PHP form building apps

[Begadoc]

As will be obvious from the question, I am not very experienced in creating PHP code.

For some things I have found that using an app to create code or finding appropriate snippets of code is both quick and lets me get on with some other aspect of my project, and is also helpful in the longer term in that I have learnt how to do things by looking at and adapting the generated code.

The quick bit I currently need because I want to use my time to figure out how to link images to a database. Learning how to create a form with a few required bells and whistles, really needs to wait. The data input forms I currently have in the web site I have produced are pretty basic - they do the job, but they need drop down lists and validation to make them a bit more fool proof. With some 6000 records to input or edit I need to make it easy!

So can anyone suggest a form building app I can use. Free would be nice given that I am doing something for the local church, but something not too expensive would also be useful. Googling has produced a few possibilities, but I would appreciate comments from the experts!

[Rob Hecker2]

There are form building apps. I have written one that my clients use. But your issue isn't clear. Explain to us exactly the logical steps you are trying to accomplish and how you are interacting with the database.

[Nancy OShea]

There's 5 parts to this.  MySQL database, HTML, PHP, CSS and JavaScript.

For backend CMS, I really like to use Bootstrap's open source framework.  Everything you need to create a nice looking application is in there.  Forms, modal windows, buttons, button groups, range sliders, popup hints, etc....   In fact, that's what got me hooked on using Bootstrap in the first place.  It lends itself really well to building apps.  Bootstrap doesn't contain any PHP code however.  You have to add that yourself.

HTML5 form validation works well for most things.  But you still need a little custom JavaScript to keep people from doing wildly foolish things to your CRUD pages.  For example, deleting a record should invoke  a JS alert box that requires confirmation before the record is deleted from dbase.   That's something you have to  program yourself.  

The more you interact with your app, you'll no doubt find other fields that need better controls on them.  This varies by application.

I can't recommend a form building widget for this kind of project because I honestly don't know of any.  App development is not cookie cutter like creating a contact form.   Every App is different.

Nancy

[Nancy OShea]

I just came across this.  I haven't tired it yet.  But it looks like it might help you.

Bootstrap CRUD Generator

Let me know what you think of it.

Nancy

[osgood_]

You need 'perfect' validation when inserting information into a database. If you don't guide the input user through the process step by step with a series of prompts if they fail to insert something which is required and is critical to the project your whole concept will fall to bits.

Its well worth investing the time in learning how to do that yourself rather than relying on some kind of automated process. Before long you will have the app dancing to your tune, not someone elses, who think they know what you require.

[Begadoc]

I thought I had replied to your helpful comments but must have had a senior moment and failed to click on post!

Nancy - I'll have a look at your suggestion and let you know what I think.

Rob & Osgood - I agree with your comments and I should invest the time in learning to do it myself. The problem is a combination of the difficulty in learning new things when one is an advanced silver surfer, and the perception that time is limited and there are so many things one wants to do!

To answer Rob's request for information, Our church required software to store data and map grave locations. An off the shelf package cost over £5K - unaffordable. So I offered to do one free. (My background is hobbyist programmer, medical by training and my IT experience is limited to working with IT people developing medical software). What I did for the church does what is needed but is fairly basic (St Bees Priory - Documents & Graveyard data if you're interested). I have an input form which non-IT people can use to enter or edit data on my church's graveyard database, but for some fields it needs drop down lists to aid data entry and to ensure it is in the format I need for other aspects of the program. I don't need a delete function as that would be a rare event. The odd occasion that might be needed can be dealt with by other means. As Osgood says - perfect validation, at least for some fields.

So to achieve this and not spend time learning something I may never need again, I was looking for an easy way!

Sorry!

[Rob Hecker2]

Is it really your intention to allow people to edit the database records? Aren't you concerned that someone will come along and change names to obscenities and make other unwanted changes?

You will need to store the data in a mySQL database and manage the records with PHP. It isn't a beginner project, but an easy intermediate project. PHP Solutions by David Powers would be a good book to read to learn the necessary skills.

You might find a young web programming student willing to take this on for a few hundred pounds.

[osgood_]

Begadoc wrote:

I have an input form which non-IT people can use to enter or edit data on my church's graveyard database, but for some fields it needs drop down lists to aid data entry and to ensure it is in the format I need for other aspects of the program.

The drop down should not be  an issue really - you can just use the <option value="XXX"></option> tag to allow the user (Hopefullly a church admin) to choose from a list of options.

I always think the most critical part is the form validation, making sure the person who inputs the data supplies the correct information which requires you to check that all the form field have been filled in where strictly necessary.

For instance if information is searched for by 'category' or 'name' you would want to ensure the 'category' or 'name' form field is filled in and not left blank or maybe you want to return the information in 'date order' - you would need to make sure the person who puts the information into the database correctly inputs the date in a format which mysql understands.

I tend to spend almost as much time on the back-end application as I do on the front end design.

[Begadoc]

I should have said that access to the mySQL database - add, edit, delete - is restricted by name and password. A hacker could no doubt break through easily but the people likely to be looking at the site are unlikely to be a problem. As for the suggestion that I look at David Powers tutorials, a quick look at the PHP code would show his strong influence - and direct answers to a few queries on this forum!

The web site I have is up and running and works. It is fairly unsophisticated but it does the job. I'm really looking to improve it and more importantly make it easy for totally non-IT people to maintain it. As someone recently struggled to tactfully point out, I am way past my three score and ten and have to be realistic.

A student for a few hundred pounds? Possibly but money is tight. I am assuming that none of you are UK based so bear with me for going off topic. The Priory is a Grade I Listed Building - i.e. it is legally protected. That, amongst many other things, means that any maintenance job cost twice as much as we have to comply with so many regulations. It is also 900 years old so there are a lot of things to be done - never ending. So a few hundred is a significant sum for us. Hence the amateur route. Not ideal but needs must.

[osgood_]

Begadoc wrote:

I am assuming that none of you are UK based so bear with me for going off topic. The Priory is a Grade I Listed Building - i.e. it is legally protected. That, amongst many other things, means that any maintenance job cost twice as much as we have to comply with so many regulations. It is also 900 years old so there are a lot of things to be done - never ending. So a few hundred is a significant sum for us. Hence the amateur route. Not ideal but needs must.

Sure I understand, I have enough trouble keeping up with the utilities companies putting their prices up 15% year on year because we sold them all to the EU who have to satisfy their shareholders.

[Rob Hecker2 · Accepted solution]

add, edit, delete - is restricted by name and password.. .The web site I have is up and running and works.

I accessed the form, but the form had no action. So I don't understand your criteria for "it works."

I want to use my time to figure out how to link images to a database.

Store the image name in the database and have a predetermined file location. So you don't actually "link" images to the database.

So a few hundred is a significant sum for us. Hence the amateur route.

A few hundred pounds is the amateur route.

more importantly make it easy for totally non-IT people to maintain it.

So you want a CMS interface. You could use a free CMS like WordPress and write a plug-in that adds the data and specific functionality for the burial locations. Or you could add CMS features to what you already have.

I seriously think you should put your efforts into obtaining a grant from the church or the government to either purchasing the commercial package for $5K pounds or hiring the job out. Hiring it out to a professional would cost more than 5K.

[Begadoc]

My apologies. Somehow I missed seeing your response. Three months is a long time so apologies thrice over!