Usable Forms for the Web [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Jon James (Author), Andy Beaumont (Author), Jon Stephens (Author), Chris Ullman (Author, Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Forms are an integral part of many web sites, whether they are registration forms, feedback forms, or order forms. However, forms are time consuming for the site user to fill out, and need to be implemented to be as usable as possible, otherwise they can be frustrating and annoying, spoiling the user experience.

This book takes all the hassle out of implementing forms in whatever way you wish, dealing with client-side forms in HTML and Flash, client- and server-side form validation, and server-side data processing. It provides code samples fully adaptable to your own needs, along with walkthrough tutorials on how they work, and an HTML form element reference. INCLUDES:
* Easy to Follow tutorials and reference on building form user interfaces with HTML and Flash
* Tips to follow for designing usable forms
* Client- and server-side data validation techniques using JavaScript, ASP and PHP
* Server-side data processing using ASP and PHP, with Access and MySQL databases
* Coverage of .NET Forms
* Extensive online support, including fully operational, downloadable code and a gallery of working form examples

From the Publisher

This book is for intermediate to advanced web professionals who need to implement a form on a web site as quickly as possible, with the minimum of hassle.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 415 pages
• Publisher: Peer Information; 1st edition (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904151094
• ISBN-13: 978-1904151098
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,357,731 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vendor-independent and full of valuable code & ideas, July 28, 2002

By	Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Intermediate web developers will find the collection of forms in this book to be an invaluable library, and the tutorial on the techniques behind the forms well written and sure to increase both skills and knowledge.

Chapter 1 starts off with the basics of HTML forms. While nothing in this section is likely to be new to intermediate developers, the next chapter, which covers form design, gives a wealth of information and tips for assuring usability and aesthetics.

The chapters that follow is the reason why this book is such a value - each covers a specific environment, including Macromedia Flash, Microsoft's ASP and .NET, and PHP and MySQL. There are also chapters on general form validation techniques and client-side form scripting.

I like the fact that the book takes special pains to ensure that all forms are browser-independent and W3C-compliant. One of the book's goals is to show you how to develop forms that will work with IE and Netscape (versions 4 and above for PCs and IE 5 and Netscape 6 and above for Macintosh browsers), as well as Opera version 5 and above for PCs and Macs.

While the book does not come with a CD ROM, all code examples can be downloaded from the publisher's web site, along with a bonus chapter titled "Alternative Uses for HTML Forms". If you do web development in any environment, using any of the covered tools you'll find yourself referring to this book often.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth $$$!, January 13, 2003

By	Matt "that's me" (NH United States) - See all my reviews

I've been trying to decide how to implement a data collection and information system based on a web interface for months. Since it's served in a Windows environment, the choices seemed endless...until I found this book. Probably the two most popular methods (before .NET *really* grabs hold) are presented side-by-side in a real-life application.

Before delving into the details of the two types, the authors review form contents/elements, give advice on form design, and cover briefly Flash forms for those users. The heart and soul is the comparison between Forms/ASP and PHP/MySQL. And, for completeness, the authors cover form validation (mostly client-side) and the basics of the future (as Microsoft sees it anyway), .NET framework.

The Pizza This order system (Forms/ASP) and online survey (PHP/MySQL) examples demonstrate how knowledgeable the authors are about "getting the job done...real time because its real work."

I highly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but ..., February 19, 2003

By	AD (Carmel, IN United States) - See all my reviews

A lot of useful and practical information, but the fonts are too small, and you will probably need a magnifier to read this book.