Form processing

[Name Trader]

I've been using www.freedback.com as a forms processor. I like it, but it only allows you to process 1 form with the free account and it doesn't have any Captcha facility. Is there any better free service out there without a bunch of ads.

 

[Bruce_KD]

Learn php and do it yourself?
Its 100% free, but sucks if you're lazy.


Bruce

 

[Name Trader]

I know a little php. Enough to do some hacking, at least. All the scripts I've tried have had their shortcomings.

 

[zeruel]

Well, php will be the best choice for that IMO...

 

[Bruce_KD]

I didn't mean piggybacking off of someone else's script, I meant code the form yourself.
A form submission really isn't too difficult.

When you have an element such as <input type='text' name='bruce'>
When it is submitted to the "Action" page (<form action='somepage.php' method='POST'>), the input will appear in the $_POST array.
So if I typed 'hello' in that input box above. $_POST['bruce'] would equal 'hello'.

The problem with the entire web design community is how people blindly throw code on their site. It can have all sorts of shortcomings, hacks, vulnerabilities, etc. However, unless you really understand it (aka, Code It Yourself), your site in vulnerable. These tools online are all great, but sooner or later, some awesome tool is going to have an exploit and thousands of people could lose their sites.

Now, I'm not saying to go code your own Forums. However, something as simple as a form can be done in very little time with limited experience.

www.google.com
www.php.net
www.w3schools.com


Bruce

 

[Name Trader]

There's no way I can learn enough php to include all the features I'd like in my form. Like checking input. Like including captcha. Like hiding my eMail. And so on. It'd take me more than a month of sundays, and I'd still have no idea if the form was safe or vulnerable. This is not a practical suggestion. I need the form today, not at some indeterminate point in the future.

 

[Bruce_KD]

Well then the trade is for quality versus money.
If you have a free form, you're going to get what you pay for.
If you want to pay someone to develop a secure form with all the bells and whistles you want, it'll cost you a few bucks.

If you need something NOW and you need is EXACTLY how you want it, it probably won't be a free, automated service.
People expect to get their whole site for free and reap all the rewards for themselves. So yea, for now you're probably better off working 2 hours of a real job so you can pay someone for their expertise to develop your form.

The site you're currently using gives a limited service for free. That's how they draw you in; if you want more, pay.


Bruce

 

[aaronfalloon]

Try using Zoho Creator , it'll let you design a form, and have the data stored in a database. the free account is limited, but I don't think it's as limited as the one you're currently using.

 

[Name Trader]

Interesting. I've got to go out now. I'll check Zoho out later. Thank you.

 

[weblord]

you may also try
http://www.formgenics.com/
if you like remotely hosted forms

Little or no HTML programming knowledge needed!-
HTML Form Generator Features

* Simple easy to use design interface.
* Produces validation code for required fields.
* Can validate multiple Email Address inputs.
* Use your own form processor script*
* Form's code conforms to W3C standards.
* Adds Label & Accesskey elements for accessibility concerns.
* Eight form inputs plus submit/reset button configuration.
* Extensive on-line help documentation.
* Did we mentioned that this was FREE†?

to minimize the issue of spam/abuse

 

[Name Trader]

Thanks for the link. At least this doesn't have the 1 form maximum. But I don't see any captcha being offered.

Actually, I'm not really pro or against remotely hosted forms. My gut tells me to only use local code, but as of now, I haven't really found a script I could work with.

 

[weblord]

try this one it's attached.
it's secondversion's form btw
the old old one
the captcha you can install via
http://recaptcha.net/plugins/php/
just replace my email there btw william[@]nabaza.com and change it to your email and the email won't appear on the form itself don't worry

rename from contactbox.txt to contactbox.php and upload to your server.
bare essentials enhance as you like.

 

[Owais]

www.phpbbweb.com/

www.freeforums.org/



try this []

if u want to install ur own forum so contact me []

 

[Name Trader]

Thanks William. I like the simple form. Now to jazz it up

Do you have a link to some javascript code or tutorial for validating the input?

I can't say I understood how to use reCAPTCHA on first looks. I'll look again

 

[weblord]

sorry about that.
this one's easiest for me, the .api

steps:
1. signup for an API key first.
https://admin.recaptcha.net/accounts/login/?next=/recaptcha/createsite/?app=php
they will send you an email or post your api key on the success submission

2. then put this javascript code on the form itself, preferably after the last field and before the submit button

<script type="text/javascript"
   src="http://api.recaptcha.net/challenge?k=<your_public_key>">
</script>

<noscript>
   <iframe src="http://api.recaptcha.net/noscript?k=<your_public_key>"
       height="300" width="500" frameborder="0"></iframe><br>
   <textarea name="recaptcha_challenge_field" rows="3" cols="40">
   </textarea>
   <input type="hidden" name="recaptcha_response_field" 
       value="manual_challenge">
</noscript>

replace this "<your_public_key>" with your actual API key that they will send you.

3. upload the .php form on server
4. test it and you're done.

just forgot this
javascript form validation
http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_form_validation.asp
i'll go to the old school
have fun

 

[bensd]

Do a google search there are lots of free forms out there without ads...