:
http://home.no.net/ingernet/tutorial2.php
Not sure if it meets the criteria "quickly",
though. You have to press the "Submit" button to
get feedback and then press the Back button. Or
"tutorial", for that matter. It's more like a
"recipe".

 

[Mitja Trampus]

Suggestions wanted please for online tutorials on how make website forms
that have required fields and that pick up user mistakes quickly for the
user to correct.

I remember seeing links to a page called "javascript
validation - doing it right" quite a lot.

 

[Mark Parnell]

I remember seeing links to a page called "javascript
validation - doing it right" quite a lot.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbpoley/webmatters/formval.html

 

[Mark Parnell]

Suggestions wanted please for online tutorials on how make website forms
that have required fields and that pick up user mistakes quickly for the
user to correct.

Firstly, the form *must* be validated server-side. If you also want to
add some client-side validation so they get feedback before submitting
the form, that's fine - but never use it as a replacement for
server-side validation.

As far as actually setting it up, there are plenty of free form handler
scripts available in whatever language you prefer - many already set up
to handle required fields. Javascript validation may be a little more
difficult to find scripts for, but check out the link I posted in reply
to Mitja - Stephen Poley has a great article on it (and you may even be
able to hack his script to work for your form).

 

[Tha RagMan]

Suggestions wanted please for online tutorials on how make website forms
that have required fields and that pick up user mistakes quickly for the
user to correct.

I had a similar need for a form and found a little software program
that worked to perfection to do everything you ask and more. Its
called Visual Form Mail. You can download a free copy from
http://www.oneseek.com . I liked it so well I went ahead and bought
the pro version and have never regretted it. Some of the guru's here
probably have mucho more experience then me and may be able to give
you a better solution. All I can say is this worked for me with little
to no fuss. Best of luck with your project.
ThaRag Man

 

[dorayme]

Firstly, the form *must* be validated server-side. If you also want to
add some client-side validation so they get feedback before submitting
the form, that's fine - but never use it as a replacement for
server-side validation.

As far as actually setting it up, there are plenty of free form handler
scripts available in whatever language you prefer - many already set up
to handle required fields. Javascript validation may be a little more
difficult to find scripts for, but check out the link I posted in reply
to Mitja - Stephen Poley has a great article on it (and you may even be
able to hack his script to work for your form).

Thank you Mark. I see the general picture and the "poley" link
looks like made from a sensible person with good judgement. I
think I will say yes to a recent request to do some forms for
someone then and trust I will be able to make out. I have made
forms before and they worked fine but relied on server side
scripts already set up by others to tell the filler that he or
she has made a mistake. I might need more sophisticated.

First I will make the form or forms wanted. Then I will see what
js I can scrounge up for quick feedback. And then I will
scrounge around for cgi scripts (or maybe other types) to do the
"real" work. Any links for either of these things would be
greatly appreciated. I am no expert in any of these two tasks.

BTW, you owe me big time, I have only just finished a
massive job getting out of frames for a site on your advice...
(and what a gorgeous thing it has bloomed into...)

 

[dorayme]

My humble attempt:
http://home.no.net/ingernet/tutorial2.php
Not sure if it meets the criteria "quickly",
though. You have to press the "Submit" button to
get feedback and then press the Back button. Or
"tutorial", for that matter. It's more like a
"recipe".

Thank you Inger, I will look more closely soon...

 

[dorayme]

there are plenty of free form handler
scripts available in whatever language you prefer - many already set up
to handle required fields. Javascript validation may be a little more
difficult to find scripts for, but check out the link I posted in reply
to Mitja - Stephen Poley has a great article on it (and you may even be
able to hack his script to work for your form).

I like this Poli technique of immediate feedback
(http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbpoley/webmatters/formval.html). It
would take a while to hack and adapt it judging from some of my
efforts (his scripts depend so heavily on his particular markup
to his very small demo form). It is very sensible and so on but
I wonder: has anyone used such a technique or is there any site
that uses it and from which it is simpler to adapt to ones own
forms or is there any site that is geared to make it easy to
adapt.

 

[Mark Parnell]

I like this Poli technique of immediate feedback
(http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbpoley/webmatters/formval.html).

I got some useful ideas from that too.

has anyone used such a technique or is there any site
that uses it and from which it is simpler to adapt to ones own
forms or is there any site that is geared to make it easy to
adapt.

I'm in the process of writing something similar, that would be more
portable. At this stage it only checks for required fields.

It's only for an internal project at this stage, but I could probably
make it available to you. Note that I'm only new to Javascript, so it's
probably not the epitome of good code, but it works. ;-)

 

[Mark Parnell]

At this stage it only checks for required fields.

http://clarkecomputers.com.au/usenet/dorayme.html

 

[dorayme]

I got some useful ideas from that too.


