Below you can see different form elements. The HTML for each is below.

This is a radio button

This is a check box

This is a drop-down box (only ONE choice is allowed)

This drop-down box allows multiple selections (press shift each time you make a selection).

small box / large box / radio button / check-box / drop-down boxes / submit and reset
The first thing you must do with a form, is specify that is IS a form and where the results are going to go. You can do this in the following way:

<FORM METHOD=POST ACTION="mailto:queequeg52@hotmail.com">

METHOD=POST means that the results will be e-mailed, and ACTION="" gives the appropriate e-mail address.

HOW TO MAKE A SMALL BOX:
Use the following HTML:

<INPUT NAME="small_box" TYPE="TEXT" VALUE="This is a small box " SIZE="50">

The INPUT NAME is up to you. It will appear in the form which is e-mailed to you, so you should make it appropriate to the text which will appear in it. For instance, if it will contain someone's e-mail address, you should have INPUT NAME="email" or something to that effect. The VALUE is the text which will appear inside the box. The size is up to you .. just experiment with it!

HOW TO MAKE A LARGE BOX:
Use the following HTML :

<TEXTAREA NAME="large_box" VALUE="this can be left blank">This is where you put the text which you wish to appear inside the box</TEXT AREA>

Again, the NAME will appear on the e-mail you receive. The only difference between this large box and the small box is that the visible text appears between the > and the <

HOW TO USE RADIO BUTTONS:
Radio buttons can be used to allow the user to make choices in survey, for instance. Use the following HTML:

<INPUT NAME="radio_button" TYPE="RADIO">This text will appear AFTER the radio button

You can change the name tag and the text which appears after it. Use as many as you wish.

HOW TO USE A CHECK-BOX:
A check-box is another alternative to a radio button. Use this HTML:

<INPUT NAME="check_box" TYPE="CHECKBOX"> This is where your following text goes

As usual, the name can be whatever you want it to be.

 HOW TO USE DROP-DOWN BOXES:
Use this HTML:

<SELECT NAME="drop_down" SIZE=1>
<OPTION> Choice 1
<OPTION> Choice 2
<OPTION> Choice 3
<OPTION> Choice 4
<OPTION> Choice 5
<OPTION> Choice 6

Change the name as appropriate. The SIZE= commands specifies how many of your options can be seen. Add as many options as you wish. You can allow multiple selections by changing SELECT NAME to SELECT MULTIPLE NAME

HOW TO END A FORM:
Now that your user has filled out his/her form, they need a way to send it! Use the following HTML:

<INPUT NAME="Submit" TYPE="SUBMIT" VALUE="Send it away!">
<INPUT NAME="reset" TYPE="RESET" VALUE="Start again!">
</FORM>

Change only the VALUE of each to whatever you want.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL BROWSERS CAN COPE WITH mail:to FORMS, SO ALWAYS PROVIDE AN E-MAIL ALTERNATIVE. THE FORM ABOVE SHOULD WORK FOR YOU, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE RESULTS LOOK LIKE (THEY LOOK A BIT COMPLICATED!!). IF YOU WOULD PREFER SIMPLY TO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR FORM AND LET ME MAKE IT, I WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING .. JUST SAY THE WORD!! LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS! :-)

Carol
mcfc1st@aol.com