How to build submission forms using Xataface

Contents

1. Getting Started

So you want to build a submission form ...

2. Step 1: Create a table to store the submissions

The submissions table should have a columns corresponding to each field of the form.

3. Step 2: Decorating the form

Use the fields.ini file to assign the appropriate labels, descriptions, and widgets to the fields of your form.

4. Step 3: Adding Permissions

In order to allow the public to use your submission form (insert new records) but not edit, browse, and delete existing records you need to define some permissions.

5. Step 4: Adding instructions

Submission forms generally have some instructions at the top of the page to tell the user what the form is for, etc..

6. Creating a custom success page

Usually web forms will send the user to a success page with further instructions after the form is submitted.

7. Disabling unnecessary features

The submission form still has a lot of extra buttons to click on (the details, list, and find tabs), and other distracting features (e.g. the search form) that need to be disabled.

8. Appendix 1: Download the source code

Download the source code tarball for this application