Using a text format file to control emailed form output.
I have a form with much of the data in a tabular format, and with our previous server we were able to get the data back in tablular form using a format text file to which the main form refered. The server was changed and the format file is only partially functional. The feature that went away was that empty fields could be filled with "placeholder" text so that the column of the returned data could be detected.
I have asked this question in a couple of places before and I have been unable to use the answer because the answers described ways of influencing the output format in the form itself, which I do not want to do, mainly because it seemed I would not have enough control that way.
Our server handles ASP and CGI.
My question is what approach is there that will let me use a separate format file to control the output of a web form, preserving the tabular characteristics where applicable, and allowing for replacement of an empty field with a string token?
Thank you,
John Fistere
I have asked this question in a couple of places before and I have been unable to use the answer because the answers described ways of influencing the output format in the form itself, which I do not want to do, mainly because it seemed I would not have enough control that way.
Our server handles ASP and CGI.
My question is what approach is there that will let me use a separate format file to control the output of a web form, preserving the tabular characteristics where applicable, and allowing for replacement of an empty field with a string token?
Thank you,
John Fistere
ASKER
Thanks, but the reference seems to be discussing how to download data from a server in the desired format. I wasn't really sure. What I need is for the form response to be emailed in the desired format. I think it will help if I show the format file that used to work on a different server:
==========================
Identification:
Name: [edName]
Address: [edAddress]
Line2: [edLine2]
City: [edCity]
State: [edState]
ZIP: [edZip]
Country: [edCountry]
DayPhone: [edDayPhone]
EvePhone: [edEvePhone]
FAX: [edFax]
EMail: [edEmail]
DOB: [edDob]
DiagnosisDate: [edDiagDate]
Digest:
Chart: Med PSA [edName2] [edName3] [edName4] [edName5] [edName6]
[sfDateFormat]
Prostate Volume: [edProstateVolume]
Gleason: [edGleason]
Clinical Stage: [edClinicalStage]
Ploidy: [edPloidy]
Partin: [edPartin]
Narayan: [edNarayan]
Table: PSA [edName2] [edName3] [edName4] [edName5] [edName6]
[edVarDate01] [edVar1_01] [edVar2_01] [edVar3_01] [edVar4_01] [edVar5_01] [edVar6_01]
[edVarDate02] [edVar1_02] [edVar2_02] [edVar3_02] [edVar4_02] [edVar5_02] [edVar6_02]
[edVarDate03] [edVar1_03] [edVar2_03] [edVar3_03] [edVar4_03] [edVar5_03] [edVar6_03]
[edVarDate04] [edVar1_04] [edVar2_04] [edVar3_04] [edVar4_04] [edVar5_04] [edVar6_04]
[edVarDate05] [edVar1_05] [edVar2_05] [edVar3_05] [edVar4_05] [edVar5_05] [edVar6_05]
[edVarDate06] [edVar1_06] [edVar2_06] [edVar3_06] [edVar4_06] [edVar5_06] [edVar6_06]
[edVarDate07] [edVar1_07] [edVar2_07] [edVar3_07] [edVar4_07] [edVar5_07] [edVar6_07]
[edVarDate08] [edVar1_08] [edVar2_08] [edVar3_08] [edVar4_08] [edVar5_08] [edVar6_08]
[edVarDate09] [edVar1_09] [edVar2_09] [edVar3_09] [edVar4_09] [edVar5_09] [edVar6_09]
