BestWebForms.com © 2008
 

 

Welcome to the Free Version of our Popular Web Forms Package.

First:

A note about this Free Form Version. This free version is "stripped down" a bit. But it is fully functional and you may use it for as long as you wish, as long as you do not breach the license agreement.
 
This Free Form Version has just 1 Web Form included, 3 Anti-Spam Security Styles included, 2 Web Form Borders included, and 1 email address "sent to" option. And the Web Form cannot be altered in any way, and there is no customer service.
 
If you decide to purchase our Complete Web Forms Package - Web Forms 3.0, then you will receive:

 

31 Web Forms
12 Anti-Spam Security Styles
40 Web Form Borders
2 email address "sent to" options
Google Adwords Tracking if you wish
And Much More!

 

Also, all 30 Web Forms can be altered in any way you wish, which includes deleting the link back to our website. It also includes our excellent customer service.

We hope you will decide to upgrade to the full version.
In the meantime, please enjoy our Free Form Version.

Or: Upgrade to the Full Version now.

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Fast Instructions For Those With Experience:

These instructions are best viewed using an HTML editor, or your browser.
It is not best viewed using a simple text editor. But you may use what you like.

Here We Go:

1. Unzip the free-form-bwf.zip package into a new folder on your computer. Then, using an FTP program such as CuteFTP.com, upload to your website's server into its own directory. Name the directory folder  "free-form". We recommend using CuteFTP at CuteFTP.com; they have a free trial. SmartFTP.com is also good. Set your FTP program to "Auto-Detect" which files need to be uploaded in certain "modes".
 
2. On a Linux server, your main folder is usually called "public_html", or called "htdocs". Create a directory folder called "free-form" inside of the "public_html" directory. On Windows servers, the folder is sometimes called "www". Set the permissions to 777 for the directory folder you uploaded the forms package into (called: free-form). Then set to 777 the folder "temp" and the file named configbwf.php.

So, set the permissions to 777 for:
folder: free-form
folder: temp
file: configbwf.php
 
Also, Windows servers use a different method of setting "permissions" for your files. You will need to log into your main hosting account with your hosting company to change permissions as needed. You might need to contact them to do this for you, and maybe to "turn on" PHP, if it is available. Linux servers are much easier to set permissions on.
 
3. While you are connected to the internet, using your browser, open your Web Form Designer
at: http://www.insert-your-website-here.com/free-form/loginbwf.php.
 
ADMIN LOGIN:
The default username is: admin
AND the default password is also: admin

Now -
After logging in, change your password to something easy for you to remember.
Also write it down.


(A common mistake people make is they try to open the Web Form Designer with Dreamweaver or FrontPage. This does nothing. You must use the Web Form Designer from your server, because it is the PHP language that runs on your server that makes everything work.)
 
Also Note: Just so you know, the entire and sole function of the Web Form Designer is to make changes to the configbwf.php file. Setting the permissions for configbwf.php to 777 allows this to happen.

Important: There are some hosting companies that do not allow their customers to set permissions. It is for this reason that you can also make changes directly to the configbwf.php file, and not use the Web Form Designer. If you cannot set your permissions, then see below under "Important".
 
NOTE FOR WINDOWS SERVER USERS
: Our Free Form Version and our Web Forms 3.0 - Complete Web Forms Package are designed to work on servers with PHP installed. Not all Windows servers have PHP. See below. Also, Windows servers use a different method of setting "permissions" for your files. You will need to log into your main hosting account to change permissions as needed.
 
4. Using the Web Form Designer, make your selections and press "Save Changes". Create your iFrame Code Snippet and paste it into an existing webpage on your server that has enough "open space" on the webpage for the web form to load into. It is also a good idea to set your cell height to be taller than the iFrame code height. Upload that page to your server. Then view it in your browser.

You are done with the basic installation.

You do not need to read any further. But you can choose to read below if you wish for a more complete explanation and to gain a more full and complete understanding of various options, and how our software program works.

Also see:

To Customize and Adjust Your Thank You Page - highly recommended

Mini-Lesson in Creating New Form Fields
Making changes to the form templates is not possible in the Free Version.
So this portion of the instructions has been deleted.
Upgrade to the Full Version now.
 

