macZOT!

iForm

Normally: $45.00

ZOT Price: $22.50

Purpose

iForm is a program by Limit Point Software that you use to serve and process HTML forms. Its basic functionality can be used to collect form data submitted by a web browser and then email that data using formatting templates to select recipients, as well as saving it to a text log file which can be imported into a database. But there’s more!

iForm provides the ability to limitlessly extend its basic functionality using AppleScript. You can use the AppleScript support to interact with other scriptable applications when a form is submitted, and you can also use it to provide logic and customization when composing form submission response pages and email messages. The sample iForm projects which are part of the software distribution demonstrate these extensions.

Feature Highlights

• Does not require a web server because it can serve its own forms using the integrated web server.

• Processes form submissions with fully customized response pages, error replies, email messages and log entries.

• Emailer supports SMTP authentication, multiple file attachments of any type and “plain text alternatives” using multi-part mime messages.

• Template mechanism featuring support for embedded AppleScripts enabling dynamic and multipart form submissions.

• Logs all activity to a plain text file and monitor window.

• Logs each form submission to its own customizable log file, say for import to a database.

Mailings and iForm

You can use iForm to implement a form which collects email addresses for a mailing list, and then distribute newletters, product announcments, etc. to that list with Mailings. Refer to the Tour Sample for an illustration of how this is done with the help of Apple’s (scriptable) Address Book.

JumpStart Tutorial

A set of sample projects that introduce you to the major features of iForm, using a hands-on tutorial approach, is available. To access the tutorials select “JumpStart Tutorials…” from the Help menu.

The JumpStart is highly recommended because it illustrates the various facades of iForm usage. (It also includes information not covered in the reference!)

iForm Tour

For a quick hands-on introduction please take the online Tour of iForm. The Tour is accessible from the Help menu, or directly from the following link:

iForm Tour

Most notably the Tour illustrates a “real world” application of iForm (in use by real websites) with a minimal amount of basic AppleScript mixed in.

The Tour also includes an indispensible discussion of the Preferences window, guiding you through the configuration settings of iForm.

It’s fun too!

Upgrades are always free!