Html Xhtml And Xml 3e Tutorial 6

Tutorial 6Working with Web Forms

ObjectivesExplore how Web forms interact with Web serversCreate form elementsCreate field sets and legendsCreate input boxes and form labelsCreation option buttonsCreate selection listsCreate check boxesNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

ObjectivesCreate text area boxesApply styles to Web formsWork with form buttonsExplore image elements and hidden fieldsWork with form actions and methodsNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Introducing Web FormsWeb forms collect information from Web site visitors. Web forms include different control elements including:Input boxesOption buttons or radio buttonsSelection listsDrop-down lists boxesCheck boxesText areasNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Forms and Server-Based ProgramsWhile HTML supports the creation of forms, it does not include tools to process the information.The information can be processed through a program running on a Web server.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Forms and Server-Based ProgramsServer-based programs are written in many languagesThe earliest and most commonly used are Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts that are written in Perl.Other popular languages include:ASPColdFusionC/C++PHPVBScriptNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Web FormForms are created using the form element, structured as follows: <form attributes>elements </form>Where attributesare the attributes that control how the form is processed and elements are elements places within the form.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Web FormForm attributes usually tell the browser the location of the server-based program to be applied to the form’s data.Always specify an id or name for the form.Two attributes are available to identify the form: id and name. New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Web FormThe syntax of the id and name attributes are as follows:<form name=“name” id=“id”>… </form>Where name is the name of the form and id is the id of the form.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Field SetHTML and XHTML allow you to organize option buttons into a group of fields called field sets. <fieldset id=“id”> controls </fieldset> where id identifies the field set and controls are the control elements associated with fields within the field setNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Field SetTo add a caption to a field set, add the following tag after the opening <fieldset> tag:<legend>text</legend>Where text is the text of the field set caption.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating Input BoxesThe general syntax of input elements is as follows:<input type=“type” name=“name” id=“id” />Where type specifies the type of input control, and the name and id attributes provide the control’s name and id.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating Input BoxesNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Field LabelsYou can also expressly link a label with an associated text element for scripting purposes.The syntax for creating a form label is as follows:<label for=“id”>label text</label> Where id is the value of the id attribute for a field’s control element, and label text is the text of the label.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Setting the Width of an Input BoxTo change the width of an input box, use the width attribute, which is displayed as follows:#id {width: value} Where id is the id of the control and value is the width you want to apply to the input boxNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Setting the Width of an Input BoxNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating Option ButtonsNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, ComprehensiveOption buttons, or radio buttons allow users to make selections. Unlike selection lists, option buttons only allow the user to select one option at a time.

Creating a Group of Option ButtonsNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, ComprehensiveTo create a group of option buttons associated with a single field, add the elements:<input type="radio" name="name" id="id1" value="value1" /> <input type="radio" name="name" id="id2" value="value2" /> <input type="radio" name="name" id="id3" value="value3" /> to the Web form, where name identifies the field associated with the collection of optionbuttons; id1, id2, id3, etc. identify the specific options; and value1, value2, value3, etc.are the field values associated with each option.To specify the default option, add the following attribute to the <input> tag: checked="checked"

Creating a Selection ListA selection list is a list box from which a user selects a particular field value or set of field values. Selection lists are useful when there are a fixed set of possible responses from the user.You can create a selection list using the <select> element.You can specify each individual selection item using the <option> element.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Setting the Selection List SizeYou can change the number of options displayed in the selection list by modifying the size attribute. The syntax is as follows:<select size= “value”>… </select> Where value is the number of items that the selection list displays in the form.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Setting the Selection List SizeNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Making Multiple SelectionsAdd the multiple attribute to the select element to create multiple selections:<select multiple=“multiple”>… </select>New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Check BoxesTo create a check box, use:<input type=“checkbox” name=“name” id=“id” value=“value” />Where the name and id attributes identify the check box controls and the value attribute specifies the value sent to the server if the check box is selected.To specify that a check box be selected by default, use the checked attribute as follows:<input type=“checkbox” checked=“checked” />New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Specifying the Tab OrderUsers typically navigate through a form with the tab key.You can specify an alternate tab order by adding the tabindex attribute to any control element in your form.The syntax is as follows:<input name=“fname” id=“firstName” tabindex=“1” /> This syntax assigns the tab index number “1” to the fname field from the registration form.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Text Area ControlText area boxes allow users to enter comments.An input box would be too small to accommodate the length of text for this use.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Text Area ControlTo create a text area box, use the textarea element: <textarea rows="value" cols="value"> ... </textarea>Where the rows and cols attributes define the dimensions of the input box and the rows attribute indicates the number of lines in the input box.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Text Area ControlNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Form ButtonsButtons are a type of control element that performs an action.Types of buttons:Command buttonSubmit buttonReset buttonNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating a Command buttonCommand buttons are created using the <input> tag:<input type=“button” value=“text” />Submit buttons submit forms to the server for processing when clicked. Syntax is as follows:<input type=“submit” value=“text” />Reset buttons reset forms to their original (default) values. Syntax is as follows:<input type=“reset” value=“text” />New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Completed FormNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Designing a Custom ButtonUse the button element for greater artistic control over the appearance of a button.<button name=“name” id=“id” value=“value” type=“type”>content</button>Where the name and value attributes specify the name of the button and the value sent to a server-based program, the id attribute specifies the button’s id, the type attribute specifies the button type, and the content is page content displayed within the button.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Creating File ButtonsFile buttons are used to select files so that their contents can be submitted for processing to a program.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Hidden FieldsNew Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, ComprehensiveHidden fields are added to a form, but not displayed in the Web page. The syntax is as follows:<input type=“hidden” name=“name” id=“id” value=“value” />

Working with Form AttributesAfter adding the elements to your form, you’ll need to specify where to send the form data and how to send it. Use the following attributes:<form action=“url”method=“type”enctype=“type”>… </form> Where url specifies the filename and location of the program that processes the form and the method attribute specifies how your Web browser sends data to the server. The enctype attribute specifies the format of the data stored in the form’s field.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Working with Form AttributesThe method attribute can have one of two values:PostGetThe get method is the default; get appends the form data to the end of the URL specified in the action attribute.The post method sends form data in a separate data stream, allowing the Web server to receive the data through “standard input.”New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Using the mailto ActionThe mailto action accesses the user’s own e-mail program and uses it to mail form information to a specified e-mail address.Bypasses the need for server-based programs.The syntax is as follows:<form action-mailto:e-mail method=“post” enctype=“text/plain”> … </form>Where e-mail_addressis the e-mail address of the recipient in the form.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Tips for Creating Effective FormsMark fields that are required, but also limit the number of unrequired fields. Don’t overwhelm your users with requests for information that is not really essential. Keep your forms short and to the point.If you need to collect a lot of information, break the form into manageable sections spread out over several pages. Allow users to easily move backward and forward through the forms without losing data.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Tips for Creating Effective FormsProvide detailed instructions about what users are expected to do. Don’t assume that your form is self-explanatory.If you ask for personal data and financial information, provide clear assurances that the data will be secure. If possible, provide a link to a Web page describing your security practices.Clearly indicate what users will receive once the form is submitted, and provide feedback on the Web site and through e-mail that tells them when their data has been successfully submitted.New Perspectives on HTML and XHTML, Comprehensive

Html Xhtml And Xml 3e Tutorial 6

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