[edVarDate10] [edVar1_10] [edVar2_10] [edVar3_10] [edVar4_10] [edVar5_10] [edVar6_10]
[edVarDate11] [edVar1_11] [edVar2_11] [edVar3_11] [edVar4_11] [edVar5_11] [edVar6_11]
[edVarDate12] [edVar1_12] [edVar2_12] [edVar3_12] [edVar4_12] [edVar5_12] [edVar6_12]
[edVarDate13] [edVar1_13] [edVar2_13] [edVar3_13] [edVar4_13] [edVar5_13] [edVar6_13]
[edVarDate14] [edVar1_14] [edVar2_14] [edVar3_14] [edVar4_14] [edVar5_14] [edVar6_14]
[edVarDate15] [edVar1_15] [edVar2_15] [edVar3_15] [edVar4_15] [edVar5_15] [edVar6_15]
[edVarDate16] [edVar1_16] [edVar2_16] [edVar3_16] [edVar4_16] [edVar5_16] [edVar6_16]
[edVarDate17] [edVar1_17] [edVar2_17] [edVar3_17] [edVar4_17] [edVar5_17] [edVar6_17]
[edVarDate18] [edVar1_18] [edVar2_18] [edVar3_18] [edVar4_18] [edVar5_18] [edVar6_18]
[edVarDate19] [edVar1_19] [edVar2_19] [edVar3_19] [edVar4_19] [edVar5_19] [edVar6_19]
[edVarDate20] [edVar1_20] [edVar2_20] [edVar3_20] [edVar4_20] [edVar5_20] [edVar6_20]
[edVarDate21] [edVar1_21] [edVar2_21] [edVar3_21] [edVar4_21] [edVar5_21] [edVar6_21]
[edVarDate22] [edVar1_22] [edVar2_22] [edVar3_22] [edVar4_22] [edVar5_22] [edVar6_22]
[edVarDate23] [edVar1_23] [edVar2_23] [edVar3_23] [edVar4_23] [edVar5_23] [edVar6_23]
[edEvDate01] [sfEvTyp01] [edEvName01] [sfResult01]
[sfDetailTyp01]
[taDetails01]
[edEvDate02] [sfEvTyp02] [edEvName02] [sfResult02]
[sfDetailTyp02]
[taDetails02]
[edEvDate03] [sfEvTyp03] [edEvName03] [sfResult03]
[sfDetailTyp03]
[taDetails03]
[edEvDate04] [sfEvTyp04] [edEvName04] [sfResult04]
[sfDetailTyp04]
[taDetails04]
[edEvDate05] [sfEvTyp05] [edEvName05] [sfResult05]
[sfDetailTyp05]
[taDetails05]
[edEvDate06] [sfEvTyp06] [edEvName06] [sfResult06]
[sfDetailTyp06]
[taDetails06]
[edEvDate07] [sfEvTyp07] [edEvName07] [sfResult07]
[sfDetailTyp07]
[taDetails07]
[edEvDate08] [sfEvTyp08] [edEvName08] [sfResult08]
[sfDetailTyp08]
[taDetails08]
[edEvDate09] [sfEvTyp09] [edEvName09] [sfResult09]
[sfDetailTyp09]
[taDetails09]
[edEvDate10] [sfEvTyp10] [edEvName10] [sfResult10]
[sfDetailTyp10]
[taDetails10]
[edEvDate11] [sfEvTyp11] [edEvName11] [sfResult11]
[sfDetailTyp11]
[taDetails11]
[edEvDate12] [sfEvTyp12] [edEvName12] [sfResult12]
[sfDetailTyp12]
[taDetails12]
[edEvDate13] [sfEvTyp13] [edEvName13] [sfResult13]
[sfDetailTyp13]
[taDetails13]
[edEvDate14] [sfEvTyp14] [edEvName14] [sfResult14]
[sfDetailTyp14]
[taDetails14]
[edEvDate15] [sfEvTyp15] [edEvName15] [sfResult15]
[sfDetailTyp15]
[taDetails15]
[edEvDate16] [sfEvTyp16] [edEvName16] [sfResult16]
[sfDetailTyp16]
[taDetails16]
Treatments:
[edStart01] [edStop01] [edTrtName01] [edTrtDescr01]
[edStart02] [edStop02] [edTrtName02] [edTrtDescr02]
[edStart03] [edStop03] [edTrtName03] [edTrtDescr03]
[edStart04] [edStop04] [edTrtName04] [edTrtDescr04]
[edStart05] [edStop05] [edTrtName05] [edTrtDescr05]
[edStart06] [edStop06] [edTrtName06] [edTrtDescr06]
[edStart07] [edStop07] [edTrtName07] [edTrtDescr07]
[edStart08] [edStop08] [edTrtName08] [edTrtDescr08]
[edStart09] [edStop09] [edTrtName09] [edTrtDescr09]
[edStart10] [edStop10] [edTrtName10] [edTrtDescr10]
[edStart11] [edStop11] [edTrtName11] [edTrtDescr11]
[edStart12] [edStop12] [edTrtName12] [edTrtDescr12]
Notes:
[taNotes]
End:
==========================
These fields referred to data items in the main HTML form, of course. What I need is some help in getting this format file to function properly with my form.
