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| Author |
Form processing confusion
|
|
| fireman0174 2004-12-26, 4:14 am |
| For some time I?ve been trying to ?get a handle? on the use of forms. aking the
forms is not an issue, but rather what needs to get done so the form is
properly processed.
If this message board had a ?dunce cap? I should be permanently assigned to
wear it, as I?m about as confused as I can get. I just cannot seem to get the
?big picture? on what needs to get done.
Here?s a few things that I can show for my work so far.
My host, in reply to a query from me states:
?You now have a cgi-bin subdirectory, properly chmod'd and the domain was
already setup to have the ability to use a cgi-bin.
You may upload your cgi programs to this subdirectory. Please follow your cgi
program documentation in your transfer (ascii versus binary), as well as the
'chmod' (permissions) instructions.?
I was also sent me a link to Matt's Script Archive for a formmail script ?
which I don?t really understand.
I was also sent:
?The form action statement to use this is:
form method=post action=
"http://www.fcs-net.com/cgi-bin/formmail/FormMail.pl">
What am I missing here ? besides some understanding?
I think one problem here is that I don?t understand just what needs to happen.
I kind of need a "flow chart" and list of required equipment.
Confused ? very confused.
Art
PS Hope all enjoyed the holiday. Loved having my grandson over, but the sound
of his parent?s car starting was very sweet.!
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2004-12-26, 12:14 pm |
| There are two basic ways to process form data -
1. Use mailto:name@domain.com as the action of the form
2. Use a server-side scripting method to a) harvest the form's data, b)
process it in some manner, e.g., enter it into a database, c) formulate and
send an email to one or more email recipients, and d) redirect the visitor
to some ending page
Method 1 is quite simple, and is also the least reliable. It depends both
on your visitor having an email client already installed on their computer -
this eliminates public computers - and on that email client responding to
the mailto call. It is not possible to use this method *and* send the
visitor to a
thank you page as well.
Method 2 is the preferred method, since it eliminates the problems of method
1, but it means that you have to grapple with server-scripting somehow (ASP,
CF, PHP, perl, etc.).
Any script that you obtain publicly (or from your host) will come with
instructions on how to use it. That's where you need to spend your time....
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
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http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqlch3$iks$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> For some time I?ve been trying to ?get a handle? on the use of forms.
> aking the
> forms is not an issue, but rather what needs to get done so the form is
> properly processed.
>
> If this message board had a ?dunce cap? I should be permanently assigned
> to
> wear it, as I?m about as confused as I can get. I just cannot seem to get
> the
> ?big picture? on what needs to get done.
>
> Here?s a few things that I can show for my work so far.
>
> My host, in reply to a query from me states:
>
> ?You now have a cgi-bin subdirectory, properly chmod'd and the domain was
> already setup to have the ability to use a cgi-bin.
>
> You may upload your cgi programs to this subdirectory. Please follow your
> cgi
> program documentation in your transfer (ascii versus binary), as well as
> the
> 'chmod' (permissions) instructions.?
>
> I was also sent me a link to Matt's Script Archive for a formmail script ?
> which I don?t really understand.
>
> I was also sent:
>
> ?The form action statement to use this is:
> form method=post action=
> "http://www.fcs-net.com/cgi-bin/formmail/FormMail.pl">
>
> What am I missing here ? besides some understanding?
>
> I think one problem here is that I don?t understand just what needs to
> happen.
> I kind of need a "flow chart" and list of required equipment.
>
> Confused ? very confused.
>
> Art
>
> PS Hope all enjoyed the holiday. Loved having my grandson over, but the
> sound
> of his parent?s car starting was very sweet.!
>
| |
| Bonnie in Sacramento 2004-12-28, 4:15 am |
| Murray *TMM* wrote:
> There are two basic ways to process form data -
>
> 1. Use mailto:name@domain.com as the action of the form
> 2. Use a server-side scripting method to a) harvest the form's data, b)
> process it in some manner, e.g., enter it into a database, c) formulate and
> send an email to one or more email recipients, and d) redirect the visitor
> to some ending page
>
> Method 1 is quite simple, and is also the least reliable. It depends both
> on your visitor having an email client already installed on their computer -
> this eliminates public computers - and on that email client responding to
> the mailto call. It is not possible to use this method *and* send the
> visitor to a
> thank you page as well.
>
> Method 2 is the preferred method, since it eliminates the problems of method
> 1, but it means that you have to grapple with server-scripting somehow (ASP,
> CF, PHP, perl, etc.).
>
> Any script that you obtain publicly (or from your host) will come with
> instructions on how to use it. That's where you need to spend your time....
>
Murray,
The OP is obviously trying to use Method 2 already, he/she just doesn't
know how. I feel his/her pain, but since I finally solved my problem
using a PHP script, I can't help him/her with cgi/perl.
Maybe someone else can?
--
Bonnie in Sacramento
kroko at
sbcglobal dot net
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/...ts/CTDSites.woa
| |
| fireman0174 2004-12-28, 12:15 pm |
| Bonnie,
<< The OP is obviously trying to use Method 2 already, he/she just doesn'tknow
how. >>
Broke the code - I just don't know how. I am trying to learn, but I keep
going in circles!
One thing I need to be able to do is modify formmail.pl - just unsure how.
Also, I just don't understand the process when the submit button is clicked.
This is a fairly simple form I'm trying to establish. Once I get a handle on
it, then I can expand my studying.
Art
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| Why do you need to MODIFY formmail?
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqrrhs$2a4$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Bonnie,
>
> << The OP is obviously trying to use Method 2 already, he/she just
> doesn'tknow
> how. >>
>
> Broke the code - I just don't know how. I am trying to learn, but I keep
> going in circles!
>
> One thing I need to be able to do is modify formmail.pl - just unsure how.
