[WEB4LIB] RE: Mailto vs. forms

[Robert L Frasier]

I generally display a verification screen prior to processing the form
- this gives the user a chance to review/modify the entries and print
a copy if they want a record. I've used email confirmation but it seems to be 
appropriate in some instances, not in others - a bit difficult to say in the 
abstract. 

Providing multiple methods of submitting information is always a good idea - I 
can't remember how many times I've looked throught a website trying to find a 
phone number or address. 

Bob Frasier
Western Illinois University
mailto: RL-Frasier at wiu.edu



Quoting Jerry Kuntz <jkuntz at ansernet.rcls.org>:

> The point about form fillers wanting copies might be mitigated if the
> form could be programmed to send a confirmation back to the sender, like
> many online order forms do. This would still rely on their supplying an
> accurate email address, though.
> 
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: rich at richardwiggins.com
> Reply-To: rich at richardwiggins.com
> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 07:06:39 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> >There's no one best practice here...
> >
> >Forms-only feedback interfaces can be frustrating to the user.  It is
> nice to be able to direct carbon copies of your note, which is often a
> complaint if it's on a feedback form, for your own records.  Forms can
> allow the user to enter his/her own email address, but what if they
> enter it wrong?
> >
> >As for choice, that's great for a relatively sophisticated clientele
> that demands it, but some people in some audiences are going to be
> confused by the choice, no matter how well you word it.
> >
> >Back in 1993 I suggested people use forms instead of Mailto because so
> many people didn't have a mail client configured.  Today, as others
> point out a lot of people may not have the right mail client configured,
> or they may use Web-based mail.  So if you offer Mailto ONLY you will
> lose some feedback (folks may not be persistent enough to copy the
> Mailto link into an external program).
> >
> >/rich
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >On Thu, 23 August 2001, George Porter wrote:
> >
> >> 
> >> Before getting too righteous about mailto VS. forms, what, pray tell,
> is
> >> preventing the library from providing both methods of feedback?  The
> Caltech
> >> Library System web team received strong feedback from faculty and
> some
> >> students that they wanted to be able to send email, not be limited to
> forms.
> >> Reasons expressed included:
> >> 
> >> retaining copies of sent mail
> >> ability to cc: or bcc:
> >> 
> >> What's "easiest" for the library to offer is hardly relevant in any
> aspect
> >> of web design or technology support.  The overriding factors, IMHO,
> are the
> >> needs and desires of your primary clientele.  Unless there are
> major
> >> technological strictures preventing you from offering the
> communications
> >> format(s) of their preference, give THEM the choice.
> >> 
> >> George S. Porter
> >> Sherman Fairchild Library of Engineering & Applied Science
> >> Caltech, 1-43
> >> Pasadena, CA  91125-4300
> >> Telephone (626) 395-3409 Fax (626) 431-2681
> >
> >_____________________________________________________
> >
> >Richard Wiggins
> >Writing, Speaking, and Consulting on the Internet
> >rich at richardwiggins.com  http://richardwiggins.com 
> >
> 
> --
> Jerry Kuntz
> Electronic Resources Consultant
> Ramapo Catskill Library System
> jkuntz at rcls.org
> 
> --
>