Thanks,
John Fistere
==========================
Identification:
Name: [edName]
Address: [edAddress]
Line2: [edLine2]
City: [edCity]
State: [edState]
ZIP: [edZip]
Country: [edCountry]
DayPhone: [edDayPhone]
EvePhone: [edEvePhone]
FAX: [edFax]
EMail: [edEmail]
DOB: [edDob]
DiagnosisDate: [edDiagDate]
Digest:
Chart: Med PSA [edName2] [edName3] [edName4] [edName5] [edName6]
[sfDateFormat]
Prostate Volume: [edProstateVolume]
Gleason: [edGleason]
Clinical Stage: [edClinicalStage]
Ploidy: [edPloidy]
Partin: [edPartin]
Narayan: [edNarayan]
Table: PSA [edName2] [edName3] [edName4] [edName5] [edName6]
[edVarDate01] [edVar1_01] [edVar2_01] [edVar3_01] [edVar4_01] [edVar5_01] [edVar6_01]
[edVarDate02] [edVar1_02] [edVar2_02] [edVar3_02] [edVar4_02] [edVar5_02] [edVar6_02]
[edVarDate03] [edVar1_03] [edVar2_03] [edVar3_03] [edVar4_03] [edVar5_03] [edVar6_03]
[edVarDate04] [edVar1_04] [edVar2_04] [edVar3_04] [edVar4_04] [edVar5_04] [edVar6_04]
[edVarDate05] [edVar1_05] [edVar2_05] [edVar3_05] [edVar4_05] [edVar5_05] [edVar6_05]
[edVarDate06] [edVar1_06] [edVar2_06] [edVar3_06] [edVar4_06] [edVar5_06] [edVar6_06]
[edVarDate07] [edVar1_07] [edVar2_07] [edVar3_07] [edVar4_07] [edVar5_07] [edVar6_07]
[edVarDate08] [edVar1_08] [edVar2_08] [edVar3_08] [edVar4_08] [edVar5_08] [edVar6_08]
[edVarDate09] [edVar1_09] [edVar2_09] [edVar3_09] [edVar4_09] [edVar5_09] [edVar6_09]
[edVarDate10] [edVar1_10] [edVar2_10] [edVar3_10] [edVar4_10] [edVar5_10] [edVar6_10]
[edVarDate11] [edVar1_11] [edVar2_11] [edVar3_11] [edVar4_11] [edVar5_11] [edVar6_11]
[edVarDate12] [edVar1_12] [edVar2_12] [edVar3_12] [edVar4_12] [edVar5_12] [edVar6_12]
[edVarDate13] [edVar1_13] [edVar2_13] [edVar3_13] [edVar4_13] [edVar5_13] [edVar6_13]
[edVarDate14] [edVar1_14] [edVar2_14] [edVar3_14] [edVar4_14] [edVar5_14] [edVar6_14]
[edVarDate15] [edVar1_15] [edVar2_15] [edVar3_15] [edVar4_15] [edVar5_15] [edVar6_15]
[edVarDate16] [edVar1_16] [edVar2_16] [edVar3_16] [edVar4_16] [edVar5_16] [edVar6_16]
[edVarDate17] [edVar1_17] [edVar2_17] [edVar3_17] [edVar4_17] [edVar5_17] [edVar6_17]
[edVarDate18] [edVar1_18] [edVar2_18] [edVar3_18] [edVar4_18] [edVar5_18] [edVar6_18]
[edVarDate19] [edVar1_19] [edVar2_19] [edVar3_19] [edVar4_19] [edVar5_19] [edVar6_19]
[edVarDate20] [edVar1_20] [edVar2_20] [edVar3_20] [edVar4_20] [edVar5_20] [edVar6_20]
[edVarDate21] [edVar1_21] [edVar2_21] [edVar3_21] [edVar4_21] [edVar5_21] [edVar6_21]
[edVarDate22] [edVar1_22] [edVar2_22] [edVar3_22] [edVar4_22] [edVar5_22] [edVar6_22]
[edVarDate23] [edVar1_23] [edVar2_23] [edVar3_23] [edVar4_23] [edVar5_23] [edVar6_23]
[edEvDate01] [sfEvTyp01] [edEvName01] [sfResult01]
[sfDetailTyp01]
[taDetails01]
[edEvDate02] [sfEvTyp02] [edEvName02] [sfResult02]
[sfDetailTyp02]
[taDetails02]
[edEvDate03] [sfEvTyp03] [edEvName03] [sfResult03]
[sfDetailTyp03]
[taDetails03]
[edEvDate04] [sfEvTyp04] [edEvName04] [sfResult04]
[sfDetailTyp04]
[taDetails04]
[edEvDate05] [sfEvTyp05] [edEvName05] [sfResult05]
[sfDetailTyp05]
[taDetails05]
[edEvDate06] [sfEvTyp06] [edEvName06] [sfResult06]
[sfDetailTyp06]
[taDetails06]
[edEvDate07] [sfEvTyp07] [edEvName07] [sfResult07]
[sfDetailTyp07]
[taDetails07]
[edEvDate08] [sfEvTyp08] [edEvName08] [sfResult08]
[sfDetailTyp08]
[taDetails08]
[edEvDate09] [sfEvTyp09] [edEvName09] [sfResult09]
[sfDetailTyp09]
[taDetails09]
[edEvDate10] [sfEvTyp10] [edEvName10] [sfResult10]
[sfDetailTyp10]
[taDetails10]
[edEvDate11] [sfEvTyp11] [edEvName11] [sfResult11]
[sfDetailTyp11]
[taDetails11]
[edEvDate12] [sfEvTyp12] [edEvName12] [sfResult12]
[sfDetailTyp12]
[taDetails12]
[edEvDate13] [sfEvTyp13] [edEvName13] [sfResult13]
[sfDetailTyp13]
[taDetails13]
[edEvDate14] [sfEvTyp14] [edEvName14] [sfResult14]
