Archive for April, 2008
Why Does Submitting a Form Require Two Steps?
Many form processors let visitors submit a form in only one step: users fill in the form, and are done after pressing the submit button. With FormSmarts, there is an extra confirmation step, during which users are invited to review and confirm the information submitted. There are two strong reasons why we added the confirmation step.
The first reason is quality. FormSmarts is typically used for transaction where the information submitted is important. Important because the information collected is intended to be read by humans, rather than machines. Important because this information is often intended to be acted upon.
By allowing users to review and modify their submission, we increase the accuracy of the information you get in the end.
Form users understand that, and it increases their confidence that you value the information they are sending you. Most of times, confirmation will only add a few seconds to the whole transaction.
The second reason is security and usability. Many form submissions are automated, or even manual spamming attempts, known as form spam or comment spam.
When a user presses the submit button, a lot more happens on the server than you may suspect. If we spot a likely spamming attempt, we’ll ask the user to complete one or more tests (e.g. CAPTCHA test) on the confirmation page. But in the same time, the bulk of users will never be asked to waste time on a CAPTCHA test.
Based on years of experience, we have no evidence of users thinking they are done after the first step and not completing the form submission.
Posted on Apr 23rd, 2008 in form handler.
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Tags: captcha, form handler, form spam, form submission, usability
Form & Input Fields Now Editable
The form builder now allows the modification of input fields and web form details. Click on the 
icon to edit a form or field.
Posted on Apr 16th, 2008 in form builder.
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Tags: form builder, input field, upcoming, web forms
Getting Help on FormSmarts
At FormSmarts, we are pleased to let you use our web form platform absolutely free. However, whenever we have to help you in person, we ask you to spend a few minutes writing a review on one the following websites, before we take some of our time to help you.
- write a review on CGI Resource Index
- write a review on HotScripts
About Writing Reviews
We ask you to write reviews that are useful to readers, not spam. If you’re using FormSmarts, there must be reasons: talking about features you like about FormSmarts is probably a good start.
Contact Us When Done
Once you’re done, contact us.
Posted on Apr 16th, 2008 in form builder.
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Form Processor Upgrade: More Interactivity for Web Form Users and More
We’ll be upgrading at the end of the week some key components of FormSmarts. The changes will affect both form users and form owners.
More Interactivity for Web Form Users
- form users can modify any invalid data they may have submitted in the same page, rather than having to press the back button
- form users can modify submitted data even when form data is not cached by the browser, or if JavaScript is disabled
- we’ve added features to improve the experience of visually-impaired users equipped with screenreaders
Changes in Email Notification of Form Results
- new email subject format [Form #123] My Form Name #456
- the first part [Form #123] is fixed so that you can use it to create a filter within your mail client
- emails now include a unique transaction ID, e.g. #456 that can be used, for example, as an order number for order forms (form users are shown the transaction ID on the confirmation page)
- whenever your form contains an email field, you can now reply to sender hitting the reply button in your email client
- because of the previous point, we no longer show your pass-phrase in every email
Posted on Apr 15th, 2008 in form handler.
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Tags: email notification, form submission, web forms