Response-O-Matic is a free service that takes care of processing your forms, and sending you the data via email.  Oh yeah, and it's free.

Response-O-Matic does two things. First, it emails you the information your website visitor entered in the form. Second, it displays a Thank You page for your visitor which also contains the contents of the completed form, so the visitor can review what was entered.

This tutorial teaches you in a fast step-by-step manner, how to use Response-O-Matic to process your forms.

1

  
  Make your form

First, you'll need to create the form on your Web page.  For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, please refer to the Tewtorial on Forms.  But, be sure and skip step 10 since this lesson replaces that step in order to use Response-O-Matic.

2

  
  Response-O-Matic settings

After you design your form, you need to add hidden fields containing instructions that tell Response-O-Matic how to process the form. 

Okay, let's get started.

Start by selecting (left clicking) the Layout Region where you have your form.

This will bring up the Layout Region Properties palette.

Click on the "Settings" button near the bottom right of the palette.

This will bring up the Form Settings window.

When you are done, it should look like the above graphic.

Type "My Form" in the Form Name field.

Type http://www.response-o-matic.com/cgi-
bin/rom.pl in the Action field.

Your form must know where to send the form data for processing when your visitor clicks on the Submit button. This is done with the Form Action and Method commands.

It's all too easy to make typing mistakes that cause forms to fail. So if the form action you need is in writing on your computer, it can be best to copy it, then paste it into the field. So in this case, you could swipe over http://www.response-o-matic.com/cgi-bin/rom .pl, choose Edit/Copy, then click in the Action box and press ^V to paste.

 

Make sure Method is set to Post.

Now its' time to add some items into the Hidden Fields.

Click once on the plus symbol to bring up the "Enter Value" window.

Type (or copy!) "email_subject_line in the name field

Type a subject title (such as "Feedback"), in the Value field. This appears as the subject on your email so it's easy to recognize. This also allows your e-mail program to filter the messages into special folders, if you set it up to do so.

Click OK.

Now do the same for the following Name and Values, following the same steps above:

Name: thank_you_title
Value: Thank you and have a great day!

Name: return_link_url
Value: type in the link to your Web page

Name: your_email_address
Value: type in your e-mail address

Click "OK" to close the "Form Settings" window when you are all done

Congratulations! You did it!  The best thing to do now is to actually test out your form.  So, once you have the form looking the way you want, do the following:

Preview the form page to make sure it looks the way you want it to look.

Get on-line.

Publish your site.

Fill out your form and press the Submit button.

You should receive an e-mail containing the data you have entered into the form.  If it works and you received the e-mail response from your form, then jump up and with the exuberance of the "Crocodile Hunter," and scream, "Woo Hoo!"

If not, you may have missed something along the road to good form.  In either case, take a break, have some cake and then review what you have done until you find a remedy.

About the Author Rick Tew is the founder of Tew Ryu the Martial Science.  His programs focus on three areas of human development: Mind- personal development seminars Body- physical energy through martial arts  Spirit- team travel and adventure When he isn't busy with the above, he enjoys expressing his creative talents through writing and web site creation.