You may also want to check out the tips.html file located in your download.

Thank you.
Enjoy.

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More Information:

To learn more about the PHP that is installed on your website's server, we have included the file phptest.php which contains just the following line of code:
 
 

 
<?php phpinfo(); ?>
 

After uploading to your server: enter the full url of this file into your browser. For example: http://www.your-website.com/free-form/phptest.php.

Note: For added security, you might wish to delete this file from your server when you are done.

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Complete Instructions For Basic Installation

Web Form Designer Instructions:

Note: It is assumed that you read the system requirements page on the BestWebForms.com website. The coding language PHP is needed for this program to function. Most servers today have PHP already installed.

Now Here We Go:
 
The instructions may sound a little complicated, but if you follow all the steps, you shouldn't have any problem.

It is best if you create a new sub-directory to upload the entire Complete Web Forms Package  into. The below example sub-directory is called "your-directory-name". You could name it
"free-form" for example.

Once you have uploaded all the files into a directory on your server, you are ready for
the final steps.

NOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a Linux server, your main folder is usually called "public_html", but not always. Create a directory folder called "free-form" inside of the "public_html" directory, or on some servers "htdocs". Set the permissions to 777 for the directory folder you uploaded the forms package into (called: free-form).

The file configbwf.php needs to be writable. Set the permissions to Command Mode 777.

On your server, if you DID NOT created a new sub-directory/folder, then just make configbwf.php
to be writable. Set it to 777.

Also set the folder named "temp" to be 777. The "temp" folder is mostly empty, but is needed for the form called contactus-attachment.html to function. This is our form that allows attachments and "uploads".
(This form is not included in the Free Version though.)
Upgrade to the Full Version now.

Setting the Command Mode is easily done with any ftp program, such as CuteFTP, available at
CuteFTP.com. They have a free trial. Using CuteFTP, just "right click" on the file or folder on your server and scroll down to "properties". Then enter 777.

Note
: When using an FTP program, make sure that when you "right click" on a folder that the folder finishes "loading" before setting the permissions. If you see the files still "scrolling" behind the "properties" window, then you need to wait a few moments. When the files finish loading, then you can set permissions.

If your hosting company does not allow you to set permissions, then it is possible to make your changes directly to the configbwf.php file by opening it into a text editor and entering your choices there. Then upload your changed file. This can be a bit difficult for beginners though.

NOTE FOR WINDOWS SERVER USERS: Our Free Form Version and our Web Forms 3.0 - Complete Web Forms Package are designed to work on servers with PHP installed. Not all Windows servers have PHP. See below. Also, Windows servers use a different method of setting "permissions" for your files. You will need to log into your main hosting account to change permissions as needed.


If your website's server does not have PHP installed, then there are basically 2 options for you:

1. Switch to a Linux hosting company. We can fully and confidently
recommend these 3 hosting companies. Our Complete Web Forms Package works
perfectly on them, and they are all around $5 per month.

They are:

www.a2Hosting.com
and
www.ixWebHosting.com

and
www.HostMonster.com.

2. You can use our Easy Hosted Web Forms Solution. The main difference
is the web form is hosted on our server and there is a $4.95 hosting charge
per month. But you can still customize your form and choose the entire
"look" of it, etc. Your visitors will most likely never notice that the form
is hosted elsewhere.

Here is the link to click on or to paste into your browser:


https://bestwebforms.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=187

 

About Our Web Form Designer - Important: There are some hosting companies that do not allow their customers to set permissions. If this is your case, then open the file configbwf.php in your text editor, and make changes to it directly. Then upload it to your server.



Now let's continue with the Web Form Designer:


After you have uploaded everything to your website's server,
point your browser to loginbwf.php (inserting your own website url in the link below):

http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/loginbwf.php

or:

http://www.insert-your-website.com/free-form/loginbwf.php - recommended
 
or:
 
http://www.insert-your-website.com/free-form/adminbwf.php

or:

http://www.insert-your-website.com/adminbwf.php



ADMIN LOGIN:
The default username is admin
AND the default password is also admin

So enter those into the login screen.

It is highly recommended that you change the default username and password to something easy
for you to remember. We, at BestWebForms.com, do not have access to your username or password. So you must make certain to write it down.


