WEBBOT-SELF error message

I am not using Front Page.  I am using Microsoft Publisher 2000 (program).  I am very educated with this program.  I understand how to do everything to print and design.  I have no problem getting the links and loading it on the net.  I just seem to be having problems with the forms.  I filled all the information it requests to have it submit to my email.  It keeps repeating the error message.  I am using the forms from the temps.  It seems like a no brainer, but I am at a standstill.  I have done so much work and I do not want to start over again.  Can I link to another URL and have the secure info put there along with the forms from another program that might work better.  Am I making myself clear?  I hope I am explaining what I want to do.  (I am new to this site.  I hope I am posting this comment in the right space.?)  gjport

Keep in mind that Publisher was never meant to design / develop web pages

Having said that again, this web-bot is usually a tag created by MS office programs, especially MS Frontpage.  And to use this properly, the website has to be published via Frontpage to a web server that has Frontpage server extensions.

On the help of MS Publisher, what does it say about the forms in general?  Having never used MS Publisher, but very familiar with the web-bot.  How are you uploading these pages to the webserver?
-Corey

If your ISP is not running a Windows server with FP extensions enabled, NO forms that you generate from Publisher will work. Nothing you can do in Publisher will make them work.

Also, have you had other people check your site? Can you provide a link to it? It's very possible that the forms not working is only one of many things not working. Publisher tends to generate even worse code than FP, and it becomes even more of a problem when you don't understand what and how it's creating things.

This is not YOUR fault - websites are not printed pieces, and tools that create printed pieces make lousy web sites. Web work is a strange beast. Much of it is counter-intuitive and dependent on things you haven't learned about. Things that work just fine for you (images, etc.) may not even show up for others. You'll never know it unless somebody else tells you.

And I'll second coreybryant - Publisher is NOT a web tool. It never was, and never will be. Just because it has a 'save as web page' feature doesn't mean it's good for website creation.

I do understand ...I believe ...that Publisher is not a good type of website creation (I have found out lately), but I do believe it is working fine other than the forms.  I have checked it from other computer and I have a partner that has done the same thing.  Your question, Coreybryant, about how do I upload the program, I do it from the web publishing wizard.  It transfers easily.

The form page  ...when filled out on the web... comes up with HTTP 404 file not found ...internet explorer and the address says www.myURL address.com/--WEBBOT-SELF-- ...surely there must be a way to make this work.  Could I do as I said, create another site to transfer to and put the forms and some other information on that site as an extension.  

I realize, webwoman, now the program is a print shop, but why does it have the templets for a webpage and the capability to make a site.  I have thought of working with Network Solutions for a site.  What do you think of this type of avenue to go?  Is there a program that you would recommend that I could work with that is like Front Page or Publisher.  Is Dreamweaver a program that I could use in the same way as the ones I have used?  I can work with almost any of Microsoft programs.

Thank you for you interest in helping me.  I am really at a stand still.  ....gjport

Almost all of MS office products (word, excel, powerpoint, infopath, onenote even access) has some way or another to have that data file be converted for web use.  Is it HTML compliant?  Probably not.

The address that you gave that was created by Publisher is just not right.  Frontpage usually creates the same webbot locally, but when published via Frontpage on a server that has Frontpage Server Extensions enabled, it says something more like: action="_vti_bin/shtml.dll/contact.htm"

I found this KB Article: http://www.kbalertz.com/kb_Q242431.aspx that might help you a little more.

-Corey

Corey, The information you sent me about the site seems to be very interesting.  I did try to do some of the things it said to do and I could not find the page.  Perhaps/I am sure I am doing something wrong.  I will try again when I have more time.  

Just to confirm, what I said in my last message that comes up in the address bar is correct.  I believe I gave you what you were asking.  Could you take a look at my site and use the affiliate form and let me know if this is what you were asking me and if it is correct what I have told you?  www.healthysystems.com  ...I do appreciate the help you have given me and thank you very much for all the help both of you have suggested.  :-)

gjport

On http://www.healthysystems.com/page22.html, it has <form action="--WEBBOT-SELF--" method="post" onsubmit="return FSubmitValidation(this)">, so FPSE mightn now even be installed on your server. It does not have what it should have on a server with FPSE installed.

Hopefully that page will help you see that it is not a good idea to use publisher for a website or hopefully all of these problems have made you realize that.

-Corey

Thank you for your help.  I do not know what I am going to do at this point.  I thought I was going to use FP to do my next venture but I see this is not the route I should go either.  I am really at a stand still now.  I know one thing.  I used a programer to do a program that never worked for my company and I felt I was taken hostage. It cost thousands of dollars.  I never want this to happen again. I just wanted to know that I could do the things I needed to do so I could do the changes and solve the problems.  All I can say at this point is WOW!  What a situation.  Thanks again!  Do you have any suggestions?  If not I will end this questioning.

gjport

Honestly, I started out using FP express back in 95 / 96.  FP 2003 is really good.  It does not put in as much bloated code as the previous versions.  I love FP 2003.  You will fimd others that hate it.  But if you do not know HTML, you will either need to learn it or start with a WYSIWYG editor

-Corey

My suggestion is that you contact your hosting provider and find out what form handlers they offer. It's very possible they have one you can use, or will tell you what they support.

Once you have the form handler info, you can open your form in any HTML editor (NOT Publisher), or in a text editor, and change the form action. You may also need to change some of the field names. Other than that, you shouldn't need to do much. Then re-upload the changed page.

Then the form SHOULD work (provided you make the correct changes). And you'll have learned a lot. ;-)

I totally understand your frustrations. FrontPage is not a horrible tool, but like any tool, you have to understand what you're trying to build and the limitations of your tools. Publisher shouldn't even HAVE web options, IMHO, because it's not even remotely designed for web work. Nor should Word, or Excel, or Powerpoint.

Part of the limitation is knowing that Microsoft web pages, no matter what tool you use to create them, really need to be hosted on a Microsoft server, running MS web extensions, and need to be published using MS tools. It's not something that MS warns you about, and IMHO that's a big failing of theirs.

Thanks for the information.  I have really had my eyes opened about Microsoft.  I see the type problems that one can reach.  

I do know some about HTML.  I understand the logisitcs of HTML.  I just never have truly sat down and decided to take it serious.  I know there is a lot to learn and I would have to read the book ...although I am not opposed to doing it.  I am not sure I could make a form though.  I have learned to type letter and heading ... also colors.  I do not know if I could put pictures and forms with HTML.

Can you suggest a good book.  I have learned all I have with books.  I do love to read self learn books.  

Anyways ....I will call my hosting provider and ask some of the questions you suggested.  Perhaps I will get someone that can give me the answers to where I should go.  It looks asthough I will have to start again.  

Believe me I am learning just from our conversation.  Thanks for not making me feel totally illiterate ...I do try to understand.

gjport :-)

So let me ask you again to make this clear.  You do suggest FP.  I have started a website with FP when I did not like what was going on with Publisher.  But, I am using 2000.  Do you think I should update to 2003?  

gjport