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24. FINISHING UP FORM DESIGN (for now...)

This lesson presents some loose ends that are important, but just haven't yet been discussed.

You'll need 3 index cards (6 sides) for today's lesson.

INDEX CARDS #24:

The "TEXTAREA" TAG (24a)

What form element should be used for users to submit comments and such? The "TEXTAREA" tag creates a multiline, scrollable text entry box. Here's the structure:

<TEXTAREA NAME="name_of_textarea"
          ROWS="#_of_rows" COLS="#_of_columns"
          WRAP="off|virtual|physical">           
    initial_contents_of_text_entry_window
</TEXTAREA>

<!-- Here's some sample code: -->
<TEXTAREA NAME="self_description" ROWS="3" COLS="60" WRAP="virtual">
Please briefly tell us about yourself: </TEXTAREA>
<!-- This sample code produces: -->

ATTRIBUTES for the "TEXTAREA" tag (24b)

Note that <TEXTAREA> </TEXTAREA> is a container; the stuff inside becomes the initial contents of the box. Don't want any initial contents? Then leave the container empty.

The NAME attribute is required. When the form is sent to the form-processing program, the name that you assign gets "attached to" whatever the user types in.
The ROWS attribute specifies the number of rows in the displayed area.
The COLS specifies the width of the display area, in # of characters.
These attributes only affect the size of the displayed area; they don't affect how much the user can type in. Scrollbars are provided if needed.
If WRAP="off" (the default setting), then text is submitted just as it is typed in, with line returns only where the user presses the "Enter" key.
If WRAP="virtual", then the text will wrap when it reaches the end of the display area, but these "returns" will NOT be transmitted to the form-processing program. (The only returns that are transmitted are where the user presses the "Enter" key.)
If WRAP="physical", then text will wrap when it reaches the end of the display area, AND these "returns" WILL BE transmitted to the form-processing program.

"PASSWORD" INPUT TYPE (24c)

When you're typing in a password, you don't want what you're typing to show on the screen. There's a special input type to handle this situation:

<INPUT TYPE="password" NAME="password_purpose_identifier" 
                       SIZE=?  MAXLENGTH=?  VALUE=? >

<!-- Here's some sample code: -->
Please type your login password:
<INPUT TYPE="password" NAME="login_password" SIZE="10" MAXLENGTH="8">
<!-- This sample code produces: -->

The NAME, SIZE, MAXLENGTH, and VALUE attributes are supposed to work the same as for the TYPE="text". Try out the input box above; notice that the characters are obscured from view as you type. However, the actual characters ARE sent to the form-processing program, so this is NOT a secure system for transmitting passwords.

"HIDDEN" INPUT TYPE (24d)

Sometimes you need to send extra information to the form-processing program along with the user-entered data. The "hidden" input type handles this situation:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="extra_info_identifier" 
                     VALUE="extra_info_for_form_processing_program">

<!-- Here's some sample code: -->
Here's a hidden input type:
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="hidden_stuff"
                     VALUE="Here's what I want to be hidden.">
<!-- This sample code produces: -->

There's nothing there! (This is as it should be.) But, something like hidden_stuff=Here's what I want to be hidden. will indeed be passed to the form-processing program.

"SUBMIT" and "RESET" INPUT TYPES (24e)

The "SUBMIT" input type is used to transmit the form information to the form-processing program. The "RESET" input type reverts the form to its initial state (in case the user wants to start all over again). Here's the general structure of each:

<INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="optional_name_for_submit_button">
<INPUT TYPE="reset" VALUE="optional_name_for_reset_button">

<!-- Here's some sample code: -->
Thanks for taking the time to complete this form!<BR>
<INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Submit Form">
<INPUT TYPE="reset" VALUE="Reset Form">

<!-- This sample code produces: -->

IMAGE SUBMIT BUTTON (24f)

You can replace the SUBMIT button with an image, if desired:


<INPUT TYPE="image" SRC="address_for_image_for_submit_button">

Here's some sample code:

<FORM> Last Name: <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="last_name">
<BR> SUBMIT BY CLICKING HERE:
<INPUT TYPE="image" SRC="graphics/green_button.jpg">
</FORM>

This sample code produces:

Printable version of Index Card 24a

Printable version of Index Card 24b

Printable version of Index Card 24c

Printable version of Index Card 24d

Printable version of Index Card 24e

Printable version of Index Card 24f

WORKSHEET #24:

(W24.1) Please complete the online tutorial located at: http://www.cwru.edu/help/interHTML/toc.html (link is no longer valid) Read Chapter 8 (Forms Cleanup) and do the exercises at the end of Chapter 8. Some of the material is outdated in this section; again, this gives some good historical perspective.

ASSIGNMENT #24:

(A24.1) Please re-read the sections on "Password text entry" and "Hidden entry" on pages pages 236–237 of the Weasel Book. Also read pages 238–240 (from "Submit and reset buttons" up to "Creating Menus with the <select> tag").
(A24.2) Try out the <INPUT TYPE="submit"> and <INPUT TYPE="reset"> without the optional VALUE attribute, using both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. What do the buttons say, by default?
(A24.3) There are lots of free button graphics (and more!) at: http://www.grsites.com/webgraphics/ (link is no longer valid) Check it out!