It has always sucked.... but then I started using VSD about 5 years or more ago and now it really sucks. But upwards and onwards.

I am going to putting one of our software packages up on the web. So I need to convert / build web forms with a bunch of text fields. The first image shows what I have now on a desktop app. The second image shows what I am trying to build in HTML. There are half a dozen forms like the first one with 30 to fields each and a couple of dozen forms with anywhere from 6 to a dozen fields.

Is there a better way to build this than just hand writing all the code. A perfect world would allow VSD to drop in text fields, text boxes, drop-downs etc. and let you generate HTML code. Then I could just add the scripting for the various fields.

Another quick question: should I be building my pages in HTML5 or XHTML?

If anyone has any ideas of the best way to do this I would really appreciate hearing about it.
Thanks
Raj

I don't know what happened to the images.

Here's the perfect way. Best part is that you'll be able to send the data to you host as MySQL or csv.
http://www.coffeecup.com/web-form-builder/

Hi Rolly:
Thanks. I did look at form builder, but the fields are way too big and I think I can only get 960 px wide form. Also for each field I have to have either numeric validation rules or else the data entered has to be validated against data in a table. It's too bad really because for my user request forms on my website the new form builder really is slick.

I also asked the same question on the programmer's site what those people are using. Dreamweaver seems to be in favour. You want sticker shock, check out Dreamweaver. They aren't shy about sucking everything including the lining out of your wallet.

I have Front Page 2003 as well as part of my Office package. That's not much use either. It seems more cumbersome to adjust the properties of things like drop-downs etc.

I think I will just stay with my Coffee. I figured out I can just cut and paste the rows of my table and then all I have to do is adjust the attributes of the pasted text fields. That makes it a bit faster than hand coding the whole thing a field at a time. I am going to try and make one of the extensive forms. If I can't make a decent form then I think I will just contract that part of it out.

Thanks again
Raj

Did you try and adjust the width in the form properties area. Works for me. WFB is fast, creates snazzy forms to a size that fits and to top it off works every time. saves to csv or fills out a MSQL database.

The best way to get help here is to give a URL, state exactly what you wish to achieve. Based on that you will get some positive suggestions. You have VSD then your pages are sorted. The form on your page should fit in nicely. Do you have the full Web Form Builder?. I looked at your images and WFB should be able to create a close copy.

Thanks Oz Guy
It is a datacentric application and the form builder will not work as each field has extensive data validation rules. I need to put in a bunch of PHP or Perl scripts for each field. Each client will enter data into the form 35 to 40 times, once for each patient that they see in a day. I want to do it in HTML so I can control all aspects of the data entry process. Ideally they won't have to even use the mouse once they get into data entry mode. I have played with form builder and I don't like the way it works for this application. I also want to maintain a degree of similarity beyween the exisiting desktop apps and the web app.

The url doesn't exist yet. I am still coding. Whatever pages I have are for testing only and are at //localhost

Regards and Happy Easter
Raj

For your application you could check out LimeSurvey. WFB is the ideal form builder for contact forms etc. But what you are after seems something more. It all comes down to how many entry points. If it all fits on a page then WFB can handle it and the HTML Editor or VSD will display it. When the form is reduced in width everything is reduced to suit. Dreamweaver is touted as it was good in its day but I believe a bit of a Dinosaur compared with the two above. If you use the Editor you can fit some PHP in the pages to sort the data input. The Regular Expression field goes a long way to check each entry for compliance.
Otherwise you will have a task, each manual entry point will have a onclick then a check to see if the data conforms. The HTML editor allows form design. Try the trial version. I always thing the form is the easy part it is what is done with the data that can be tricky. I purchased the HTML Editor solely for the 5% of the time I need to connect two VSD pages together. Why juggle with HTML when with VSD it is so easy.

My system is to create the pages in VSD to carry forms. Create a php page in the Editor to receive and sort the data so with VSD WFB and The Editor I can accomplish anything.

I guess I am not explaining myself well.

The maximum width of a WFB form is960 px (see attached image) I would really like 1024 or even 1280 px width.

The minimum width of a WFB field is 20% . For what I want to do this is a waste of screen space. WFB is great for enter your "name and email and send me information " type of forms.

I have all of Coffee Cups software except for the MP3 ripper. My original question asked if anyone knew of a way to generate the HTML code to build a form similar to the original image I posted instead of doing it all by hand.

I have the form completed now in HTML editor. Thanks