I'm in the process of writing something similar, that would be more
portable. At this stage it only checks for required fields.

It's only for an internal project at this stage, but I could probably
make it available to you. Note that I'm only new to Javascript, so it's
probably not the epitome of good code, but it works. ;-)

Ah Mark, yes... I thought of spending time doing all this and
nutting it out but it would take me simply ages and ages. If you
have anything I would lurve to take a peek... I want that the
feedback appears, that I don't have to use tables if I don't
want, that the feedback itself is easy to css, that maybe one
does not need so much full on stuff, labels and so on... Put it
this way, what would be good is the absolute minimum for it to
work and feedback to appear on the page next to the "mistake".
Poley is good but as he says, he does not provide anything like
drop in scripts (that's for sure eh?)

What can I give you in return? How about: a promise that we will
absolutely wipe the Poms out when they come over for next test?

Need a viable email? Or maybe you go public and others chip in
and it becomes an open project?

 

[Mark Parnell]

I want that the
feedback appears,

That would be helpful.

that I don't have to use tables if I don't
want,

Tables? Pfft!

that the feedback itself is easy to css,

Of course.

that maybe one
does not need so much full on stuff, labels and so on...

Ah, but labels are good. But no, they're not necessary.

and feedback to appear on the page next to the "mistake".

Ah, now that's more complicated. You'd have to have a separate check for
each field to do that. I've just got one check when you submit the form.
As I said, it just checks required fields at this stage.

What can I give you in return? How about: a promise that we will
absolutely wipe the Poms out when they come over for next test?

That would be nice, but can you keep such a promise? Anyway, let's
thrash the New Zealanders first.

Need a viable email? Or maybe you go public and others chip in
and it becomes an open project?

Well, I've already posted the link, so I'm sure I will cop some
criticism from others who know better.

 

[dorayme]

I got some useful ideas from that too.


I'm in the process of writing something similar, that would be more
portable. At this stage it only checks for required fields.

It's only for an internal project at this stage, but I could probably
make it available to you. Note that I'm only new to Javascript, so it's
probably not the epitome of good code, but it works. ;-)

Like to add: the most prominent feature that attracts me to the
Poley technique is the ability for immediate feedback on a
mistake after /leaving a field/ and not having to wait till
after the submit button is pressed.

 

[Mark Parnell]

Like to add: the most prominent feature that attracts me to the
Poley technique is the ability for immediate feedback on a
mistake after /leaving a field/ and not having to wait till
after the submit button is pressed.

It could be done, but you'll have to wait - I haven't written that yet.

 

[dorayme]

It could be done, but you'll have to wait - I haven't written that yet.

I am a patient being, one does not get to be 2873 years old
without such a quality. Just do it before the next test with the
Poms or my promise might be compromised. Don't worry, the Kiwis
will be a pushover...

 

[Mark Parnell]

I am a patient being, one does not get to be 2873 years old
without such a quality.

Gee, you look good for your age! I wouldn't have said you were over
2500.

Just do it before the next test with the
Poms or my promise might be compromised.

Done. I'm putting a paragraph underneath the offending field, but you
could easily put something next to it instead.
http://clarkecomputers.com.au/usenet/dorayme2.html

Don't worry, the Kiwis will be a pushover...

Of course. Got any more Kiwi jokes?

 

[dorayme]

In our last episode, dorayme <[email protected]> pronounced to
alt.html:

Done. I'm putting a paragraph underneath the offending field, but you
could easily put something next to it instead.
http://clarkecomputers.com.au/usenet/dorayme2.html


Of course. Got any more Kiwi jokes?

Just for you...
http://dorayme.150m.com/jokes/nzCabinetMinister.html

(btw, why is the free hosting stuff at the top of this one (at
least on my Mozilla) unlike with, say,
http://dorayme.150m.com/jokes/ventiloquist.html? Have they
cottoned on to my technique of the line to push the ads out of
sight to the bottom? Hardly likely.)

 

[dorayme]

Done. I'm putting a paragraph underneath the offending field, but you
could easily put something next to it instead.
http://clarkecomputers.com.au/usenet/dorayme2.html

That's the way, better. Keep working, don't ask for any more jokes, it is in
my interest to not distract you for the moment...

 

[Mark Parnell]

That's the way, better.

Glad it meets with your approval.

Keep working,

On what? What more do you want?

don't ask for any more jokes,

Aw, but... but... :-(

it is in
my interest to not distract you for the moment...

I thought as much. Slave labour. ;-)