Can I Control the Look of Form Output?

[dharmachic]

Hi all,

I was wondering if it was possible to control the way form results appear in my emailbox. When people fill out my form, I receive a very raw file that lists all field names regardless of whether or not they were filled in. I would like to be able to control the look & layout if possible. I'm using a bnb.cgi form (Big Nose Bird)

Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[goBoating]

In general terms, formatting output to an email (prettier text or HTML) is fairly straight forward, however, I am not familiar w/ bnb form...

Can you give us a concise version of t/ portion of code that is building and sending the email? 'hope this helps

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[dharmachic]

Thanks goBoating

OK, I wasn't sure which part of the script to send, so here's the whole sha-bang:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use Socket;
############## SPECIAL FORM VARIABLES ############################
#required: comma delimited list of required entry fields
#data_order: comma delimited list indicating what fields to actually
# print and in what order.
#outputfile: the name of the file to save the data in if using a file.
# the file will automatically be named ending with .bout
#emailfile: the name of the file to hold only the sender e-mail address
# the file will automatically be named ending with .bemf
#ok_url: URL to go to if successful
#not_ok_url URL to go to if unsuccessful
#submit_to: email address of person to input receive data by mail
# this can be a comma seperated list of e-mail addresses
#cc_to: email address of Cc Recipient
# this can be a comma seperated list of e-mail addresses
#submit_by: email address of person completing form
#autorespond: NO LONGER USED AS OF JAN 31, 2000
#automessage: text to print for autoconfirmation e-mail
# the file will automatically be named ending with .baut
#form_id: name of form for e-mail subject
#countfile: name of file for serial number counter
# the file will automatically be named ending with .bcnt
#okaydomains: prevents calling the script from other sites,
# without restricting e-mail addresses.
# replaces $SECURE_NAME from earlier versions.
# use only lower case letters.
#SMTP_SERVER: the full host name of the server providing e-mail
# gateway service
##################################################################


## MAIN ##########################################################

# uncomment the line below, and change bignosebird to your domain
# name if you wish to make is so the script can only be called
# from your site.

@okaydomains=("

http://MYSITE.com",

"

http://www.MYSITE.com");

#SMTP_SERVER: indicates the name of the host acting as the e-mail
# gateway. "localhost" should work on most systems.

#$SMTP_SERVER="localhost";

#OR IF SMTP IS UNAVAILABLE TO YOU, USE SEND_MAIL-
# BUT NOT BOTH!

$SEND_MAIL="/usr/sbin/sendmail -t";

$lockfile="/tmp/bnbform.lck";

$SD=&sys_date;
$ST=&sys_time;

&decode_vars;

&valid_page;

if ($fields{'countfile'} ne "&quot { &get_number; }

&valid_data;

&write_data;

if ($fields{'automessage'} ne "&quot { &answer_back; }

if ($fields{'ok_url'} ne "&quot{
print "Location: $fields{'ok_url'}\n\n"; exit;
}
else { &thank_you; }

##################################################################
sub write_data
{

if ($fields{'submit_by'} ne "&quot {
if (&valid_address == 0) {
&bad_email;
exit;
}
}

if ($fields{'submit_by'} ne "" && $fields{'emailfile'} ne "&quot {
open (EMF,">>$fields{'emailfile'}"
print EMF "$fields{'submit_by'}\n";
close (EMF);
}

if ($fields{'submit_to'} ne "&quot {
$msgtext="";
$msgtext .= "On $SD at $ST,\n";
$msgtext .= "The following information was submitted:\n";
$msgtext .= "From Host: $ENV{'REMOTE_ADDR'}\n";
}

if ($fields{'outputfile'} ne "&quot {
&get_the_lock;
open(OUT_FILE,">>$fields{'outputfile'}"
}

foreach $to_print (@sortlist) {
if ($fields{'outputfile'} ne "&quot
{ print OUT_FILE "$fields{$to_print}\|"; }
if ($fields{'submit_to'} ne "&quot
{ $msgtext .= "$to_print = $fields{$to_print}\n"; }
}
if ($fields{'outputfile'} ne "&quot {
print OUT_FILE "$SD\|$ST\|\n";
close(OUT_FILE);
&drop_the_lock;
}

