Business needs to collect all kinds of data on the Net using Form. To collect right data that database can understand you need Smart Form. Otherwise, Garbage In. Garbage Out.
Business uses more forms as the alternative for email in order to avoid spam, spy, and virus. Also email leaves traces, forms do not.
Web Database Smart Form is very complex to design for even experience Web Developers.
So put yourself in this situation let's say you have a business, or work for a company that doesn't have web developers available in the office. You need to collect all kind of data from customers, from suppliers, from warehouse, from in-house staffs... What can you do in efficient way to collect data ?
Phone, Fax, Email, it is not working. The only efficient way to collect data is the Net.
- For sure, you will never ever design smart form without any web skills.
But, now, there is solution. myNet.Office will help you design complex Smart Form without any web skills.
FIRST, WHAT IS WEB DATABASE FORM?
Web Form is used to collect data from website. There are 2 different type of web form: Text Based Processing Form and Database Based Processing Form.
• Text Based (HTML) Processing Form: The most common form, easy to design. Can be found in most websites, specially the static website. It is easy to design by using software like FrontPage, Dreamweaver... Data collected as a text.
For example, data of number (35, 23.50..), date (2008-12-25), data and time ( 2008-12-25 15:30) ... are treated as text (words, or characters). In database this is dangerous because lack of data integrity. Database can't run or manipulate data correctly. Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you don't have database or don't care then it is OK.
For example, if you have a submit form to collect SUB_TOTAL as Text not as DOUBLE number. Then the database can't do the calculation on this data .
• Database Based Processing Form: You can't design this kind of web database form by using software like FrontPage, Dreamweaver... Data collected must be MATCHED with its DATABASE DATA TYPE. For example, data of number (35, 23.50..) collected as DOUBLE. Numbers like 25, 100, 2512.. must be collected as INTEGER, date (2008-12-25) as DATE, data and time ( 2008-12-25 15:30) as DATETIME, including other advanced data type like ENUM, SET, TEXT, BLOB...
• Garbage In Garbage Out, If you collect wrong data, the potential damage to your database is huge. Since business is all about Data.
WHAT IS WEB DATABASE SMART FORM?
• Web Database Smart Form: Has all these characteristics, such as understand complex data type, form send email, plus customized fields.
1) Smart Form Has Database and Support Database Data Type. Including advanced data type like ENUM , SET, DATETIME, BLOB, DOUBLE
2) Smart Form Automatically Generate GUI Interface. Example, when form encounters ENUM type, it creates pull down box, or check boxes for SET data type..
3) Smart Form Send Email. After people submit form, you can setup Email Manager so that form to send email to both people submit form and in-house staffs.
4) Smart Form Access by Private Link. You create a Url link to the form, not submit at website, then send email this private link Form for both people and in-house staffs.
5) Smart Form Customized Selected Fields. You can select certain fields to collect data. There are fields used in-house that you don't want people to see on form.
6) No Web Programming Skills required.
Case Study
The Company spends too much time On Phone Support and other Inquiries for customers. Now, it wants to use web based support for Customers submit their questions, feedback... to reduce time for Phone Support, for answering phone. The Company needs a web based Take Message and Technical Support Center for supporting customers the products and services. The Company wants the Web Based Take Message and Support Center has the following ability:
1) Web based Database Form Support Customers submit Question, Inquiry, Feedback, Ask, Help through a web based form. So that data collected is available in database for in-house staffs supporting, sharing and collaborating.
2) Form Send Email the form Content, the Question, Inquiry, Feedback To Black Berry email, to various in-house staffs, departments as soon as people submit form. The in-house staffs can see the question, inquiry in their email and reply. They don't need to login website if not in office.
3) In-house Support Staffs Can also Send email from database By just click on that record of that question. They don't need to open Out Look email.
4) Can selected private Fields used by in-house staffs privately used fields of the table that customers submit form can't see. It is designed to keep track info and activity of in-house staff: Such as, Who answered that question? What time? ... Usually when you design a form, it maps a whole table fields in order to create a form. Thus customers can see all even fields that you don't want them to access or see. Now, Smart Form Builder can map only selected fields. Therefore, customers don't see other fields that could be used by in-house staffs.
THE RESULTS
As a result, the Company not only saves a lot of time for on phone support. But also it has the database of all customers' Questions, Feedback/Asks, Inquiries... for product research, and other purposes, sharing and collaborating on data.
