Improve forms on your website

[botman]

For anyone interested, I've written a quick tutorial on how to improve forms on your website (http://jumpworlds.co.nz/webtips/betterforms.html). For example newsletter signups, or order forms.

(And yes, I know some of you guys were already doing this! Good on ya!)

If anyone finds this useful, please let me know. There are plenty of other things I could write about as well.

[prozero]

The tip "auto focus with blinking bar in subscribe box" does not always work here. In fact, when I open window by clicking on my middle mouse button (opens the window in a new tab on firefox), it does not work. If I open it by a left click on the link, it's ok.

[botman]

I use FF myself, and hadn't noticed until you said it, but you're right. I'm not sure what could be done about that.

I think it might just be FF behaviour. If I middle click my Home button, which goes to Google, the same thing happens. The search box isn't focused, when it normally would be.

Good spotting.

[stan]

Thanks, I didn't know the <label> tag, and it's useful for my new web game (http://www.rototostudio.com/free-online-puzzle-game/squares) :)

BTW, the onload thing works here under FireFox 1.0.4 when I use the MMB (another thing that I didn't know! I'll be using MMB a lot from now on :) ).

[Sillysoft]

Notice you can click any of the words 'Subscribe' or 'Unsubscribe' to select their associated radio button.
This doesn't work for me in the Safari web browser. WHich is a shame, since it definitely increases usability.

[botman]

This doesn't work for me in the Safari web browser. WHich is a shame, since it definitely increases usability.

I was pretty shocked when you said that, so I Googled it, and sure enough you are right. There are more than a few complaints out there from people that Safari doesn't support this behaviour. It's pretty weird because I've always been impressed with Safari.

[botman]

OK, I've updated the page (http://jumpworlds.co.nz/webtips/betterforms.html) to add solutions to various browser quirks that have been mentioned, including the above Safari issue.

[soniCron]

OK, I've updated the page (http://jumpworlds.co.nz/webtips/betterforms.html) to add solutions to various browser quirks that have been mentioned, including the above Safari issue. Excellent job!

Off topic: I'd like to point you to the bottom of this post (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showpost.php?p=49972). Your whole site falls victim! ;)

[botman]

Hey, thanks.

Heh yeah, the black on white is a bit much sometimes. I might look at providing an alternate style sheet with much lower contrast (like you say, one with a nice grey background).