Form to Email

They have: 44 posts

Joined: May 2000

I am using the simple "MAILTO:myname@mydomain".

The problem is that I am receiving the form data in a .DAT file attachment when using Netscape. When I use IE the email form pops up rather than send the data to my mail server.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

MichelleB.

Vincent Puglia's picture

They have: 634 posts

Joined: Dec 1999

Hi,

Welcome to reality! Smiling

Sending form data with mailto: is a very frustrating and iffy thing to do. With IE, users will get Outlook popping up more often than not and have to manually enter the data. With Netscape, you can add the subject & content as in:

mailto:[email protected]?subject=subText;content=formDataStr

but unless if you are good at formatting data, it will look like garbage by the time you get it.

Best choices:
See if your host provider provides a cgi program and/or cgi rights (if not, consider moving). If they have both, great. If you can run cgi, but have no program, you can pick up a program at http://www.cgi-resources.com

Hope this helps
Vinny

Where the world once stood
the blades of grass cut me still

They have: 18 posts

Joined: Mar 2000

You can sign-up with Bravenet Web Services. They offer free, e-mail form processing without any banner advertisements. See http://bravenet.com/samples/emailforms.php.

They have: 98 posts

Joined: Apr 1999

If you choose to go the CGI/Perl route on your own server, I'd strongly recommend Matt's Formmail program available at http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/

R Smith
The XRS Network - Webmaster and Developer Resources, Tools, etc.
XRSolutions - Professional yet Affordable Design and Development.
Unified - An Extensive Site Dedicated to Creed.

Vincent Puglia's picture

They have: 634 posts

Joined: Dec 1999

Hi,

I've never had occasion to use it (matt's formmail), but I've seen it and heard good things about it -- in other words, my rec also (for what it's worth).

Vinny

Where the world once stood
the blades of grass cut me still

They have: 44 posts

Joined: May 2000

Thanks for all the help.

I use FormMail on my own Web site, yes it is great! However, I need another option for my client's Web site. She is with aol which does not support cgi.

I think I will take Mike's advice and try Bravenet Web Services.

If anyone has other suggestions about working with aol, please send them my way.

Thanks for being here,

MichelleB
[email protected]

Vincent Puglia's picture

They have: 634 posts

Joined: Dec 1999

Hi Michelle,

AOL has cgi (at least for mail to the site owner). I use it at my site. If you can sign on as your client (her screenname) or a friend's, type the aol keyword 'bhp' into the aol browser. They have a bunch of tutorials on using their cgi program. Or, you can go to my site (top right hand corner of the home page), click on the email me button. rightClick on the form page. You should be able to download the form template as well with file-save. If this makes no sense, let me know and I'll either explain everything here for you or send you the tutorials.

Vinny

Where the world once stood
the blades of grass cut me still

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