Documentation
How to Read the Data File (.fs)
All of the data recorded goes into a file called "filename.fs", assuming your
HTML file is called "filename.html". This file is a tab-delimited text file,
which means that you can easily import it into any database program, regardless
of the platform. So if your web server caters to users using Windows, Unix, or
DOS, the data files generated will be compatible with their systems.
The reason you had to use "field1", "field2", etc to name your fields is because
that is the order in which the fields will be in the .fs file. If FormSaver allowed
you to name your fields "Name" and "E-mail", etc, the order would be different each time.
However, there is additional information automatically put into your your .fs file,
with each new entry. (Unapparent to the user.)
- The first data field in the file is the date that the entry was made, in the format "1/8/1996"
- The second data field is the time, in military format (ex, "22:12")
- The third data field is the user's IP address or domain name.
- The fourth data field is the user's browser. This can tell you a lot of information, for example, you might see "Mozilla/1.1N (Macintosh; I; PPC)" So you can tell who is using a PC, a Mac, or Unix.
- After that, you will get the user's data, in the order field1, field2, etc.
- Each entry will end with a carriage return and a line feed. (for cross-platform compatibility)
The Data File is Generated Automatically
You can delete or rename the .fs file at any time. A new empty file will be created
when the next entry comes in. I like to rename my .fs files with the date, so that
I don't have to keep looking at the same entries. Also, you don't want to import
the same records more than once, so after you download or merge the file, delete
the original and a new one will appear on the next entry.
Some Notes:
- The data file is saved as a BBEdit file, the best text editor. However you will
most likely want to import it into a database to view the contents. This is irrelevant
if you download the file onto a computer that is not a Macintosh. Instead, you will
have a plain text file.
- If a field was left empty by the user, there will be 2 tabs in a row. This is
so that your database can tell that the field was empty.
- The fields' numeric order does not matter in regards to placement in the form.
- You can skip numbers. Skipped numbers will be treated as having been left empty.
So if you only have a field10, you will have lots of extra tabs in your data file,
representing fields1 through 9.
About MULTIPLE fields, Check Boxes, and Multiply-Defined fields
If you have fields with the MULTIPLE tag, check boxes, or any fields that have
the same field name, the multiple data entries will be stored together, separate
with a slash. For example, if you use have 3 check boxes in your form, all marked
as "field1", and the possible choices are "red", "blue", and "green", you will
see "red,blue,green" in your data file, assuming all three items were selected.
If you define two fields with the same name, the same thing will occur. So be careful
you number your fields correctly.
Pliner Solutions is located in Willow Grove, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, although we have have clients worldwide.
Please contact us for more information about Pliner Solutions FormSaver product questions, or if you have problems using FormSaver at (215) 658-1601 or use our convenient online form.