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Forms, Grouping the Form
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4/9/2010 12:05 PM |
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The fields become a form when they are grouped together. Grouping creates a form object with stored information about the form and the fields within the form.
The Group Form Command places a gray box with a red border around the fields in the group. You can select the box and resize it at any time. Once the fields are grouped, you can continue to add, delete and arrange the fields on the form. In addition to the form fields, you can also add text objects, graphics, shapes, flash or any other object to the form.
Group the form
- Select the fields for the form.
- Click Forms Tab>Create Form Group>Group Form. This places the fields in the group box.
Choose the Group Properties
- Double click over a blank spot on the group box. This opens the Object Properties dialog.
- Choose options for the group. See an explanation of options below.
Object Info
ID Number. Web Studio assigns an object ID number to the field.
Tab Order. This displays the tab order assigned to the field. See Assigning the Tab Order
Form Properties
Your Email. The email where you want to receive the form.
Your Name. The name displayed in the submission email.
Subject. The text displayed on the subject line of the submission email.
Form Name. This is a name for the form.
From Email Address. This is the email dispalyed in the return address field of the submitted email
Go to Page. This is the redirect page, sometimes known as the success page.
Invalid Data Error Hilite. Choose a color that will highlight any invalid fields when a form is submitted.
Form Handler Info
Action. This is the server that handles the form. In order for forms to work, they need to communicate with a program on your hosting server. Most hosting companies provide the programs, usually referred to as CGI Scripts. Web Studio includes its own CGI script that will enable your forms to work no matter what hosting you have. The default Action is the “formtoemail.php” script. This script should work with the majority of hosting companies. If it doesn’t, choose the other CGI Script offered named “http://www.mail.webstudio.com/php/formtoemail.” If this one doesn’t work, contact your hosting company for instructions on using their CGI Script.
Method. Post is the normal selection here. The Get selection is an advanced feature and advanced users will know when to use this.
Encode. Multipart/for-data is the normal selection. Other selections are advanced features and advanced users will know when to use them.
Custom Code (Advanced). Edit on Submit, Edit on Reset and Add Custom Code are advanced features and advanced users will know when to use them.
Click here to see a screen shot of the submitted form.
You can add logos, borders and any other design features you want to the form. Use text boxes to include user instructions and information. These objects will not affect the way the form works, but may give the form more visual appeal. Click on any Preview Page Command to see how the form will look on your web page.
Checking the form
Click on any Preview Page Command to check the form design and function. Many of the field design choices are not seen until viewed in Preview or the internet.
*** If you're having ANY problems with your forms, READ BELOW ***
When you click on the form and move it, the entire form should move together- form items and background and anything else you want on the form. If everything does not move together, you have not grouped the form correctly, or it has been modified since grouping. The gray"background" of the form must be in the back, with all the form items and fields on top. To correct this, press d own the "b" button of your keyboard, and then click on the gray background of the form. Or, right click on the gray background and choose "move selected object to back". Both of these ways will move the background to the back. Now try moving it- does it all move together?
See also
Forms Fields. See a list of all the fields with links to each article.