The following information is hoped to aid people wanting a great deal of functionality in their email submissions. The Niagara.com mail form is loosely based upon Selena Sol's Form Processor CGI. However due to several security concerns and cgi limitations this form was modified to suite Niagara.com's clients. Before attempting this process it is strongly suggested that the working example is examined (View-Source). Much of learning to make HTML documents is learned from looking at the work of other people. An example of a working version of this form is available to view source at:

example-form.html

Hidden Components and Variables

The following HTML tags are required to make the CGI perform to your expectations. Much of what is listed below is pretty standard stuff.

<FORM ACTION = "http://cgi.niagara.com/cgi-bin/icn-form-mail.cgi" METHOD = "POST">

The above is pretty standard stuff...this designates the cgi that is being used and how.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "mailto" VALUE = "webmaster@niagara.com">

This denotes who receives the email. This must include a username and a FQDN.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "html_response"
        VALUE = "Thank you for submitting your personal information.">

This tells the cgi to print out the just submitted data and say "Thank you..."

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "email_subject"
        VALUE = "Monster Truck Order Form">

This tells the cgi what to place as a subject in the email sent to the person specified above.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "variable_order"
        VALUE = "name|client_email|sign|purpose">

This tells the cgi what order to print the data in both the web page and email sent.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "required_variables"         VALUE = "name|client_email">

This tells the cgi which variables are required. Please always keep the client_email required. Default email address without the client_email is webmaster@niagara.com. If required no problems occur.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "url_of_this_form"         VALUE = "http://www.niagara.com/help/web/cgi//forms/example-form.html">

In case there is a submission problem the cgi can send people back to the form to complete the missing parts.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "background" VALUE = "">

The output from the form mail contain background images. This must be the full URL to the image.

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "bgcolor" VALUE = "FFFFFF">
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "text_color" VALUE = "000000">
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "link_color" VALUE = "">
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "vlink_color" VALUE = "">
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "alink_color" VALUE = "">

The above simple set the Body tag in the output web page.
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "response_title" VALUE = "Thank You">

Pretty obvious...

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "return_link_name"         VALUE = "The Niagara.com Home Page">

Name of the link you wish to point to...

<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" NAME = "return_link_url"         VALUE = "http://www.niagara.com">
Where to go one the page has produced the output.

Below is simply the user's view of the form.
<P><B>Name (Required):</B><BR> <INPUT TYPE = "text" NAME = "name" SIZE = "35" MAXLENGTH = "35">
    

<P><B>Email (Required):</B><BR>
<INPUT TYPE = "text" NAME = "client_email" SIZE = "35" MAXLENGTH = "35">
    
<P><B>Astrological Sign:</B><BR>
<INPUT TYPE = "text" NAME = "sign" SIZE = "35" MAXLENGTH = "35">
<P><B>Astrological Sign:</B><BR>
<INPUT TYPE = "text" NAME = "sign" SIZE = "35" MAXLENGTH = "35">
<P><B>Purpose in Life: </B><BR>
<INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="purpose" SIZE="35" MAXLENGTH="35">

<P><CENTER>
<INPUT TYPE = "submit" VALUE = "Tell me about yourself!">
</CENTER>
</FORM>