>
> Also, I just don't understand the process when the submit button is
> clicked.
>
> This is a fairly simple form I'm trying to establish. Once I get a handle
> on
> it, then I can expand my studying.
>
> Art
>
| |
| fireman0174 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| Perhaps modify is the wrong word. Define variable might be a better choice.
From the formmail.pl:
# Define Variables #
$mailprog = '/usr/lib/sendmail -i -t';
@referers = ('scriptarchive.com','209.196.21.3');
@recipients = &fill_recipients(@referers);
I need to change/modify the above, don't I?
Really confused. (FWIW, I just bought 2 books from amazon.com that I hope can
assist me.)
Art
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| No, I don't think you need to do *anything* to the formmail code.
Why do you feel you need to do this?
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqsfca$lij$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Perhaps modify is the wrong word. Define variable might be a better
> choice.
>
> From the formmail.pl:
>
>
> # Define Variables #
>
> $mailprog = '/usr/lib/sendmail -i -t';
>
> @referers = ('scriptarchive.com','209.196.21.3');
>
> @recipients = &fill_recipients(@referers);
>
>
>
> I need to change/modify the above, don't I?
>
> Really confused. (FWIW, I just bought 2 books from amazon.com that I hope
> can
> assist me.)
>
> Art
>
| |
| fireman0174 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| Murray,
<< No, I don't think you need to do *anything* to the formmail code. Why do
you feel you need to do this? >>
So are you saying nothing gets changed in formmail.pl?
I guess I just don't understand anything about how this whole process is
supposed to work. After 2 weeks of studying (made difficult with the holidays
and my physical therapy and the physical discomfort of my knee surgery) I think
I know less than when I started. I am certainly more confused!
Art
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| formmail.pl is a generic mailprocessing script. It receives the form's
data, including directives that you build in to the form by way of "hidden"
fields. It parses the contents out of these hidden fields, and uses those
contents to determine things like -
1. Where to send the form's data
2. What subject line to use
3. Who to cc on the data
4. Whather to redirect the visitor to a thank you page, and if so, where
that page is
5. Ever so much more....
It's all described in a notoriously pithy instruction file that comes with
formmail. Have you read through that?
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqskdk$qa9$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Murray,
>
> << No, I don't think you need to do *anything* to the formmail code. Why
> do
> you feel you need to do this? >>
>
> So are you saying nothing gets changed in formmail.pl?
>
> I guess I just don't understand anything about how this whole process is
> supposed to work. After 2 weeks of studying (made difficult with the
> holidays
> and my physical therapy and the physical discomfort of my knee surgery) I
> think
> I know less than when I started. I am certainly more confused!
>
> Art
>
| |
| fireman0174 2004-12-28, 7:15 pm |
| Murray,
I read it - but I obviously didn't understand it.
But I will re-read it - probably more than once!
By the way, am I correct that the formmail.pl should be installed in my
cgi-bin directory?
Art
| |
|
|
| fireman0174 2004-12-29, 4:14 am |
| Murray,
The "vendel" link is dead. THe other link is ok, but several links on that
site are dead.
As it turns out, one of my study books "dreamweaver Savvy" seems to have a
good description that I think will be a help to me. Hopefully.
Thanks - Art
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2004-12-29, 12:15 pm |
| Sorry - here's a better one for the Vendel tut -
http://www.proformica.com/formmail-tutorial.shtml
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqt9g2$cv4$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Murray,
>
> The "vendel" link is dead. THe other link is ok, but several links on that
> site are dead.
>
> As it turns out, one of my study books "dreamweaver Savvy" seems to have a
> good description that I think will be a help to me. Hopefully.
>
> Thanks - Art
>
| |
| .: Nadia :. *TMM* 2004-12-29, 12:16 pm |
| ---------------------------------------------
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqsfca$lij$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Perhaps modify is the wrong word. Define variable might be a better
> choice.
>
> From the formmail.pl:
>
>
> # Define Variables #
>
> $mailprog = '/usr/lib/sendmail -i -t';
>
> @referers = ('scriptarchive.com','209.196.21.3');
>
> @recipients = &fill_recipients(@referers);
>
> I need to change/modify the above, don't I?
Yes, I believe you need to change those variables to reflect your domain
name.
It would be the first @referers you would change
@referers = ('yourdomainname.com',
'anotherdomainnameofyoursthatisallowedtousethissamescript.com')
All this means is that the domain names listed are the only ones allowed to
use the script. Otherwise, you may have spammers use your script for their
own purposes.
Haven't time to check the script I'm using, but I'm pretty sure the above is
correct.
--
Nadia
--------------------------------------------
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http://www.DreamweaverResources.com
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---------------------------------------------
| |
| Murray *TMM* 2005-01-01, 4:15 am |
| formmail.pl is a generic mailprocessing script. It receives the form's
data, including directives that you build in to the form by way of "hidden"
fields. It parses the contents out of these hidden fields, and uses those
contents to determine things like -
1. Where to send the form's data
2. What subject line to use
3. Who to cc on the data
4. Whather to redirect the visitor to a thank you page, and if so, where
that page is
5. Ever so much more....
It's all described in a notoriously pithy instruction file that comes with
formmail. Have you read through that?
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================
"fireman0174" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cqskdk$qa9$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Murray,
>
> << No, I don't think you need to do *anything* to the formmail code. Why
> do
> you feel you need to do this? >>
>
> So are you saying nothing gets changed in formmail.pl?
>
> I guess I just don't understand anything about how this whole process is
> supposed to work. After 2 weeks of studying (made difficult with the
> holidays
> and my physical therapy and the physical discomfort of my knee surgery) I
> think
> I know less than when I started. I am certainly more confused!
>
> Art
>
|
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