Form Elements

The form element groups on the left are used when creating a pop up window message to gather customer preferences or customer specific requirements for an item.

MyStore Mentor supports six form elements. Each element group is color coded for easy reference. If you are not at all familiar with creating forms, you might want to consult one of the many HTML texts on the subject or search the Web with it's innumerable resources.

The supported elements are:
radio button  used in multiples to select one option from two or more choices.
checkbox  used to select or confirm an option
menu  used to create a drop down list of options for selecting one
text  used to enter a line of text information
textarea  used to enter a block of text information
hidden  used to enter a non-alterable message

Each group has five operational buttons:
clear  This button clears entries and resets values for the group.
enter  This button sets the entered values to temporary memory for viewing. It must be used to capture any new entries before viewing.
view  New entries that are captured can be viewed using this button. It will toggle between the code view and a results view.
«del»  This button deletes the last entry captured. It is used to make a correction to the last entry.
save  Save is used to capture all current group entries for publishing.

All of the element tables except hidden have these parameters in common:
descriptive heading:  This is a phrase used to introduce a group of form elements on the page. IE: Make your selections below.   It's use is optional.
group label:  A smaller indented heading on the page useful for introducing multiple elements of the same type. IE: Select a Color followed by a series of radio buttons. The group label is optional.
label:  Use the label to identify the specific option. IE: red   green   blue for a series of radio buttons.
font color  Sets the font color for either of the above labels or the heading.
position  Determine if each element and its label will follow the group label on the same line (h orizontal) or start on a new line (v ertical).
name  The name of the form element. This name should be related to the option offered. IE: If the option is for 'length', then name the form element 'length'. This name will appear on the purchase order followed by the value of the option selected.
value:  This is the value returned to the purchase order that accompanies the "name". IE: If name is "length" and the selected option has the value "short" the DETAIL information appended to the item on the purchase order will appear as LENGTH = short&

All of the element tables have these control buttons in common:
clear  This button clears all table entries and values including prior entries.
enter  this button enters the visible parameters to a temporary memo for viewing. Each change in parameters must be accompanied by an entry.
view  View will toggle between the HTML code view and the result (page) view for the most recently entered parameters.
«del»  This button will let you delete un-saved entries one line at a time.
save  When the entries for this element table are complete, "save" will assemble the code into an array for subsequent publishing.

The text and textarea tables have these additional parameters:
size  Size is used with a text box to set the approximate number of characters that will be visible without scrolling.
columns  Columns is used with a textarea box to set the approximate number of characters that will be visible in a row without scrolling. The characters may wrap to the width of the box depending on the browser.
rows  Rows is used with a textarea box to set the number of rows of text that will be visible without scrolling.

The hidden element table uses these parameters:
font color:  This will be the color of the statement text.
statement:  This is a bold visible statement on the message page.
name:  This is the element name value.
message:  This is the submitted text. It will be appended to the item description along with the name.

NOTE:  
Changing the descriptive headings of a group will start a new paragraph in the message.
General information about how to use each of the tables is available by clicking the hot link in the table heading.

Hint:
Each time a complete form element is generated, it should be entered and viewed. This will allow you to delete just this latest entry if it is not satisfactory.

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