Basic Question: Local Forms

[jeannegoodman]

When I want to create a form, I usually use FrontPage. I want to create
a form that would be used only on a local network.

I want to be able to have someone fill out a form in the lobby, the
data is sent to a text file, the office person clicks a button and it
populates the database with the most recently entered data.

I can take care of the population part. I just need you to point me in
the right direction to create a form where the data is stored an a
local computer.

Thanks,

Jeanne

 

[Brian McCauley]

When I want to create a form, I usually use FrontPage. I want to create
a form that would be used only on a local network.

I want to be able to have someone fill out a form in the lobby, the
data is sent to a text file, the office person clicks a button and it
populates the database with the most recently entered data.

I can take care of the population part. I just need you to point me in
the right direction to create a form where the data is stored an a
local computer.

What are you talking about?

No, seriously, what are you talking about?

Where you you think Perl fits in?

What sort of forms are these?

How much control do you have over what software is runnning on the
machines where this is happening?

I suspect you are talking about HTML forms. In general Perl does not
run in web browsers (although ActiveState do something called PerlScript
which works on at least one browser). In general script running
within web browsers have to use Javascript. And in general they cannot
access the local filesystem (otherwise any website you visit could read
all your private files).

You probably should consider installing a web server. A good one should
cost you $0.00.

 

[jeannegoodman]

Brian,

Well, perhaps I'm in the wrong place. I was looking for some kind of
CGI script that would transfer the data to an ascii file.

I have next to no control over the the software and no ability to get a
webserver.

I was imagining I could create a simple HTML form where the information
would post to an ascii file. Do I belong in a Java Group?

Jeanne

 

[Brian McCauley]

(e-mail address removed) rudely vomits TOFU in my face:

[ Please don't do that. Trim the quoted material and place your
responses after the bits you are replying to ]

Well, perhaps I'm in the wrong place. I was looking for some kind of
CGI script that would transfer the data to an ascii file.

I have next to no control over the the software and no ability to get a
webserver.

You are not just in the wrong place, you are in the wrong reality .

CGI scripts run on webservers. (Theoretically the CGI API could be used
in other ways but in practice it isn't much. I believe there's even at
least one web browser that can run CGI scripts locally. Kinda pointless
if you ask me since this is just the same as having a local webserver).

If you have no control over the software you are limited to using
programs that are already there. What options you have will therefore
depend on what's already there. It's relatively unlikely that Perl's
already there.

I was imagining I could create a simple HTML form where the information
would post to an ascii file. Do I belong in a Java Group?

You would probably do better in a JavaScript group (the JavaScript
language is distinct from the Java language).

However if, as you say, you have next to no control over the browser
that will be used to display the form you are unlikely to be able to get
that JavaScript to access the filesystem.

You could install some sort of trusted Java applet - but this is
definitely way out of my field of expertease. Any anyhow you said you
can't install stuff.

 

[A. Sinan Unur]

[ Please do not top-post. If you do not know what that means, please
refer to the posting guidelines for this group.
]

Well, perhaps I'm in the wrong place. I was looking for some kind of
CGI script that would transfer the data to an ascii file.

You seem to be interested in writing "some kind of CGI script" and also
seem not to know that running CGI scripts requires a web server. You would
best to check out CGI related information (google is your friend) and
setup a web server to run locally on your computer (Apache comes to mind).

When you get that set up working, and start writing a CGI script in Perl,
feel free to post here for help with any problems you encounter.

I have next to no control over the the software and no ability to get a
webserver.

How on earth is that possible? On second thought, I don't really want to
know.

I was imagining I could create a simple HTML form where the information
would post to an ascii file.
http://www.w3.org/CGI/

Do I belong in a Java Group?

Only you can decide that.