foreach $to_get (@recipients) {
$mailresult=&sendmail($fields{submit_by}, $fields{submit_by}, $to_get, $SMTP_SERVER, $fields{form_id}, $msgtext);
if ($mailresult ne "1&quot {
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print "MAIL NOT SENT. SMTP ERROR: $mailcodes{'$mailresult'}\n";
exit
}
}
foreach $to_cc (@cc_tos) {
$mailresult=&sendmail($fields{submit_by}, $fields{submit_by}, $to_cc, $SMTP_SERVER, $fields{form_id}, $msgtext);
if ($mailresult ne "1&quot {
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print "MAIL NOT SENT. SMTP ERROR: $mailcodes{'$mailresult'}\n";
exit
}
}

}

##################################################################
sub decode_vars
{
$i=0;
read(STDIN,$temp,$ENV{'CONTENT_LENGTH'});
@pairs=split(/&/,$temp);
foreach $item(@pairs) {
($key,$content)=split(/=/,$item,2);
$content=~tr/+/ /;
$content=~s/%(..)/pack("c",hex($1))/ge;
$content=~s/\t/ /g;
$fields{$key}=$content;
if ($key eq "data_order&quot {
$content=~s/\012//g;
$content=~s/\015//g;
$content=~s/ //g;
$content=~s/ //g;
@sortlist=split(/,/,$content);
}
if ($key eq "required&quot {
$content=~s/\012//g;
$content=~s/\015//g;
$content=~s/ //g;
@mandatory=split(/,/,$content);
}
if ($key eq "submit_to&quot {
$content=~s/\012//g;
$content=~s/\015//g;
$content=~s/ //g;
@recipients=split(/,/,$content);
}
if ($key eq "cc_to&quot {
$content=~s/\012//g;
$content=~s/\015//g;
$content=~s/ //g;
@cc_tos=split(/,/,$content);
}

}
if (
( ($fields{automessage}=~ /^([-\/\w.]+)$/ || $fields{automessage} eq "&quot &&
($fields{countfile}=~ /^([-\/\w.]+)$/ || $fields{countfile} eq "&quot &&
($fields{emailfile}=~ /^([-\/\w.]+)$/ || $fields{emailfile} eq "&quot &&
($fields{outputfile}=~ /^([-\/\w.]+)$/ || $fields{outputfile} eq "&quot )
) {$donothing=0;}
else {
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n sorry, invalid characters...\n";
exit;
}
if ($fields{automessage} ne "&quot {$fields{automessage} .= ".baut";}
if ($fields{countfile} ne "&quot {$fields{countfile} .= ".bcnt";}
if ($fields{emailfile} ne "&quot {$fields{emailfile} .= ".bemf";}
if ($fields{outputfile} ne "&quot {$fields{outputfile} .= ".bout";}
}

##################################################################
sub valid_data
{
if ($fields{'data_order'} eq "&quot #make sure we have work to do!
{
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print <<__W1__;

<H1>NO data_order list SPECIFIED!</H1>

__W1__
exit;
}

foreach $to_check (@mandatory) #test all required fields, bail on 1st bad
{
if ($fields{$to_check} eq &quot;&quot {
if ($fields{'not_ok_url'} ne &quot;&quot {
print &quot;Location: $fields{'not_ok_url'}\n\n&quot;;
exit;
}
else { &try_again; }
}
}

}

##################################################################
sub thank_you
{
print &quot;Content-type: text/html\n\n&quot;;
print <<__W2__;
<BODY BGCOLOR=&quot;#FFFFFF&quot;>
<CENTER>
<TABLE WIDTH=550 BORDER=1>
<TR>
<TD>
<H1>Thank you!</H1>
Your information has been sent and I will be in touch
with you as soon as I can
<P>
Here is the information you provided:
<P>
__W2__

foreach $itm (@sortlist) {
print <<__W2A__;
$itm: $fields{$itm}
<BR>
__W2A__
}

print <<__W2B__;
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

__W2B__

exit;
}

##################################################################
sub try_again
{
print &quot;Content-type: text/html\n\n&quot;;
print <<__W3__;

<H1>Missing Data!</H1>
<B>Please press the back button and fill in
all required fields!<P></B>

__W3__
exit;
}

##################################################################
sub answer_back
{

$subject = &quot;Thank you&quot;;
$msgtext=&quot;Thanks! Your reservation has been received, confirmation will be send upon receipt of payment.
You can either mail a check or money order to us at :

THE CYBERNET PLACE
78 E. Park Ave.
Long Beach, NY 11561

or call us with your credit card number at (516) 897-8419

We look forward to seeing you then!

