Beginning with forms

[snappy]

I would like to add a booking/request for information type form to a site that I've been working on.
My only basic knowledge to date is HTML & CSS.
I guess I need to start looking at php don't I?

Can anyone point me s-l-o-w-l-y in the direction I need to take?

[pdbuddy]

Go to http://www.forms4free.com to get everything you need. With Forms4Free, you can make a free HTML form, and get the formmail file for only $19.95 (Formmail file is the PHP file that will process your web form and email to you the answers from the form.

[flann]

are you looking at storing this information in a database? I know that whenever I have a form that I email to myself, I also store it in a database because email isn't always perfect. If this form that you're going to get is very important to you, you might consider storing it somewhere. Having said that, php mysql is an excellent and pretty easy option to get started with. First check to see if your hosting company allows php and mysql. After you know if you can do it, i'd be happy to help you get started on it.

[JustinStudios]

Ok, well you could pay $20 to get a script already done for you, or you could learn this yourself. My philosophy is learn it yourself, "You can give a man a fish and feed him for a day, or you can teach him to fish and feed him for life". So, go to w3schools and learn! http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_forms.asp That takes you directly to forms and PHP, they also have how to email the data back to you.

[snappy]

I agree! I want to learn it for myself. Spent too long doing things half cocked and getting all tied up so, what's the best/quickest way to learn from scratch?

Yeah, I guess storing the contacts in a database seems like a good idea for future use, but ain't there some data protection stuff to consider (it's for a car hire business website). For now I just want to get a handle on it, but I have no idea where to start!!!

My hosting co. allows PHP and MySQL.

[flann]

if you're sending this data through unsecured email, than storing the same data in your database will be fine.

[JustinStudios]

Yeah, Sending data over email is a lot less secure then sending it to a MySQL database. But like I said, follow the link in my above post, that'll get you on the right track.