BUT, FIRST THE PROBLEMS
• The current Company Website can't have Web Based Support Center Because it is built with no database back-end, or no tools.
• There is no in-house web developer Contact the Web Developers or Web Company they say will take time to build database, tools... It costs a lot.
So what can you do in order to design this web based Take Message and Support Center without any web skills? Learn myNet.Office.
- There are no web based software that lets you, without any web skill, design this advanced web development for even web developer.
In order to design this web based Message and Support Center, you need to do 3 main steps:
1) Design new table to hold the data.
2) Design the Smart Form using myNet.Office Smart Form Builder. Then insert it in a web page or create a private link to this form.
3) Setup Email Manager in order to send email.
In order to design new table, you need to collect data. In order to collect data properly, you need to understand Data Type. This process called DATA COLLECTION.
In order to store data, the table needs to know what kind of data it stores for example, NAME, ADDRESS. Is it a Number, or a Date, or Words, Characters, Text? This is called Data Type. Here are commonly used Data Type of Web Database that you need to understand.
| DATA TYPE | EXAMPLE | DESCRIPTION |
| Varchar (Words, String, characters up to maximum 250 characters) |
NAME, EMAIL, ADDRESS, PHONE .. | This is data type used for people NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL.. It represents for the data of text, words, characters.. that is not Number, nor Date... |
| Int (INTEGER number) |
Age, Number of Employees, Quantity... | This is data type used for Even Number that can't be divided into decimal. For example, if you want to collect data of how many employees of a company, you name COMPANY_SIZE is a Integer = 50. Not 50.5 employees. |
| Float, Double ( Number of decimal) |
Salary, Revenues, Sub_Total, Price | This is data type used for Decimal Number. Float or Double is the same but Double can hold bigger values. |
| Date (yyyy-mm-dd) |
Meeting_Date, Start_Date ... | This is data type used for Date. For example, Meeting_Date = 2009-12-25 |
| Datetime (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) |
APPOINTMENT_DATE, Meeting_Date, | This is data type used for Datetime. For example, Meeting_Date = 2009-12-25 16:30 |
| ENUM (Select 1 choice in many choices selection) |
SUBJECT_INTEREST Enum ( 'Product Development', 'Services', 'Help And Inquires', 'Others Interest' ) | This is data type used for when there are many options,
but choose only one. myNet.Office Form Builder will create an option
list for user to pickup one choice. Example, You want users to select only one the SUBJECT_INTEREST from the pull down option list. |
| SET (Select many choices in many options selection) |
LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES Set ( 'Cryptopology', 'Compaq Server XP 35', 'Perfect
Mail', 'Cryptocard', 'Ebusiness Development Services', 'Online Consulting Services'), |
This is data type used for when users can select many
choices in a set of many options. myNet.Office Form Builder will
create many check boxes t for user to check many choices. Example, you have a LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES of many products and services you want users to select as many as they wanted by click on the check boxes [v] |
| TEXT, BLOB (A text container up to 65K of characters ) |
DESCRIPTION, COMMENTS, RESUME... | This is data type used for when you want to hold up to
65 thousands characters. Example, you have a field RESUME for users to paste and submit their resumes. BLOB is similar to TEXT but case sensitive when searching. For example, you use BLOB when you want to hold text that can see and search the different between John Smith and john smith. in TEXT John Smith and john smith is the sae, no case sensitive. |
These are the web database data type that you will use when creating a
new table or new form. Most HTML form collects all data is words, or text,
or string. It is dangerous because the integrity of data is lost. For
example, if the form collect data for Sub_Total as a string, or text then
the database can't do the calculation for Sub_Total because it is not a
number.
Create a new Database Table for the Message
and Support Center| CREATE NEW TABLE USE CODE | HOW TO CREATE NEW TABLE |
|
CREATE TABLE my_support_center ( ID int not null auto_increment primary key, NAME varchar (50), Email varchar (50), Phone varchar (50), Company varchar (50), Submit_Date Datetime, SUBJECT Enum ( 'Question', 'Feedback/Ask', 'Help', 'Others Interest' ), LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES Set ( 'Hosting Server', 'Note Book', 'Hardware Product', 'Software Product', 'E-Development Services', 'Consulting Services', 'Training Services', 'Sales Inquiries'), Description Text, Name_Of_Support_Staff varchar(50), Staff_Email varchar(50), Staff_Phone varchar(50), Support_Time Datetime, Office_Notes Text ) ANALYZE THE DATABASE SCRIPT CODE. - CREATE TABLE = Syntax to create new table. - my_support_center = Name of new table - ID int not null auto_increment primary key = Name field = ID. Defined as Primary Key and integer number and auto increment. - NAME varchar (50) : NAME = name of the field. varchar = Data type of varchar - (50) = Size of this field that can contains 50 characters for NAME of that person. - Code is not case sensitive. NAME or Name or name the same. - Table name should be small case. |
- Copy and Paste the blue code in the [Code Area] of myNet.Dbase.
