Using cgiemail

The instruction contained herein can be used to modify an
existing HTML form to work with a preinstalled script called href="http://web.mit.edu/wwwdev/cgiemail/">cgiemail. The
cgiemail script resides in the server's cgi-bin directory and
does NOT have to be installed within your own account. Merely
reference cgiemail as illustrated as illustrated in the following
HTML form action:

• action="/cgi-bin/cgiemail/mailtemp.txt">

This code calls the preinstalled script cgiemail which
is in the server's cgi-bin directory once the web page visitor
clicks the "submit" button. The script cgiemail in turn
calls a text file (or template) called mailtemp.txt. The
template defines the format by which the submitted form content
is to be sent via email.

You can create the template in a basic text editor beginning
with the following two lines:

   To: username@yourdomain.com

   Subject: Information Request

Substitute the desired recipient email address and subject
above. Next, you will need to add ALL field names within the HTML
form to the template in a form similar to the following:

   To: username@yourdomain.com

   Subject: Information Request



   Name            [name]

   Address         [address]

   Phone           [telno]

As long as each form field name is contained within brackets
("[ ]") within the template, the email should be sent
successfully and contain all submitted data. We suggest you use
all lowercase field names within your HTML form and template. Be
sure to upload the template in ASCII transfer mode.

If you want a specific web page to load when the email is
successfully sent, such as a thank you note, add the follow code
to your HTML form:

• name="success"
  value="http://your_domain.com/thanks.html">

Substitute the URL of the file you wish to load after form
data is submitted. The field name in this case MUST be
"success", but does not need to be added to the
template.

*** Important ***
If you are implementing a secure form in
conjunction with cgiemail, you will need to reference
the script in the form ACTION as well as the "success"
URL securely. Please note that the
"secure" environment refers to information transmitted
from web browser to web server. The resulting email message that
gets sent from the our computers is not encrypted and therefore
not secure. We are in the process of researching PGP encryption
for email.

*** Helpful Tip ***
When you receive the submitted form content via email, you will
see that the return address is one that is associated with
rapidsite.net. In some instances, you may want to reply directly
to the person that completed the form.

First, add a field to the HTML form (e.g. "email" to
prompt the visitor for his/her complete email address. Next, add
the field name to the corresponding template in the following
manner:

   To: username@yourdomain.com

   From: [email]

   Subject: Information Request

The cgiemail script will insert the address entered in the
field named email. When the emailed form is received it
will be tagged with this return address.

Updated: 10/03/98