HTML Forms - Limitations & Possibilities ?? PLEASE HELP

[carmo]

Hi, I am currently limited to two things on my server...HTML and JavaScript. I have a need to conduct online surveys, where I would like users to fill in a HTML form, click the submit button and receive the responses via e-mail (or other means if possible). I currently use the enctype "text/plain", which sends the responses in the form:

name=Joe
age=37

This is nice, but when I receive 200 responses (200 e-mails), I end up having to manually go through each of the 200 e-mails and typing the results (manually) into an Excel spreadsheet!! PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS AN EASIER WAY TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

carmo,

You may not like this answer.

As far as webwork goes, you're limited to HTML and client-side JavaScript, right? Okay.

First, you need to get all the data from the form sent to a mail client. Use something like faq215-3358 to do that.

As far as the client goes, that's all you can do at the moment.

On your end, program the rules wizard in Outlook to route all incoming e-mail with that specific Subject Line to a special sub-box.

Write a VB or Office/VB application that takes those incoming e-mails, parses them, populates the database with the new data and sends back a canned response. (I don't know how to do this, but I 90% believe it's possible).

If you only want to analyze your data, then you're fine right there.

If you want to post the revised data back out onto the website (which in retrospect would be impossible because you don't have server access), you'll need to have a VB application (or Office/VB app) that engages an FTP client and uploads the new data. I do not know how to do this, but I would gauge that it is maybe 50% possible.

This is the route I would take if I wanted to do that kind of data collection and analysis and had no access to the server, but unlimited access to a local box. It allows unattended operation, which is always nice. I do not know if it is possible, however.

Cautiously,


Edward

Like Lovecraft? Know Photoshop? Got time for the Unspeakable?

http://www.petting-zoo.org/Movies_Dreamquest.html

 

[CliveC]

Well here is an idea.

Use Javascript to summarize your users input data and put this summarized information in the subject line of the email.

For example suppose you had 10 multiple choice questions each with five possible answers you might summarize that as 5432131124 (ans 5 for q1, ans 4 for q2 etc.)

If using outlook you can put all the emails in one folder based on the sender (you mailto server).

Now in outlook (which uses frames) click on the folder and then click on the pane containing the emails and print-to-file. Now you have a line sequential file where the subject is positional data in each record which could be input to a program to process the results.

Clive

http://tubularity.com

 

[carmo]

That is a creative approach.......but...... we are using Netscape Messenger. Thanks for the help.

Mark

 

[tviman]

Does your host allow server-side scripts? If you're limited to HTML and Javascript, I doubt that you'll be able to execute a server side script. If this is the case, then what you have is the ONLY way to get a response from the user.

You really need the ability to write and place CGI scripts that can interact with a database you maintain. If you can't do this then you'll be far better ahead (and far less frustrated) if you change hosting companies.

There's always a better way...