Create a Simple, Effective PHP Form for Your Web Site
If you have been struggling to set up forms on your web site
using cgi, then definitely read this article. Installing a
simple PHP form is much easier and faster than installing a cgi
form and doesn't need any programming experience.
How does a PHP form work?
PHP is short for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor". It is a
server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language.
A server side scripting language allows you to create dynamic
web pages. Web pages that have been enabled with PHP are
treated just the same as any other HTML page, and PHP even lets
you create and edit them the same way you would create and edit
your HTML pages.
This PHP form consists of 3 web pages, an html page, a PHP page
(PHP script) and a thank you page. You collect the visitors
information when he fills out the form on the html page. It is
then processed by the PHP script which resides on the server.
The visitor automatically receives a "thank you for
subscribing" message. The form results are returned from the
server to your email box.
Server requirements for your PHP form
Check with your web host you have PHP4 installed on your server
Most Unix servers do - if so you are in luck and ready to go.
How to create the simple PHP form
You will create a very simple, effective form in which you will
collect the name, email address and comments of your visitors.
The form results will be sent to your email address.
1. Create the PHP script - copy and paste this code
Jack's FormMail.php script:
http://www.dtheatre.com/scripts/formmail
into notepad (not MS Word) and save it as formmail.php
2. Edit the fields - the only recommended field to edit is the
"referers" field. This field defines the domains that allow
forms to reside on and use your FormMail.php script. If you try
to put the form on another server, that is not the specified
domain or ip, you will receive an error message when someone
tries to fill out your form.
ie: $referers = ('ihost-websites.com','209.123.240.161');
3. Upload the formmail.php script to the web directory which you
are planning to use.
4. Configure your PHP form - create a web page (ie contact.htm)
for your PHP form.
5. Point the action of your form to the formmail.php script you
created in Step 1.
6. Add the necessary form fields - the "recipient field" is the
only form field that you must have in your form, for
formmail.php to work correctly.
This form field allows you to specify where you want your
form results to be mailed. Most likely you will want to
configure this option as a hidden form field with a value equal
to that of your e-mail address.
7. Enter optional form fields
"subject field" - this allows you to specify the subject that
you wish to appear in the e-mail that is sent to you after this
form has been filled out. If you do not have this option turned
on, then the script will default to a message subject: "Form
Submission".
8. Create a thank you page (thankyou.htm) - this web page will
automatically thank visitors for subscribing. Add your own
comments you wish them to receive. Upload this web page to your
server.
Tip: Use your own domain name, email and IP address in the
fields above.
9. Copy and paste this html form into your web page - name it
anything you like (ie contact.htm), then upload it to your
server.
10. Test out your form - when you fill out the form, you should
immediately receive the reply from your thankyou.htm page
and receive the form results in your email box.
Conclusion - you now have a fully functional and flexible PHP
form on your web site to collect visitor information. You can
add more fields to the form if necessary. You may also add any
number of HTML forms to your web site and still use the same
PHP script.
If you have been struggling to set up forms on your web site
using cgi, then definitely read this article. Installing a
simple PHP form is much easier and faster than installing a cgi
form and doesn't need any programming experience.
How does a PHP form work?
PHP is short for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor". It is a
server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language.
A server side scripting language allows you to create dynamic
web pages. Web pages that have been enabled with PHP are
treated just the same as any other HTML page, and PHP even lets
you create and edit them the same way you would create and edit
your HTML pages.
This PHP form consists of 3 web pages, an html page, a PHP page
(PHP script) and a thank you page. You collect the visitors
information when he fills out the form on the html page. It is
then processed by the PHP script which resides on the server.
The visitor automatically receives a "thank you for
subscribing" message. The form results are returned from the
server to your email box.
Server requirements for your PHP form
Check with your web host you have PHP4 installed on your server
Most Unix servers do - if so you are in luck and ready to go.
How to create the simple PHP form
You will create a very simple, effective form in which you will
collect the name, email address and comments of your visitors.
The form results will be sent to your email address.
1. Create the PHP script - copy and paste this code
Jack's FormMail.php script:
http://www.dtheatre.com/scripts/formmail
into notepad (not MS Word) and save it as formmail.php
2. Edit the fields - the only recommended field to edit is the
"referers" field. This field defines the domains that allow
forms to reside on and use your FormMail.php script. If you try
to put the form on another server, that is not the specified
domain or ip, you will receive an error message when someone
tries to fill out your form.
ie: $referers = ('ihost-websites.com','209.123.240.161');
3. Upload the formmail.php script to the web directory which you
are planning to use.
4. Configure your PHP form - create a web page (ie contact.htm)
for your PHP form.
5. Point the action of your form to the formmail.php script you
created in Step 1.
6. Add the necessary form fields - the "recipient field" is the
only form field that you must have in your form, for
formmail.php to work correctly.
This form field allows you to specify where you want your
form results to be mailed. Most likely you will want to
configure this option as a hidden form field with a value equal
to that of your e-mail address.
7. Enter optional form fields
"subject field" - this allows you to specify the subject that
you wish to appear in the e-mail that is sent to you after this
form has been filled out. If you do not have this option turned
on, then the script will default to a message subject: "Form
Submission".
8. Create a thank you page (thankyou.htm) - this web page will
automatically thank visitors for subscribing. Add your own
comments you wish them to receive. Upload this web page to your
server.
Tip: Use your own domain name, email and IP address in the
fields above.
9. Copy and paste this html form into your web page - name it
anything you like (ie contact.htm), then upload it to your
server.
10. Test out your form - when you fill out the form, you should
immediately receive the reply from your thankyou.htm page
and receive the form results in your email box.
Conclusion - you now have a fully functional and flexible PHP
form on your web site to collect visitor information. You can
add more fields to the form if necessary. You may also add any
number of HTML forms to your web site and still use the same
PHP script.
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