Security Choice Settings

There are 4 Security Choice settings.

Security Choice A: Full CAPTCHA image security. If you view your adminbwf.php on your server, and you do not see the images under Security Choice A, then this means that your server does not have GD Support for True Type Fonts and for Free Type enabled. To learn more, you can go to: http://www.BestWebForms.com/GD_Support.php. Choice B will most likely be your next choice.

Security Choice B: This Security Choice is not a CAPTCHA, but it is a random rotating image character script. The letter code is created by rotating images of letters, which a human being must match, and a computer cannot read. It is very secure.

Security Choice C: This Security Choice is not as secure as Choices A or B. Instead of using images of letters (and hiding the image names in the "back-end" programming), the program uses actual browser text.

Security Choice D: This has the least security, but might best be suited to those who just don't wish to be concerned about spam. Your email address is still hidden from spam robots that search the web retrieving as many email addresses as the robot can find. Your email address is not visible to these spiders because your email address is in the "back-end" of the programming.
Caution though: Without the user needing to type in a security code, it is still easy for a spam robot to "click" the submit button and send you spam.


In the Web Form Designer, set up the email address you want your emails to be sent to.
The Web Form Designer does not "create" an email address account. You need to do that separate from this program through your website server's administration interface. It is recommended that you use a brand new email address. This way, no spam robots will be aware of the email address. Make sure you test your new email address to make sure it is working and that your email program is "fetching" the email. When your email program, such as Outlook Express, is set to retrieve email from a specific email address, then the delivery and receipt of your email will occur more quickly.


Now preview your form: First press a "Save Changes" button.
Then preview a form by clicking on a form link. You can also link to your forms
from your website by copying and pasting the URL that appears in the browser address line of
the window that opens:

http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/formbwf.php?f=1
or
http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/formbwf.php
 

Or, with the section of the above url "f=1", the "1" is for the contact form named "contactus-classic.html". If your form is a different one, like "Contact Form - Complete" (which is contactus-complete.html), then the end of this link would be "f=2".
This form is not included in the Free Version. Upgrade to the Full Version now.

Note: Linking to your form in the above way does not use an iFrame method. An iFrame actually creates a page within a page on your website. It is the same method that Amazon uses for its affiliate stores and is supported by all browsers.


Using the iFrame Code Snippet is highly recommended:

To insert your form into an existing page on your website (with an iFRAME code snippet), click one of the "Generate iFrame Code" buttons and then copy and paste the code that appears in the box (right click with your mouse) and insert the copied code into the code of your webpage where you want the form to appear.
 
Remember to click the "Save Changes" button.

You may want to adjust the width and height of the iFRAME, and you can do that by modifying the
'width' and 'height' attributes:

  Code sample:
 
<iframe src="http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/formbwf.php?f=1&iframe=yes" width="425" height="1000" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

---------
 
Important Note
: It is best to shorten the "path" code in the iFrame code snippet.
 
For example:
<iframe src="http://www.insert-your-website.com/free-form/formbwf.php?f=1&iframe=yes" width="425" height="1000" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
 
Should be changed to:

<iframe name="bwfIFRAME" src="../free-form/formbwf.php?f=1&iframe=yes" width="425" height="1000" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>



The above is a very smart thing to do for everyone, because some browsers might see the "http" as a "3rd party script" and choose to not display your form. This is also recommended if you are using a SSL certificate for a shopping cart. This way, the SSL certificate will not see the "http" as a non-secure item.
 
---------
 
Once you have pasted the iFrame code snippet into an existing webpage, then you can name the page anything you want, and then link to it from within your website.
For instance, if you named it "contact_me.html" or "contact_me.php", the full url would be:
 
http://www.insert-your-website.com/contact_me.html  
(or with the .php extension).


Once you've finished your Web Form Designer session, click the "Logout" link to log out.
It is highly recommended that you log out of the Web Form Designer.

That's it!
Use the Web Form Designer and iFrame Code Snippet. It is easiest.

You are done.

But if you wish to, you can program the configbwf.php file directly. Read below.
 

More Form Configuration

Customize Look And Feel

Mini-Lesson in Creating New Form Fields -
Making changes to the form templates is not possible in the Free Version.

