Formmail is one of the most popular script to use to send emails from an online
form to a web site owner. The script is free and reliable,
but does take a few steps to install properly.
| 1. Download
a copy of the script from Matt's Script Archive.
|
You can also click on the formmal.pl link on
the site to see the whole script in your browser,
then Select All > Copy, and Paste it into
a text editor like Notepad (not Word).
|
| 2.Open the file (if you haven't
already) and look for the line that looks like
this: |
@referers = ('scriptarchive.com','209.196.21.3');
|
| 3. Type your domain name into
this field. |
@referers = ('yourdomain.com','anotherdomain.com','209.196.21.3');
You can include multiple domains
on this field, but you must make sure each one
has 'single quotes' around it and a comma between
them. You can also include your site's IP address.
Most importantly, you need to include the domains
you plan on sending your form's email to so if
that's different from your site's domain be sure
to remember this. |
| 5. Save the file as formmail.pl |
|
| 6. FTP the file to your site's
cgi-bin or cgibin. |
Your hosting company should provide
a folder called cgi-bin or cgibin to store your
scripts. This is where you should transfer the
file. |
7. chmod the file to on your server
to 755. |
This can be done with CuteFTP
or other FTP programs by right-clicking on the
file on the server, then selecting Set Permissions,
CHMOD, or other similar settings. |
8. Type file location into your
browser to test script. |
At this point, you should be
able to see a welcome message from the file by
typing the file location into your browser. If
not, check the file permissions or file location. |
9. Add file location to your HTML
form properties. |
<form name="form1"
action="http://yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/formmail.pl"
method="post" >
|
10. Add recipients field to your
form. |
This must appear within your
form and traditionally is put just below your
opening <form> tag.
<input type=hidden name="recipient"
value="you@yourdomain.com"> OR
<input type=hidden name="recipient"
value="info@yourdomain.com,you@yourdomain.com"> |
11. Add subject line to your form. |
This will be the subject line
in the email you receive. Thank the value to anything
you want.
<input type=hidden name="subject"
value="Form Submission from site"> |
12. Add redirect to your form. |
If you want people to be redirected
to a page after filling out your form (recommended)
you need to create the page you want to send them
to, then put that page in your form properties.
<input type=hidden name="redirect"
value="http://www.yourdomain.com/thanks.htm"> |
13. FTP your form and thank you
page. |
|
14. Done. |
That should do it. For more information
on how this script can be used, additional field
options, and troubleshooting tips, check out Matt's
Script Archive. |
