upload form data from existing form in FM database

[Shana]

My client has existing web forms and would like me to create a database that will read these forms when their clients fill them out and put them into a database to store information such as (name, age, etc.). I was wondering if this is possible. Do I need to recreate their forums in FM? Do they need a FM server? How do I get filemaker to interact with the webserver. Thanks for your help!

[Garry Claridge]

FM will receive web-forms through the WebCompanion and CDML.

The existing forms should be relatively easy to convert. This is if the fields in the Form match the fields in the database.

Do they have a web-server already. If so, what is it? Does it have php, or something similar?

All the best.

Garry

[Steve T.]

Hi, Shana! Technically, I believe you will need to acquire FileMaker Pro - Unlimited to serve db's on the web. You can use regular FileMaker client to web publish, test, and develop since it is as fully functional as FMP-u except for an IP address restriction if you're not sure you want to purchase FMP-u yet.

Minimally, an average computer with an internet connection and static IP address can do the job if they have FMP-u installed, but as Garry, asked... a lot depends on their current set up/server. If FMP will be the sole webserver, it can serve static HTML web pages as-is. In this scenario, you could put CDML code into the HTML pages to show/access db info.

--ST

[Unable]

You may need to rename all the fields in the db file(s) such that there are no spaces in multiword_fieldnames, but tht's really no big thing now, is it.

And forget about ScriptMaker on the web. It appears that it is far too complex for most developers to run scripts safely.

[Shana]

Well, i am not sure what the client has. I aquired this client on the side of my regular job to make some extra cash. I may have gotten over my head because although I have created several complex filemaker pro databases before at my current day job, I have never integrated iwth the web. I doubt this company has FM-U. What would that program cost? Would you suggest that I keep the client or turn them over to a more suitable person?

[Anatoli]

Go for it slowly and ask questions here.

It is fun and future for all db work. If it will not be integrated with Web, it will be death.

As SteveT pointed -- you can start immediately with any FM client. Only then, when all is OK you will need FM Unlimited, which is probably $999 as FM Server.

[Jeff Spall]

Hi, when you say "web forms" they must be currently submitting to something - either a database or a mail cgi. So I guess there's three options:

1 Change the form action to "FMPro", embed cdml tags and have the form post direct to your database - this is the easiest way but will need FMP unlimited or:

2 use the output of the original form - if it's a mailto form you can make and include an address to a mailbox that FileMaker can get the records from - POP3It extension is excellent for this and not expensive and you can sort out the email data into fields using calculations. This method only needs a single-user cpoy of FMP.

3 If the CGI can create a log file, turn on full logging and use that as an import file into FMP. We do this for a number of auto processes we have running so that we can see the results on web pages.

regards, jeff