CIS 2004: Assignment

Forms in HTML

Preliminary attempt (without self-assessment) due Tuesday 19 October

Final submission due Monday 25 October

...develop full familiarity with elements of HTML forms ...

...be able to use a simple text editor to create web pages using valid XHTML and CSS

...understand the distinction between "client" and "server" in relation to HTTP and scripting

Assignment will be graded out of 20 points

You may want to continue working on online tutorials, but you should mainly focus on looking at an HTML tag reference sheet like the one on HTML Dog. Browse the tags which are used in forms.
Create a simple XHTML document which displays one of the following sets of form elements:
- Name info
- Address info
- Search field keywords
- File upload
- Message text
- Interests/Activities
- Survey
- Date
Make your form submit to the form processor sheet provided on grace. That is, open your form with the following HTML:
<form action="http://grace.evergreen.edu/cis/current/task/processForm.php" method="post">
(Or you can use method="get" to see what it does.)
You may want to look at this example page.
You may want to use the XHTML and CSS templates provided on the useful links page.
Use an external validator to check that the page you create has valid XHTML and CSS. Links to validators are provided on the useful links page.

Your self-assessment should include the following components:

Assign yourself a grade (using the criteria listed above) and provide evidence for the grade you have given yourself.
Explain, in your own terms, what it is that your form elements will allow a user to do and why you chose the elements you did. That is, why did you use a text field rather than a select field? Or whatever the case may be.
Explain, in your own terms, what the function of the PHP page (processForm.php) and its relationship to the HTML page that you have created.
Assess your level of competence in relation to the objectives.
Describe the value of this assignment.
State any plans you have for further work needed to reach the objectives.