[sfDetailTyp14]
[taDetails14]
[edEvDate15] [sfEvTyp15] [edEvName15] [sfResult15]
[sfDetailTyp15]
[taDetails15]
[edEvDate16] [sfEvTyp16] [edEvName16] [sfResult16]
[sfDetailTyp16]
[taDetails16]
Treatments:
[edStart01] [edStop01] [edTrtName01] [edTrtDescr01]
[edStart02] [edStop02] [edTrtName02] [edTrtDescr02]
[edStart03] [edStop03] [edTrtName03] [edTrtDescr03]
[edStart04] [edStop04] [edTrtName04] [edTrtDescr04]
[edStart05] [edStop05] [edTrtName05] [edTrtDescr05]
[edStart06] [edStop06] [edTrtName06] [edTrtDescr06]
[edStart07] [edStop07] [edTrtName07] [edTrtDescr07]
[edStart08] [edStop08] [edTrtName08] [edTrtDescr08]
[edStart09] [edStop09] [edTrtName09] [edTrtDescr09]
[edStart10] [edStop10] [edTrtName10] [edTrtDescr10]
[edStart11] [edStop11] [edTrtName11] [edTrtDescr11]
[edStart12] [edStop12] [edTrtName12] [edTrtDescr12]
Notes:
[taNotes]
End:
==========================
These fields referred to data items in the main HTML form, of course. What I need is some help in getting this format file to function properly with my form.
Thanks,
John Fistere
ASKER
I know that there's an Expert out there that knows how to use the "format file" I posted in this thread. Where are you?
Cheers,
John Fistere
Cheers,
John Fistere
SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thank you all for your comments.
COBOLdinosaur, the problem is that I do not have access to the code in the server. However, I did access the main form and found that it references CSMailto.cgi, and I am now looking into that. I tried the demos on Scriptomatic.net but I could make them work, so I am waiting for a response from them.
poopall, thanks, bu I am hoping for a solution that requires less programming on my part.
shalomc, thanks for your reference to CGIemail. I am checking into that, too.
I guess it is the proper procedure to leave questions open until I get an answer that works for me, but not longer than 21 days. Is that right?
Cheers and thanks so far,
John Fistere
COBOLdinosaur, the problem is that I do not have access to the code in the server. However, I did access the main form and found that it references CSMailto.cgi, and I am now looking into that. I tried the demos on Scriptomatic.net but I could make them work, so I am waiting for a response from them.
poopall, thanks, bu I am hoping for a solution that requires less programming on my part.
shalomc, thanks for your reference to CGIemail. I am checking into that, too.
I guess it is the proper procedure to leave questions open until I get an answer that works for me, but not longer than 21 days. Is that right?
Cheers and thanks so far,
John Fistere
After 21 days it is considered abandoned.
However, long before that it will slips down far enough on the list that no one is looking at it anymore. If you don't have access to the server side, the chance of any kinkd of real solution are pretty slim. The format file is used by the server side script, and without access to it the script their is not much yu acn do to change the way it handles the format file, and any way to determine what changes in the format file will cause the script to give the desitred result.
Cd&
However, long before that it will slips down far enough on the list that no one is looking at it anymore. If you don't have access to the server side, the chance of any kinkd of real solution are pretty slim. The format file is used by the server side script, and without access to it the script their is not much yu acn do to change the way it handles the format file, and any way to determine what changes in the format file will cause the script to give the desitred result.
Cd&
http://www.code101.com/Code101/DisplayArticle.aspx?cid=63