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Forms for the Web

Dive into the world of web forms, learn how HTML and Flash forms work, understand HTTP protocol, validation methods (client-side, server-side, and database-level), and displaying server-side content in form fields. Discover different approaches to form creation and validation technologies to enhance user experience and data integrity.

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Forms for the Web

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  1. Forms for the Web Tom Muck www.dwteam.com www.dwteam.com

  2. Introduction • Forms are a way to pass name/value pairs to the server • Forms can be built in HTML or Flash • Concept is the same – execution is different www.dwteam.com

  3. What makes a great form? • Make it easy for the user • Get the information once • Move the user through the site quickly • Get the information accurately • End the experience www.dwteam.com

  4. The HTTP Protocol • Stateless environment • Cookies • Sessions www.dwteam.com

  5. Web Servers/Application Servers • What’s the difference? • How it fits together • Adding a Database tier Text Text Text Text Text Text Text Text Text www.dwteam.com

  6. HTML or Flash forms • Similar concept and execution • Which do you use? www.dwteam.com

  7. Beginning with HTML Forms • Form tag in HTML • 2 necessary elements • Method (get or post) • Action (page) www.dwteam.com

  8. Methods -- GET • Uses the query string • Standard text/html MIME header (enctype) • Not as secure as Post • Limited to a specific length, depending on browser. (between 1000-2000 characters) • Can be bookmarked and indexed • Can be manipulated by the user www.dwteam.com

  9. Methods -- POST • More secure • application/x-www-form-urlencoded MIME header (default enctype) • Can’t be altered easily • Not limited in length like GET • Cannot be bookmarked or indexed • Can be submitted again and again by an impatient user www.dwteam.com

  10. Action • Can be the same page or a different page • On the same page -- the way Dreamweaver MX code operates • On a different page in a “classic” two-page approach • Can also be made variable, or hold a special value www.dwteam.com

  11. The Dreamweaver environment • Creating a form • Form elements • Other HTML elements • Adding a table to hold the form • Adding images as submit buttons www.dwteam.com

  12. Validation • Client side • Server side • Database level www.dwteam.com

  13. Client-side Validation • Advantages • User-friendly • Avoids unnecessary server processing • Easily programmed with JavaScript • Easily added to Dreamweaver pages with Behaviors www.dwteam.com

  14. Client-side Validation • Disadvantages • Can be disabled by paranoid user • Can be disabled by malicious user • NOT 100% reliable solution • Good for the 1st wave of attack. Eliminate 90% of the bad data. www.dwteam.com

  15. Server-side Validation • Advantages • Can’t be disabled by the user • Can’t be seen by the user • Easily programmed with server-side code • Easily added to Dreamweaver pages with third party Server Behaviors www.dwteam.com

  16. Server-side Validation • Disadvantages • Requires a trip to the server • Eats up server processing time • Requires good knowledge of server-side coding • Use for 2nd wave of attack www.dwteam.com

  17. At the Database Level • Advantages • Last stop for data -- catch bad data before it goes in • Quick and efficient • Coded directly into the database schema www.dwteam.com

  18. At the Database Level • Disadvantages • Needs server-side logic to handle errors • Not easily coded by the Web programmer • Use for the 3rd and final wave of attack www.dwteam.com

  19. Displaying Server-side content in Form Fields • Use the appropriate server-side or client-side constructs • Form data • Cookie data • Database content • Use the Bindings panel – underused panel in Dreamweaver • “Bind” form elements to data www.dwteam.com

  20. Bindings Panel • Use the Bindings panel – underused panel in Dreamweaver • “Bind” form elements to data www.dwteam.com

  21. Flash Forms • Same protocols as HTML -- get and post • Same logic • User fills in form fields • Validate the fields • Submit the form • Process on the server • Return any results www.dwteam.com

  22. Flash Forms -- Validation • Validation routines built in ActionScript • Better than JavaScript -- can’t be turned off • Numerous JavaScript examples can be adapted easily • No built-in validations www.dwteam.com

  23. Summary • HTML and Flash: different ways to accomplish the same thing • Different methods of validation: no “best” way. • Q & A www.dwteam.com

  24. Where to Get More Information • www.dwteam.com • www.macromedia.com/desdev • www.dwfaq.com • www.macromedia.com/extensions • Dreamweaver MX: The Complete Reference, by Ray West and Tom Muck www.dwteam.com

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