Contact Form Issues

My problem is this... I'm building a website and I made a really pretty little
contact form on part of the page. I created the form and now my problem is how
to make it functional? I thought that a simple prgram might help so I look at
all the DW extensions and found something called "EASY-PHP-MAILER.mxp"
http://www.cmiwebstudio.com/adobe_extensions/dreamweaver_easy_php_mailer_pear.ph
p

Just to show you how much of a novice I am, I don't even know if this can be
used with a website that's be created in .html?

would my website have to be entirely created using .php in order for this
extension to work? if not what are my options?

if I can't use this what should I do? is there a script that I can download
and just plug in and email address that will process a Dreamweaver form? I'm
sorry I don't understand more, but I've been able to create the form and I know
all of the parts of it including the method and how to link a script to it, but
I'm just unsure of what I need to make it functional.

if anyone could please help I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

There are only two ways to process form data -

1. Use mailto:name (AT) example (DOT) 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, or home users without email clients
installed (more and more it seems) - and on the installed 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 2a 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.).

Method 2b would be to use some third-party form processing, like
http://www.bebosoft.com/products/formstogo/, or if your server supports PHP,
you could investigate http://www.geekministry.com/formbuilder/, a very nice
product by a frequent poster here.

You would have to decide which of these methods is best for your needs,
but if it's Method 2a, then start by asking your host what they provide for
form
processing. If it's 2b, then read their FAQ/instructions carefully.


--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================


"L0WRIDE" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

My problem is this... I'm building a website and I made a really pretty
little
contact form on part of the page. I created the form and now my problem is
how
to make it functional? I thought that a simple prgram might help so I look
at
all the DW extensions and found something called "EASY-PHP-MAILER.mxp"
http://www.cmiwebstudio.com/adobe_extensions/dreamweaver_easy_php_mailer_pear.ph
p

Just to show you how much of a novice I am, I don't even know if this can
be
used with a website that's be created in .html?

would my website have to be entirely created using .php in order for this
extension to work? if not what are my options?

if I can't use this what should I do? is there a script that I can
download
and just plug in and email address that will process a Dreamweaver form?
I'm
sorry I don't understand more, but I've been able to create the form and I
know
all of the parts of it including the method and how to link a script to
it, but
I'm just unsure of what I need to make it functional.

if anyone could please help I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Wow! thank you for taking the time to give me such a detailed answer. You've
helped me a lot just in understanding the methods let alone the rest...

as for what my server supports I use ipowerweb and I know for sure they
support PHP4 & PHP5 and quite a few other scripting languages... so does this
mean I should investigate option 2b?

Thanks again for all your help!

The reply is actually a canned one that I post here 4-5 times a week. But,
you're welcome!

Yeah - I think that's the best choice for you, and I think the bebosoft link
is the one you should try.

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================


"L0WRIDE" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Wow! thank you for taking the time to give me such a detailed answer.
You've
helped me a lot just in understanding the methods let alone the rest...

as for what my server supports I use ipowerweb and I know for sure they
support PHP4 & PHP5 and quite a few other scripting languages... so does
this
mean I should investigate option 2b?

Thanks again for all your help!