PLEASE NOTE: Class size is limited and your reservation is no guarantee until payment is received. &quot;;
if ($fields{'automessage'} ne &quot;&quot {
open (AM,&quot;< $fields{'automessage'}&quot;
while (<AM>) {
chop $_;
$msgtext .= &quot;$_\n&quot;;
}
close(AM);
}
else {
$msgtext =<<__W4__;

Thank you for your submission. I will be
getting in touch with you soon.

__W4__
}
$replyaddr=$recipients[0];
$mailresult=&sendmail($replyaddr, $replyaddr, $fields{submit_by}, $SMTP_SERVER, $subject, $msgtext);
}

##################################################################

sub get_number
{
$newnum=0;
open(COUNTER,&quot;<$fields{'countfile'}&quot;
while($thisnum=<COUNTER>) {
if ($thisnum eq &quot;&quot { $thisnum = 0;}
$newnum = $thisnum + 1;
}
close(COUNTER);
open(COUNTER,&quot;>$fields{'countfile'}&quot;
print COUNTER &quot;$newnum&quot;;
close (COUNTER);
$fields{'counter'}=$newnum
}

##################################################################
sub valid_address
{
$testmail = $fields{'submit_by'};
if ($testmail =~/ /)
{ return 0; }
if ($testmail =~ /(@.*@)|(\.\.)|(@\.)|(\.@)|(^\.)/ ||
$testmail !~ /^.+\@(\[?)[a-zA-Z0-9\-\.]+\.([a-zA-Z]{2,3}|[0-9]{1,3})(\]?)$/)
{ return 0; }
else { return 1; }
}

##################################################################
sub bad_email
{
print <<__STOP_OF_BADMAIL__;
Content-type: text/html

<FONT SIZE=&quot;+1&quot;>
<B>
SORRY! Your request could not be processed because of an
improperly formatted e-mail address. Please use your browser's
back button to return to the form entry page.
</B>
</FONT>
__STOP_OF_BADMAIL__
}

sub get_the_lock
{
local ($endtime);
$endtime = 60;
$endtime = time + $endtime;
while (-e $lockfile && time < $endtime)
{
# Do Nothing
}
open(LOCK_FILE, &quot;>$lockfile&quot;
}

sub drop_the_lock
{
close($lockfile);
unlink($lockfile);
}


##################################################################
sub valid_page
{
if (@okaydomains == 0)
{return;}
$DOMAIN_OK=0;
$RF=$ENV{'HTTP_REFERER'};
$RF=~tr/A-Z/a-z/;
foreach $ts (@okaydomains) {
if ($RF =~ /$ts/)
{ $DOMAIN_OK=1; }
}
if ( $DOMAIN_OK == 0) {
print &quot;Content-type: text/html\n\n Sorry....Cant run from here!&quot;;
exit;
}
}


###################################################################
#Sendmail.pm routine below by Milivoj Ivkovic (modified by bnb)
###################################################################
sub sendmail {

# error codes below for those who bother to check result codes <gr>

# 1 success
# -1 $smtphost unknown
# -2 socket() failed
# -3 connect() failed
# -4 service not available
# -5 unspecified communication error
# -6 local user $to unknown on host $smtp
# -7 transmission of message failed
# -8 argument $to empty
#
# Sample call:
#
# &sendmail($from, $reply, $to, $smtp, $subject, $message );
#
# Note that there are several commands for cleaning up possible bad inputs - if you
# are hard coding things from a library file, so of those are unnecesssary
#

my ($fromaddr, $replyaddr, $to, $smtp, $subject, $message) = @_;

