Survey Processor Tracent Technologies

This page provides help with the Tracent Survey Processor. You can use this tool to have information visitors enter into your HTML forms saved as a common data file. You can then download the data file from your web site for use directly in most data oriented programs such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Lotus 1-2-3, etc. If you have questions or encounter problems using this tool, please contact webmaster@tracent.net.

Usage Instructions

The Survey Processor is called like this in your HTML:
<FORM ACTION="/cgi-bin/survey.asp" METHOD="POST">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="Log" VALUE="MySurveyFile.csv">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="ResultsPage" VALUE="/Thanks.htm">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="Fields" VALUE="Name, Email, Comments">
The following fields are the data fields named in the FIELDS hidden value above. These will be stored into the LOG File specified in another hidden value.
     <INPUT TYPE="TEXT" NAME="Name">
    <INPUT TYPE="TEXT" NAME="Email">
    <TEXTAREA NAME="Comments" ROWS="14" COLS="55"></TEXTAREA>
The following optional fields are used to make any of the the data fields named in the FIELDS hidden value a Required field. To specify a field as required, simply add another HIDDEN field of the same name - except begin the name with an underscore ("_"). The VALUE of these hidden fields will be used in the error message should a user not complete a required field. The phrase " is a required field." will be appended to whatever is in the VALUE.
     <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="_Name" VALUE="Your name">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="_Email" VALUE="Your email address">
</FORM>

Each of the fields shown above and its effect is described below:
 * indicates a required field.

Field Expected Value Meaning/Effect
Log * A valid data file name. (No path) The file in which collected data should be saved. This file will be stored in a folder under your main web directory. The folder name is fixed, so the log file name should NOT include a folder or path.
ResultsPage * A web page path and name The web page that should be displayed after the user sucessfully completes the form.
The following fields describe the data to be captured in the Log file. The fields used are up to you.
Fields * A list of field names to be saved in the log file This list should include all fields to be saved in the log file, separated by commas. Any field name not included in this list will be ignored. Any fields in this list but not supplied by the user will be inlcuded as null values in the data file (unless the field is designated as a required field; in which case the form will not be accepted.
Name A user entered value This field will be validated as a required field due to the existence of the hidden field _NAME. The information entered in this field by the user will be added to the Log file when the form is accepted.
Email A user entered value This field will be validated as a required field due to the existence of the hidden field _EMAIL. The information entered in this field by the user will be added to the Log file when the form is accepted.
Comments A user entered value This field is optional for the user and any value entered will added to the Log file when the form is accepted. If no value is supplied by the user, a null value will be written to the Log file.
_Name An error message prompt The existance of this field will indicate that the user must supply a value in the NAME field in order for the form to be accepted. If not, the following error message will be displayed:
    Your name is a required field.
_Email An error message prompt The existance of this field will indicate that the user must supply a value in the EMAIL field in order for the form to be accepted. If not, the following error message will be displayed:
    Your email address is a required field.

The data file will created for the example fields above will look similar to the follwing:
"Name","Email","Comments"
"Agnes Krump","agnes@snl.com","I think we need more violins on television."
"Chevy Chase","fletch@chase.com","Is it violins or violence?"
"Andy Johnson","andy@yahoo.com","What was the questions?"

Each time the survey processor is used, a line will be appended to the end of the Log file. If the Log file does not exist, it will be created. Therefore, each time you want to collect the data from your survey, simply download the log file, then delete it from your web site. Future sumissions will create a new file you can download later.

NOTE: Data entered using this tool is NOT secure. Do not collect sensitive or private information with this tool.