The click [Submit SQL Code] button. It
will create the table
my_support_center. - Code is not case sensitive. EMAIL or Email is same. - You can also create new table using Create New Database Table Using Gui Template Tool. But use Code is faster. It is like English-syntax language. - See HOW TO CREATE NEW TABLE. - This database my_support_center contains advanced Data Type like: - SUBJECT Data type = Enum Because Enum data type is used when there is a selection of one option in many options. - LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES data type = Set Because Set data type allows to select not on1 but many options. It is in the opposite with Enum. - Submit_Date Data Type = Datetime Because it is format: yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM 2009-12-28 15:35 - Office_Notes Data Type = Text Because it can contains text up to 65000 characters. |
Picture: Copy the database script. -> Paste in the Code Area -> Click
[Submit SQL Code] button will create a new web database table
my_support_center. with default a new empty
record.
DESIGN A CUSTOMIZED SMART FORM
MY_SUPPORT_CENTER AND A
WEBPAGE TO CONTAIN THE FORM- First, Design web page named Support Center. From [Net.Page]
-> [New Page] -> Enter at top left corner box [Fname] =
Support
Center -> Click to select Menu Navigation for this page = Sub
Menu (the round button) -> From the
menu pull down list display of all web pages, you select the web page
Become a partner so that this web page
Support Center becomes its sub menu. In the
editor area, design the content of the web page Support Center. -> Click
on [Save] button to save. Click on [View] to view this page
in real time. (See
picture) Now, you have just created a Support Center
page under the main menu page Become a partner.
- Next, from main menu [Insert] -> Select submenu [Smart
Web Database Form Builder] will pops up an window interface (GUI). You
fill these information:
- At 1) FORM TASK = Support_Center. Which is the Task of this form used as Name for this form.
- At 2) FORM FORMAT = Table Format Form. It is the form format display. There are 2 formats: Table format and Blue Round Corner Format also called Nifty.
- At 3) FORM TABLE = my_support_center. It is the database table that contains the data submitted by the form.
- At 4) Select Webpage = Support center. It is the webpage you just created and save in step 1. You can select any webpage. It you don't select, then it assumes that you create a Private Link Form. A kind of form that is not embedded in webpage. People access to Form from its link in email.
- At 5) Check box [v] = Do You Want to Receive Email.. So that Smart Form will send the content of the form to people you set up in Email Manager.
Click [Next>] button.
- In Step 2 of 2 SMART FORM BUILDER, you click to select fields of
table my_support_center in the left column.
Then click [->] arrow to move these selected fields into the right
column. Do not remove the preselected fields ID (table primary key), and
EMAIL. Then click [OK] button.
Picture: Step 2 of 2 SMART FORM BUILDER
CONGRATULATION. YOU HAVE JUST CREATED SMART FORM
WITH COMPLEX DATA TYPE IN JUST 15 MINUTES.
This is the result of the web page Support Center that contains the form My Support Center created by Smart Form Builder.
Picture: From the menu [Become a partner] -> Select sub-menu [Support Center] -> Automatically generated this smart form My Support Center. Which is also the name of its table. The field SUBMIT DATE is input with default = that current Datetime. The SUBJECT enum field becomes a option pull down list to select only 1 choice. The field LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES is SET data type becomes a set of check boxes that allows users to select many choices.
• There other fields of database my_support_center are not shown because they are office used fields and not selected.
Picture: Select another Form Format = Blue Round Corner Nifty Format (or Nifty format).
- All checkboxes auto created you don't need to design any interface.
Picture: The input data above is record ID=2. The SET selection of LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES is contains all information check box choices
- The in-house fields NAME_OF_SUPPORT_STAFF, OFFICE_NOTES ...: are not selected so people don't see in submit form. These fields are used only by in-house staff to enter data. We call these fields are in-house fields.