$to =~ s/[ \t]+/, /g; # pack spaces and add comma
$fromaddr =~ s/.*<([^\s]*?)>/$1/; # get from email address
$replyaddr =~ s/.*<([^\s]*?)>/$1/; # get reply email address
$replyaddr =~ s/^([^\s]+).*/$1/; # use first address
$message =~ s/^\./\.\./gm; # handle . as first character
$message =~ s/\r\n/\n/g; # handle line ending
$message =~ s/\n/\r\n/g;
$smtp =~ s/^\s+//g; # remove spaces around $smtp
$smtp =~ s/\s+$//g;

if (!$to)
{
return(-8);
}

if ($SMTP_SERVER ne &quot;&quot
{
my($proto) = (getprotobyname('tcp'))[2];
my($port) = (getservbyname('smtp', 'tcp'))[2];

my($smtpaddr) = ($smtp =~
/^(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})$/)
? pack('C4',$1,$2,$3,$4)
: (gethostbyname($smtp))[4];

if (!defined($smtpaddr))
{
return(-1);
}

if (!socket(MAIL, AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, $proto))
{
return(-2);
}

if (!connect(MAIL, pack('Sna4x8', AF_INET, $port, $smtpaddr)))
{
return(-3);
}

my($oldfh) = select(MAIL);
$| = 1;
select($oldfh);

$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close(MAIL);
return(-4);
}

print MAIL &quot;helo $SMTP_SERVER\r\n&quot;;
$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close(MAIL);
return(-5);
}

print MAIL &quot;mail from: <$fromaddr>\r\n&quot;;
$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close(MAIL);
return(-5);
}

foreach (split(/, /, $to))
{
print MAIL &quot;rcpt to: <$_>\r\n&quot;;
$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close(MAIL);
return(-6);
}
}

print MAIL &quot;data\r\n&quot;;
$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close MAIL;
return(-5);
}

}

if ($SEND_MAIL ne &quot;&quot
{
open (MAIL,&quot;| $SEND_MAIL&quot;
}

print MAIL &quot;To: $to\n&quot;;
print MAIL &quot;From: $fromaddr\n&quot;;
print MAIL &quot;Reply-to: $replyaddr\n&quot; if $replyaddr;
print MAIL &quot;X-Mailer: Perl Powered Socket Mailer\n&quot;;
print MAIL &quot;Subject: $subject\n\n&quot;;
print MAIL &quot;$message&quot;;
print MAIL &quot;\n.\n&quot;;

if ($SMTP_SERVER ne &quot;&quot
{
$_ = <MAIL>;
if (/^[45]/)
{
close(MAIL);
return(-7);
}

print MAIL &quot;quit\r\n&quot;;
$_ = <MAIL>;
}

close(MAIL);
return(1);
}

sub sys_date
{
%mn = ('Jan','01', 'Feb','02', 'Mar','03', 'Apr','04',
'May','05', 'Jun','06', 'Jul','07', 'Aug','08',
'Sep','09', 'Oct','10', 'Nov','11', 'Dec','12' );
$sydate=localtime(time);
($day, $month, $num, $time, $year) = split(/\s+/,$sydate);
$zl=length($num);
if ($zl == 1)
{ $num = &quot;0$num&quot;;}
$yyyymmdd=&quot;$year\-$mn{$month}\-$num&quot;;
return $yyyymmdd;
}


sub sys_time
{
$sydate=localtime(time);
($day, $month, $num, $time, $year) = split(/\s+/,$sydate);
return $time;
}

 

[goBoating]

You basically have 2 options.
1 - make the output HTML
In order to format the email with HTML,
simply print
&quot;Content-Type: text/html charset=iso-8859-1\n&quot;;
into the email at the beginning of your msgtext and then use some
html to dress up the content of the $msgtext variable.
You might achieve this by changing the way $msgtext is initialized.
Instead of setting $msgtext to null,
&quot;$msgtext = '';&quot;
you could initialize it to the Content-type string
&quot;$msgtext = 'Content-Type: text/html charset=iso-8859-1\n&quot;;

Then, anytime the code adds something to $msgtext, just drop
some html in with it to dress it up.

2- make the text output a little nicer to look at
This might be a little easier, but, won't give you the convinient
html tags to play with. You can drop some tabs into your $msgtext
or use a format. There are several strings in the Perl forum about
using formats.

Sorry, I don't have time to give examples of this stuff, ... got work
to do, ....mouths to feed. Hopefully, this will get you started.
'hope this helps

If you are new to Tek-Tips, please use descriptive titles, check the FAQs, and beware the evil typo.

 

[dharmachic]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot