setting up am email form

[htmlkaren]

Hello,

I am familar with the html of setting up an online form [in the webpage itself] that gets sent to one's email address, but I don't know what to do as far as the "cgi-bin ? Anybody know how to set this part up ? I don't know why that part doesn't make sense to me, but it doesn't...

thanks ahead of time!

HTMLKaren

[stratplan]

don't know how familiar you are with CGI (Common Gateway Interface) so this may be starting too basic -

CGI is a binary folder (hince the bin suffix) where programs to interact with users reside. Programs, usually written in perl language, operate on commands given in the HTML pages on the site and are called by reference in the page. For example, a form (in HTML) can be filled in, then executed by the 'submit' button that uses the 'post' command in a file. Example:

<FORM METHOD="POST" ACTION="/cgi-bin/cgiemail/samplecat.txt">

You can view the source code for an example here:

http://www.samplehouse.com/samplecat.htm

The call is to the .txt file that tells the program how to parse the information and send email to the owner.

You write the HTML form on the site, and the CGI program activates the program and the .txt file tells it how to send it.

Form mail (as it is generically termed) has had a bad rap with spammers using it to send their messages, so Page-Zone has disabled all formmail derivitives. But all you need to do is to rename the program to some other, and it still works fine. Information on the NMS version of the granddaddy of form mail scripts by Matt Wright is at:
http://nms-cgi.sourceforge.net/scripts.shtml

There is also some good instructions in the read me files for it.

Good luck. It is easier to do after the first time. Like riding a bicycle?

[htmlkaren]

Dear Stratman,

thanks, I printed out your post entry, and no, it's not too basic! Every bit of information is helpful and I am a real newbie at forms. I've set some up using response-o-matic.com's forms which are easy as pie to use and they're free. But I'd really like to learn how to set up Formmail on my own server.

I do understand that I can rename the script, as I read that at the url you gave me.

okay, so now I don't have a clue as to what to upload to the cgi-bin or what-have-you. I'm stuck and clueless.

If you can give more directions it would be greatly appreciated. I found a website that does the Formmail for $20, but I'd rather learn to do it myself.

thanks,
HTMLKaren

[stratplan]

I sent a private message with some info in it. Let me know if you need anything else.

[htmlkaren]

I didn't get the email, are you sure you sent it to the right person? Just send it to me at webmaster@webmasterkaren.com

thanks!

HTML Karen

[stratplan]

click this forum above (user cp) then at the top right, 'private messages'. It's there. Not regular email.