Picture: To Edit or Update the record ID=2. Just click on first row ID=2 will open this Data Entry. You see that the SET field LIST_PRODUCTS_SERVICES re-construct and automatically checked all correct boxes correspondent to the previous selection. You modify the record, re-check the boxes will update new value.
- This is 1-Column format more Vertical. Click on [FORMAT] button to select 2 columns format more Horizontal.
Use private Url link smart form when you don't want people to submit form at the web page. You just send them the link to the form.
Here is you can do:
1) Open Smart Form Builder from [Insert] menu -> Follow its steps but DO NOT SELECT THE WEB PAGE to insert. Just create its Name Task and other steps.
2) Send Email this Url link = http://www.mycompany.com/pub/SmartFormBuilder_Table.jsp?tb=my_support_center&task=Form_Support_Center
Task Name = 1 word. If you separate name like Form Support Center it will automatically replace space with underline dash = Form_Support_Center.
For Round Corner Blue Form Format Url Link = http://www.mycompany.com/pub/SmartFormBuilder_Nifty.jsp?tb=my_support_center&task=Form_Support_Center
For new form, just change the Domain name, the Table Name and Task Name.
DESCRIPTION FOR SMART FORM WITHOUT WEBPAGE EMBEDDED
Usually, the Smart Form that comes with the web page like this form has web pages as its description to display on the top of the form. If you use Private Link Form, there is no webpage came with it as description. But you want people know what is the purpose of this form for, you want to describe about this form. Then you can do this:
• Open table x_property where the information property of this form is stored -> Click on the Task Named row that is used to indentified the ID of this form, in this example = Support_Center -> At the field DESCRIPTION, which is the Text Area, type the description of this form. For example this HTML code:
"<font size=3> MESSAGE AND SUPPORT CENTER </font> <BR> <font size=3> Our goal is to help you get the fastest answer for your question within 24 Hr. </font>
NOTE: If you don't HTML web page code, use myNet.Word -> Copy HTML code -> Paste in this area. Or just use normal text.
Now, the form will come with description to display on the top.
* OPTION *
SETUP EMAIL MANAGER TO SEND DATA TO IN-HOUSE STAFFS AND USER AFTER FORM
SUBMITAfter you inserted the web database form from [Insert] menu, myNet.Office immediately creates an email record with ETYPE = Support_Center, which is the name of Form Task. See picture Step1. The default is not send email after users submit the form. In order to let this form send email then you need to setup. In order to enable email send out, you need to setup by entering data: From myNet.Dbase -> Open Email Manager database = x_email_property -> Edit data record field ETYPE: = Support_Center.
• ETYPE: = Support_Center, which is the Form Task, not the database name, is automatically input when inserting web database form at Insert menu. Don't need to enter anything.
• EFROM_AUTH_PW: Your email password of the EFROM email. The password of info@yourcompany.com
• EFROM: Like the From Email, when people receive email will see from where. In this Example = info@yourcompany.com
• ETO: Like the Email To, email addresses of your in-house staffs who will receive the emails. As many email addresses as you want. Separated by comma. Example: sales@mycompany.com, support@mycompany.com, helpdesk@mycompany.com ...
• ECC : Like your CC = Carbon Copy - The emails addresses of people, likely, in-houses staffs will receive this email notification.
• EBCC : Like your email BCC - The emails addresses of people, likely, your Boss, Managers will receive email notification. Unlike ECC emails, BCC emails no one will see their email addresses.
NOTE: Put as many as possible emails, Black Berry emails of support staffs who will receive emails when customer submit form. Thus your in-house staffs will receive emails 24/7, forward to email every where they are, at home, in office, in Black Berry.
- When you put emails in EBCC, customers will not see their emails. But customers can see ECC emails.
• ESUBJECT: The email subject. In this Example = ** Support Center **
• ELOGO: the Url link picture of your Logos. In this Example this link to the logo picture.
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 width=50% border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><font color=blue><B>NetOffice, Inc. </B></font>
<BR><A href=http://www.mycompany.com/pub/MemberLogin.jsp target=_blank><IMG src=http://www.mycompany.com/images/emlog.jpg border=0></A>
<BR><IMG height=85 src= http://www.mycompany.com/images/mylogo.jpg width=80></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
OR YOU CAN USE myNet.Word to create the Logo file. Then Copy the generated code and Paste in ELOGO area.
