How can I build a web form?

[mankymummymoo]

I have a client who wants an online booking form. My level of skill is basic, have built her site using FrontPage.

Can anyone help me please, she wants users to be able to input data and then press send and it sends an email with all the info to her. Is there any user friendly HTML code or a custom package that builds them?

Please help, I'm panicking !

I can't write web pages but Ive been in the industry for a long time now. As you say your skill level is basic so maybe suggest an easier way round this would be to add a link which opens up an ms email (all computers which have windows on have some form of ms mail) to email her directly and forego the online form, otherwise, do what every other programmer I know does and google the problem, there are loads of IT forums which should be able to help, you may even get some script as well.

I may be wrong but I don't think you can do it using frontpage and you would have to use xml or vb or similar.

Hope that helps! :-)

Thanks marabou... will try google as she wants to capture specific fields to ensure the booking can proceed smoothly.

There are free scripts around, but first you/she will need to know what is offered on the website. I've been making websites for clients since the mid-90s but have never used Frontpage, so sadly cannot offer advice on that.

There are free scripts around using PHP or CGI but there are some scripts which are disliked by hosting firms because of security issues.

On the other hand, some hosting services have their own scripts available for customers to use, or offer software on the control panel, which will install things for you. (For example, on some services I've seen "Installatron" while on cPanel there is often an add-on called "Fantastico". Fantastico is the one I've used most, and offers options to install software to provide photo galleries, feedback forms, web forums, etc. I just found a list of software for Installatron but then looked for Frontpage Contact form and found this one...

Form using FP 2002 at Linda's "www.personal-computer-tutor.com"

Obviously the more complicated the form, the more work you might need, and I've used/ seen various forms which do some validation of fields with Javascript to check user has filled in particular items before allowing them to "submit".

I'd say the first thing to check is whether the web hosting service has particular guidelines or offers their own scripts, then look for something that does validation of fields if your client has indicated she "requires" certain fields are filled in.

Hope that helps you on your way!

Wow. thanks very much. I will look into the host thing first and then the Linda thing. Thanks for your time.