Forms that save data in form layout

[Guest]

I need to create a form online that can be filled out and emailed in its
entirety (labels, layout, etc) to me - not just the data entered into the
fields - so that it can be printed out and kept in a file. Also need for the
form to provide a digital signature.

Acrobat is useless unless the form filler-outer also has Acrobat. Otherwise
they can't save the form. Is there some way to do this in FrontPage? If not
using FP form elements, then how could I do it using straight HTML?

Thank you for your help.

LauraD

 

[Andrew Murray]

FP may not be able to do it, nor "straight HTML". It would require some
complex scripting.

The format of the email FP sends is the way it does it - this can't be
changed or customised.

How about submitting the info to a database? That way you have all the
"records" in safe keeping in an Access Database. Try the Database Results
Wizard.

Can't help you with the digital signature thing.

 

[Guest]

Hi, Andrew,

the whole point is to have a filled-out form for the files. In this
particular case it is an application to adopt a pet. Although the data is
important, it isn't stored in a database. It is the record of the answers
coupled with the questions that is important.

Any other thoughts as to how this can be done, i.e. other than through an
application that the user has to have on their machine? Yes, I can create a
Word form, but the user has to have MSWord to open it. I can create one in
PDF, but the user has to have Acrobat (not Reader) to save the filled out
form and email it back. My problem is - I can't figure out how to do this so
that anyone can use the form and we can end up with a fill-out form for the
files.

Thanks,
Laura

 

[Andrew Murray]

My point about the database is it can give you the "layout" of data you
want - the form sending the email gives you a mish-mash of info with no
particular style of layout out in the message you receive, (which you said
you didn't want), so sending the results to a database, which can then be
retrieved and viewed, using the Results Wizard on your web page, and print
the data out for a hard-copy record.

Or if you had Access, then you can download and open the file, make a report
and print up the data that way.

It is just a suggestion for a solution to your problem, since using the FP
form processor won't give you formatted results in the way you wanted, it
just lists the data & fields like field1 = data1 etc.

 

[Trevor L.]

It is just a suggestion for a solution to your problem, since using
the FP form processor won't give you formatted results in the way you
wanted, it just lists the data & fields like field1 = data1 etc.

I agree with the last para.

I have been noticing a few such queries lately. My son also wanted to do a
similar thing.

So I set up a form at http://tandcl.homemail.com.au/formtest.html which
takes data from a form and writes it to an Email.

Because I use JS rather than the standard FP form handler, I can format it
reasonably well.
E.G.
Put descriptive stub headings instead of field names
Add spaces (or line breaks) between the field name/heading and the response.
Add spaces (or line breaks) between field names
Recode the responses, e.g. change a tickbox response to 'Yes' or 'No' rather
than a plain 'on'
Add counts if necessary (not done as yet)

It isn't an exact copy of the form but it looks better than the default. And
I could work on it further to get it to look more like the orignal form or
even completely different !

I don't know how to create an HTML email, so I haven't got features like
background colours or images on the Email. But is a bit more along the lines
Andrew has suggested: "My point about the database is it can give you the
"layout" of data you want"

I can help along these lines if you like the idea.