[macfantn]

i am trying to create a simple form that emails info to me, and am having no luck. what am i doing wrong?

<form method="post" action="mailto:XXXX@yahoo.com">
<div align="left">
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif">Name</font><br>
<input type="text" size="75" name="name"> <br />
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif">Address</font><br>
<input type="text" size="75" name="address"><br />
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif">Phone Number</font><br>
<input type="text" size="75" name="phone number"><br />
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif">Email</font><br>
<input type="text" size="75" name="email"><br />
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif">Credentials</font><br>
<input type="text" size="75" name="credentials"><br />
<input type="submit" value="Submit"></div>
</form>

[Doofy]

You have four name="password" boxes?

[slpdLoad]

I'm only just learning PHP and various other languages myself, but I'm pretty sure you'd need to be using PHP or something to execute the sending and formatting of an email based on whether someone has submitted data.

Right now you're using the mailto command, which is what people use in a "contact me" type of link. It is meant to open the person's mail app and fill in the Recipient line, and not to actually send the contents of a form to the person.

[macfantn]

i fixed the password thing, what should i do to correct the email problem?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

i fixed the password thing, what should i do to correct the email problem?

Looks like a CGI, not PHP, thing to me. Most ISPs and hosts will have free CGI scripts for sending email from forms. Check your host's help site.

[macfantn]

i don't have a host yet, was thinking of using aplus.net

is there one that is better?

[Doofy]

<shrug>

[itistoday]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

i don't have a host yet, was thinking of using aplus.net

is there one that is better?

Yeah, click the dreamhost link in my signature, it's really good and comes highly recommended. Plus if you use that link to register I'll get a referral, for which I will be most grateful to you. I've been with Dreamhost since 2003 and am very happy with their service, it's great deal, you get a lot for what you pay for.

The reason your form isn't working is because you action must point to a script that will send you the email, something along these lines: <form method="post" action="path/to/script.php"> ... </form>. Check out webmonkey on how to do forms, that website is somewhat old but it's still a great resource and is what I used to learn HTML many years ago.

[goMac]

You can't send a form to an email address using HTML. You'll have to use a secondary solution, either a CGI or a PHP script, and you'll have to have it hosted on a server.

[Obi Wan's Ghost]

Screw writing it yourself. Plenty of free scripts online.

This is the best one around

Secure PHP Form Mailer Script � Dagon Design

It's free, includes captcha, attachments, multiple recipients, secure and easy to configure.

[Obi Wan's Ghost]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

i don't have a host yet, was thinking of using aplus.net

is there one that is better?

Dreamhost is good. Bluehost is better because there's less downtime, has faster support, every feature you could ask for and now has a script which speeds up and caches PHP.

[mdc]

1. Go through the formmail configuration wizard
2. Use this code for your form:

<style>input {
font-family: Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif;
}
</style>

<form action="YOUR FORMMAIL FILE" name="contact form" method="post">
<input type="hidden" value="YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS" name="recipients">
<input type="text" name="Name" value="Name" class="input"> <br />
<input type="text" name="Email" value="Email" class="input"> <br />
<input type="text" name="Address" value="Address" class="input"> <br />
<input type="text" name="Phone Number" value="Phone Number" class="input"> <br />
<input type="text" name="Credentials" value="Credentials" class="input"> <br />

<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

Put the style to /style part in your head of your html document and then put the rest where ever you want your form.
You'll notice that in the form I created the label for each text input is actually in the text block. You can change that by taking out the value="".

If you need anymore help, just ask.