• EMESSAGE : The content of email. You can use myNet.Word to create a beautiful content email. Then save in EMESSAGE. No more plain text.
In this Example = *** Message sent from Support Center ***
• STATUS : Two values = No Send or Yes Send. To send this email or not. The default is: No Send. Which means after this form is submitted, no email send to any one. In this Example select = Yes Send
• MEMBER_RECEIVE: Values is: yes or no. The default is no. If you want this Member, or people after submitted the form will also receive the email. In this Example select = yes
How does the form know the email of people submit the form in order to send email?
- It looks up the field = EMAIL on the form where the member filled his/her email. And the form sends to this email. So make sure you create a form must contain email of member.
- Or, if this is an exist member, it will send to the email login of this member.
- The content of the form data is also the content of email.
After setup, the form now is able to send email every time people submit the form.
THE EMAIL CONTENT OF THE FORM IS SENT TO CUSTOMER AND IN-HOUSE STAFFS AFTER SUBMITTED.
Picture: This is the email of the form content are sent to both in-house staffs and customer received.
- Email of customer= build_eshop@yahoo.ca. Email of in-house staff = daviddnct@yahoo.com.
- There are many in-house staffs' emails who also receive this email but you don't see displayed here because their emails are in BCC.
- Because in Smart Form Builder, at STEP 1 OF 2, you select check box [v] to receive email. This is mail is setup in Email Manager = table x_email_manager
- If you don't want the person who submit this form not receiving this email. In table x_email_manager, select field MEMBER_RECEIVE = no.
- Your in-house staffs are able to receive emails any where they are, in their Black Berry. They reply the email customer requests quickly. When they login Admin, they will update question in database for other support staffs to know.
It is very simple. Since the form is controlled by its database table.
• You Add more fields in the table my_support_center to expand the forms. Or Delete the fields of that form table will change the form interface.
• The property of the form is in table x_property. Where you Change/Edit what fields is selected for form. You don't have to go over the Steps setup again.
If you know HTML code, CSS style sheet, you can change the look-and-feel of the form.
Leave the code section in the tag <% ... program code ... %> UNCHANGED.
Business needs to collect data. Just think Form likes like Data Entry of database table.
Use smart form to design:
• Take Message Center: Just like Call Center. Messages submit from the web form will forward not only to Black Berry, staffs' emails but also it is saved in database.
• Technical Support Center: Rather calling in Call Center, you let customers submit questions, helps from web based to reduce real-time support by phone. Your in-house staffs answer support through email or customer login.
• Use Email Private Link Smart Form + eCampaigner Send form link through emails to Suppliers, in-house Staffs, Customers... in order to collect data from them.
• Collect All Kind of Data for
Application Form, Employee Form, Message Center Form, Support Center Form, Book Address Form, Business Card Form, Office Meeting Form, Survey Form, Register Form, Lead Generation Form, To-Do List Form, Online Petition Form, Contact Form, Customer Satisfaction Survey Form, Customer Service Form, Pricing Survey Form, Invitation Form, Tracking Form, Birthday Party Form, Guess House Form, Recipe Form, Diet Log Form, Personal Diary Form, Ware House Inventory Form, Event Planer Form, Dealer Registration Form, Supply Form, Parts Inventory Form, Seminar Form, Workshop Registration Form, Mailing List Form, Ask/Feedback Form, Upload Files Form, Resume Form, Meeting Appointment Form, Booking Reservation Form, Become A Partner Form, Sales Inquires Form, Rma Form...
What ever you need to collect correct data on the Net, you need Web Database Smart Form.
• Doing Serious Business on the NET is all about DATA. Web Database Form is the most difficult and technical challenging webpage to design.
• What ever you need to collect correct data on the Net, you need Web Database Smart Form.
• Use Smart Form + Email Campaign to send Private Link Form. People access to the form by clicking on the link. For example, you want to survey 500 customers, you create an eCampaigner -> Send them email that has the link to the Customer Survey Form. Customers click on the link to access the form where they submit info.
• Garbage In, Garbage Out. You need to collect DATA properly to match with database data type. To design the smart form that can collect the correct data type is not easy even for web developers. Data Type like Datetime, Enum, Set is not easy to code and put in database. Without myNet.Office, without web skills, even if you are web designer, YOU WILL NEVER EVER BE ABLE TO DESIGN SMART FORM FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.
• Now, with myNet.Office you can do it with only 3 Steps, YES, YOU CAN.