Upgrade to the Full Version now.

 
 
More Instructions: (for those who don't mind some repetition)
 
Unzip the forms package into a new folder on your computer. Then, using an FTP program such as CuteFTP.com, upload to your website's server into its own directory. Name the directory or folder  "free-form". We recommend using CuteFTP at CuteFTP.com; they have a free trial. SmartFTP.com is also good. Set your FTP program to "Auto-Detect" which files need to be uploaded in certain "modes".

It is usually best if you create a new sub-directory to upload the forms into.
But there are some rare server situations where it can be best to just load the files
into the main, or root, directory.
 
Make sure to preserve the directory structure as it is in the zip file that you downloaded.

 

After uploading all the files to your server, and using the Web Form Designer (see above), point your browser to:
http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/formbwf.php?f=1
.
The number "1" is the classic contact form. But you can change that number to any form number you wish to use.

(Note: If you have used the Web Form Designer and copied and pasted an iFrame code snippet into an existing page on your website, then the address, for example, may be:
http://www.insert-your-website.com/contact_me.html .)

If you uploaded the files to your public_html directory ('htdocs' or 'www' on some servers),
the URL may well look like:

  URL:
 
http://www.insert-your-website.com/formbwf.php?f=1

 
If you uploaded the files to your-directory-name/ the URL will look like:

  URL:
 
http://www.insert-your-website.com/your-directory-name/formbwf.php?f=1


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Google Adwords Conversion Tracking Code:
 
Not available in the Free Version

Upgrade to the Full Version now.



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More Form Configuration

 

***************************

Making changes to the form templates is not possible in the Free Version.
So this portion of the instructions has been deleted.

Upgrade to the Full Version now.
 

Customize Look and feel

 

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Customize Your Thank You Page:
  
For Thank You Option 3:

Configure the thank_youbwf.php page.
Locate thank_youbwf.php in the directory where you unzipped the zip file.
 
If you do not wish for the web form user to be directed to your default home page upon clicking "click here", then you can set it to any page you wish.

Look for this code:

  Code:
 
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Your email has been sent. I will reply to you soon.<br>
To return to the website <a href="/" target="_parent">click here</a></font></p>


Notice the <a href="/">. The / will send the user to your default home page. But for instance,
if you wish to send the user to a page called todays-specials.html, you would then change the code to:
 
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Your email has been sent. I will reply to you soon.<br>
To return to the website <a href="/todays-specials.html" target="_parent">click here</a></font></p>

Also:
You will also want to adjust the "level" at which the "Thank You" message is displayed.
Run this test: Send yourself an email using your form. Once you hit "submit", the email will be sent and the "Thank You" message will be returned. Question: Can you see it? Or do you have to "scroll up"?
If so, then using your html editor, add some "returns" to make the "Thank You" message move down on the page.

Example:

  Code:
 
 
<div class="verdana">

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4><font face="Verdana">Thank you!</font>
 

Notice all the <p>&nbsp;</p>
Those are the returns that can be added to thank_youbwf.php to make the "Thank You" message move further down on the page.

For Thank You Options 1 and 4:

For these options you will need to insert the below "break-out" code into the page where you want your visitors to go. Use the "Break Out" code on your custom thank you page.
If you wish for your thank you message to not appear within the iFrame of the form area,
then paste this code above the
<head> tag on the thank you page (or the page you are sending the visitor to).
 
The file "formthankyou.php" has it already inserted.
 

  Code:
 
<script language="Javascript">
<!--
if (top.location!= self.location) {
top.location = self.location.href
}
//-->
</script> <a name="top"></a>
 


  
**********************************************************************

If you wish to NOT use the iFrame Code Snippet method, then you can insert your header and footer code into the Web Form Designer as explained there.

***************************************************

 

 
 
Mini-Lesson in Creating New Form Fields
 

Making changes to the form templates is not possible in the Free Version.
So this portion of the instructions has been deleted.

We hope you will decide to upgrade to the full version.
In the meantime, please enjoy our Free Form Version.

Or: Upgrade to the Full Version now.

 

 
That is all.
Thank you.
 
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Love our Free Form Version and wish to show your thanks?
Here's a way.

 

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