Basic Web Forms

Lessons on web forms....

• Make a basic web form with all form elements
• Send Web Form Data to an EMAIL address
• Send  Web Form Data to an Access Database

Steps to make a Basic Web Form (see example)

1. Click INSERT, then FORM. Press enter 2 times to open up the form. Notice the web form is outlined with a dotted frame. See this....
   
    
2. Notice the FORMS toolbar, if you undock it, you will see this...
   
    
3. Use all 5 basic web form elements and learn how to configure them. Use a Textbox, Text Area, Checkbox, Option Button, and Drop-Down box.
   Make basic form this...
   

Improve the Basic Form with a TABLE

1. Add a table INSIDE the web form to help line up the labels and the form elements. See this...
   
    
2. NOTICE: The table is INSIDE of the dotted box. The dotted box is the web form.

Configure the form element NAMES

1. Each form element needs a name that matches the label or the question you are asking. NOTE: No not have spaces in a form element name! This will cause an error with ASP and access when you send the data to the database.
    
2. Double click each form element and you will see the form properties box. The name is simply set to T1 for Textbox 1. Change it to match the label.
   
    
3. Textbox Properties. Enter a name for the element that matches the question. The initial value is for you to provide a prompt. This is usually not needed. Here is a sample.
   Note: DO NOT USE SPACES IN NAMES.
   
    
4. Check Box Properties. This name identifies the question and INCLUDES a 1 so I can have a 2, and 3 for the other checkboxes. Also, I set a VALUE equal to the answer. See below.
   
    
5. Option Buttons, called "Radio buttons" have a unique feature. They has a GROUP name. Notice the group name = R1. All option buttons in the same group need to have the same group name. A group allows the user to only select ONE option in the entire group. See below...
   
    
6. Drop-down box properties. These form elements need a name AND choices. Usually you add the first choice as a prompt and then add your choices under the prompt. This forces the uses to make a choice and NOT simply submit the web form with the first choice selected. Here is an example...