Building a Web Site Part II
Creating Forms for Feedback

Types of data:

The course evaluation form can serve as an example of several types of data that may be entered on a form.  It includes "One line text boxes" (also called "strings") for course title, instructor name, etc.  The form includes a "scrolling text box" at the end of the form for longer responses.  The form also includes "radio buttons" in groups of five (click one of the five to respond to a rating scale).  Not shown on that sample is a "check box" that allows the user to respond to a "yes/no' type of question.  It is also possible to create a "drop-down menu" for the user to select from a predetermined list of responses.

Starting a Form:

  • Prepare a web page that is to be used as a form (do the necessary formatting, put in any headings, footers, etc.

  • Click "Insert" and from the "Form" menu, select "form".  This creates a new dashed rectangle that will contain the form.  Hitting the "Enter" key will create some space for data fields and directions.

  • Use tables to format the questions and form fields as shown below.  In this example, a multiple choice item was created with the question in the left cell and the choice radio buttons on the right.

Entering Questions:

  • Click "Insert" and from the "Form" menu, select the type of data field desired.  Note that for multiple choice items, it is necessary to create several "radio button" fields.

  • For each form element, right click the element and enter the appropriate properties.  Here are two examples:

Text Box Properties:

The name field will be sent along with the form data.  Initial value will be text displayed when the form is first opened. Width in characters determines the width of the field.  For multi-row text boxes, the number of visible rows is a parameter we can enter.  Tab order determines where the cursor will move next when the Tab button is pressed
Radio Button Properties:

For each group of radio buttons (five shown in the sample), enter a group name.  Enter a value such as "a" through "e" for each respective button.  Indicate if the radio button should be selected by default.

Direct the results -

  • Right-click the mouse somewhere on the form.
  • Select "Form Properties" from the pop-up menu.
  • In the space provided for an e-mail address, enter your address (or the address to receive the completed forms).
  • Click "OK".
 fpformprops.JPG (23750 bytes)

  • Unless your personal computer has been set up to be a mail server, you will get a warning message asking "Would you like to remove the e-mail recipient?"   Click "No" because you really do want to use e-mail from the server where your page is to be published.

  • Since the data will arrive as an e-mail, it is also possible to specify the "subject" line and the "return address" to be included.  Begin by right-clicking the mouse inside the form.
  • Select "Form properties".
  • Click the "Options" button.  The dialog box shown at right will appear on the screen.
  • In order to have the field names along with the data (helps one remember what question is being answered, make sure the "Include Field Names" check box is activated.
 fpsaveform.JPG (29496 bytes)
  • Enter a subject message in the "Subject Line" box on the screen.

Enter an e-mail address in the "reply-to line" or click the "Form Field Name" checkbox to pick up an e-mail address from a field on the form.

This site copyrighted (2005) by Dr. Blake West - Please credit when linking to the site!
Kansas NEA - 715 SW 10th Ave.  Topeka, KS  66612.