Every website needs to have a contact page. A page from where the visitors can contact the creator, this task is generally accomplished using a form which the user fills and submits. The information is then processed using a Server Side script and sent as an email to the intended receipient.
Why Coding is Required?
Coding is required as the form that is submitted contains dynamic data i.e user writes the content that is different for different users sending emails. That’s why a server side script is required to capture the NEW content and process it to send an email to the website owner.
How Google Docs makes it easier?
Google Docs has the functionality of creating a spreadsheet which can also be used to create forms. These forms then can be embedded in web pages. When a user submits this form, the server side script executes on Google’s servers so you don’t have to worry about what happened because Google takes care of the processing.
This information is then stored in the Google Docs Spreadsheet which you can view anytime and setup an alert via email every time someone submits the form.
How to Create a Contact Form using Google Docs?
Although the process is simple, it can be explained in a video more effectively. The following video explains how to create a contact form using Google Docs without any coding whatsoever!
How many of you use Google Docs? How has it changed the way you create forms, I would like to hear you out.
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That is a great way to create a form for your website. When I was setting up my website, I was searching for something like this. I ended up using a plugin and adding a tag to provide this functionality. Later I found out about the Google web element Conversation and am using it currently.
I use Google docs but not for forms. I use it extensively for storing and editing my documents online. Multiple users being able to collaborate on a document is also a great functionality of Google docs.
The Conversation element is part of Google Friend Connect. It’s not exactly an alternative to a Submit-click-forms. Google Docs will enable you to create such forms. Even Wufoo is a site that allows creation of such forms and embeds them to your web page.
Google Docs has evolved as a good alternative to office suite online that too a very cost effective one.
Used it once when I had issues with sendmail and SMTP on my previous hosting provider. The best bet to create forms on-the-fly and nothing has been so easier than this.
I have never used Google Docs. I always use contact forms from third party services like kontactr.com or using WP plugins. It’s easier for me since I’m not good in programming
With Google Docs you do not need to do any programming. The form can be made using their spreadsheet as described in the video, moreover, the information remains accessible from from your Google account.