Feedback Forms in Frontpage

For the many of our users who use Microsoft Frontpage, we do not support the Frontpage Extensions. The Frontpage Extensions are a series of add-ons for web servers that allow for limited dynamic/interactive content created in the Frontpage editor. You can, however, still use Frontpage to create forms that will work with the CGI scripts offered through the QWK.net Control Panel. The following steps will guide you through adjusting the Frontpage Feedback Form to work with the FormMail CGI script.

Requirements:

  • Microsoft Frontpage (These instructions were compiled using the Frontpage 2002 but should be similar for previous versions of Frontpage).
  • FormMail as provided and setup by the QWK.net Control Panel
  • Form created in your Frontpage web.

Instructions:

If you do not already have a feedback form in your Frontpage web, step one is to create one on a new blank page using the Insert menu. Insert -> Form -> Form. If you created a new form, add text input boxes for any input you wish to receive from your website visitor. You can find text boxes under the Insert menu. Insert -> Form -> Textbox

Once you have the form layout for your needs (appropriate input, and visual appearance), you need to adjust the form to use the FormMail CGI script.

  1. Right-click in the Form area and choose "Form Properties".
    Form right-click menu
  2. Under the "Where to store results" section choose "Send to other". The selected item in the drop down box should read: "Custom ISAPI, NSAPI, CGI, or ASP Script".
    Form Properties
  3. Click the "Options" button and add "/cgi-bin/formmail/formmail.cgi" (do not include the quotation marks) to the "Action" text box. Click "OK". This will take you back to the Form Properties.
    Form Properties - Options
  4. Now you need to add one or two hidden fields to the form.
    • Click the "Advanced" button.
    • In the "Advanced Form Properties", click the "Add" button.
      • For the Name, use "recipient" (no quotation marks).
      • For the Value, insert your target email address. This address should be in the domain you are hosting on QWK.net. If your domain is example.com, you should use an address such as feedback@example.com. If you need to send the feedback to your AOL, Hotmail, or local ISP email address, you will need to edit the FormMail.cgi file.
        Advanced Form Properties - recipient
    • Once you have entered the email address, click the "OK" button.
    • OPTIONAL - Click the Add button once again and add a "subject" hidden field. You can use any value for the subject. This is what will appear on the subject line of the email FormMail.cgi sends you.
      Advanced Form Properties - subject
    • Click OK to add the field.
    • Click OK in the Advanced Form Properties to return to Form Properties.
  5. Click OK one last time to exit the Form Properties
  6. Save your new/updated feedback page.
  7. Upload your Frontpage web to your website on the QWK.net servers.

Test your form out. Fill out the form and click "Submit". You should receive an email to the address you placed in the hidden recipient field within minutes of submission.