| Forms - Not as dumb as you may think
Many people see forms as just a simple collection of fields intended to collect some information from a visitor. While some forms may be exactly that simple so much more is possible. Forms can be used collect, verify and validate information. They may also be used to collect information that queries or updates a database. For instance an online shopping cart is nothing more than a collection of forms in which customers enter their purchase, personal and payment information.
Forms which are critical to the customer/vendor relationship require some validation in order to assure that all the information submitted is for the most part correct. The most common validation done on contact forms is a properly constructed email address. Also you may want to make sure your visitor enters all of the information you need to respond effectively either personally or via a program intended to respond to the submitted data. Without all of the data you may have a prospect and no way to contact or respond.
SeriousPHP builds both simple contact forms as well as complex logic based questionnaires for our customers. One thing all of these forms have in common is data validation. Many forms and form generation programs on the market use javascript as their only validation method. The problem there is what if you are dealing with a customer who is not using javascript on his computer? Even worse are forms which validate the forms using server code which merely tells the visitor he has made an error and to click his back button to fix it. In both of these scenarios the process is just too unreliable. Another common complaint we hear from customers concerns forms that are too rigid when checking form input. For example forms that require a number be entered without commas and decimals may actually require the customer to bother with formatting the data to conform to your database model. All of this serves no purpose if your purpose is making your site as user friendly as possible.
At SeriousPHP we take a different approach. We see checking form input as a matter of getting the correct data without requiring visitors to adhere to strict data entry rules. For example entry of a US phone number could be (555) 555-1212, 555-555-1212 or even 555.555.1212 or some other format depending on the custom of the visitor. Instead of cluttering the form with example formatting or simply telling the visitor he has entered an incorrectly formatted phone number we would simply strip out the non-numeric characters and look for a total of 10 digits. In the case of a number we would strip the commas if need be and send what our program requires on without bothering the customer.
In addition to simply validating the form data we might want to use the form for different purposes based on one or more entries on the form. For example on the contact form on this site we require a phone number from US customers requiring emergency assistance but not of any other inquiry. This emergency selection also changes the routing of the form to assure a live person gets it ASAP. Also if a customer selects an Instant Messenger as a form of contact we then require his screen name which is not required if he does not elect to submit an Instant Messenger as a form of contact.
In short, forms are your link with your visitor. A properly designed and executed form or form application will lead to more effective automation and customer service while at the same time reducing incorrect data collection. Contact us for details.
Solutions for Open-Realty
SeriousPHP offers the highest quality and most innovative addons for Open-Realty available. From ORCommerce, simply the most functional, user friendly and secure paid listing solution for Open-Realty, to our TheMoveChannel publisher which allows your listings to be automatically published to one of the world's largest and most popular property portals to our expanded featured listings addon and more you can find the solution you seek to make Open-Realty the complete property listing manager you need. If you do not find what you are looking for here consider having us build a solution for you. We offer fully custom development as well as a co-op program where you pay less and we keep the rights to sell the addon to others.
ORCommerce
ORCommerce started during the 1.x version of Open-Realty as the first per listing shopping cart for Open-Realty. With a comprehensive administration and improved and attractive Agent Interface as well as full history and accounting functions ORCommerce transforms Open-Realty into a world class platform for the sales of property listings. Supports PayPal IPN and AuthorizeNET. There is just too much to list here. Download the 10 day trial and see for yourself that there is nothing comparable. You will not be disappointed.
Download the trial (Open-Realty 2.0.4 - 2.0.8 only - contact us for others)
Screenshots:
Admin - Main configuration
Admin - Services inventory
Agent - New Agent order form
Agent - Edit listing
TheMoveChannel publisher
Intended more for the European market TheMoveChannel publisher automatically publishes your listings to TheMoveChannel.com using standard XML. The administration panel allows you to map your field names to those used by TheMoveChannel simply. You can literally have your listings up by tomorrow. No need to do all the entry work on their site. Let TheMoveChannel publisher do it for you. Setup takes around 10 minutes.
Screenshot:
Administration panel
Expanded Featured Listings
This addon gives you full control of your featured listings display. From the simple administration panel you can set the number of listings displayed, the order in which they are displayed, eliminate or include listings with no photo, select your template and even set the size of the displayed image. The images are actually resized from your full size images the first time you use a particular size in your display and stored separate from your listing images. To prevent an accumulation of images the addon allows you to decide how many days after an image is created it will be deleted. If a listing is still active and featured after its image is deleted the addon will simply make a new one the next time the featured listing is displayed. The template system is simple and comprehensive. If you can make a simple web page in FrontPage or Dreamweaver you can make a template in just minutes. With support from multiple templates via the admin changing the look is a snap.
Recently we added a slideshow featured listing display to this addon. With it you can place an auto-running slideshow of your featured listings in your pages as well. From the administration panel you can control all of the items in the regular featured listings display above as well as the length of time each slide is displayed.
If featured listings are a part of your business you need this addon.
Screenshots:
Administration panel
Other Addons
In addition to these addons we have a collection of addons ranging from customized forms with advanced validation features to open house addons to addons that change content based on page or search term. Due to our extensive work with Open-Realty we probably have what you are looking for no matter what that is.
Still using Open-Realty 1.x?
We can help you make the transition smoothly or offer you myriads of modifications and modules to provide many functions available nowhere else. Contact us for more information.
SeriousPHP Solutions
SeriousPHP offers some specific solutions geared at making you web site more useful. From forms to Open-Realty we offer enhancements found nowhere else.
Use the menu on the left to find information on the quality solutions we offer. Don't see what you need? Contact us.
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