Altering Html-insert To Call Up E-mail

[Ninepatch]

I know this probably belongs in HTML, but since I'm using CSB thought I'd start here for the benefit of other CSB users.

 

Following is a piece of HTML from Samantha's amazing site, www.samisite.com, that I've used in redesigning my website. It creates the rollover buttons at the bottom of the home page (yes, I know my table borders are showing.)

 

new site redesign

 

The first 5 buttons call up another page in the site. I'd like this button to call up Outlook Express and fill in the Send To: address so the user can contact me easily.

 

First, are there sites on the web that have scripts like this already written out for the grabbing? If so, will you share them with me?

 

><STYLE type=text/css>
#rollbutton3 a  {
color: #003333;
font-size:12px;
font-family: verdana;
font-weight:bold;
text-decoration: none;
border:4px inset #CCCCE4;
background-color:#C0DCC0;
display: block;
width: 150px;
                height: 25px;
padding: 5px 5px;
margin: 7px;

}
#rollbutton3 a:hover {
background-color: #CCCCE4;
color:#808080;
padding-left:3px;
border:4px outset #C0DCC0;
}
</STYLE>

<DIV id=rollbutton3>
<DIV><A href="http://www.deliahfair.com/newsite/liveetc_htm.htm" title="Contact Me" onfocus="this.blur()"  target="_top"><center>Contact Me</center></A></DIV>
</DIV>

 

I looked at Samantha's site, under the HTML and CSB forums, went to WWW3's site, and searched my always trusty Platinum Edition of the HTML Bible - couldn't get anywhere near close to an answer.

 

Can anyone offer some help, or point me in the right direction?

 

Samantha's tutorial on rollovers is really great. You can find it at:

 

http://www.samisite.com/test-csb/id95.htm

 

Thanks!!

[TCH-Bruce]

Beth, instead of calling up an email client, create another page with a form and use the Ultimate Form Mailer to send you the message. This way you don't have to include your email address in the link and thus prevent potential spammers from harrassing you.

[borfast]

Quite simple. Just change the line

 

<DIV><A href="http://www.deliahfair.com/newsite/liveetc_htm.htm" title="Contact Me" onfocus="this.blur()" target="_top"><center>Contact Me</center></A></DIV>

 

into

 

<div><a href="mailto:email.address@you.wantb" title="Contact Me" onfocus="this.blur()" target="_top"><center>Contact Me</center></a></div>

 

Notice I changed the tags to lowercase, for standards compliance. That was the geek side of me speaking

 

But I agree with Bruce, you should use a contact form instead of a live e-mail address on your site, or your inbox will be flooded with spam in no time!

Edited September 7, 2004 by TCH-Raul

[Madmanmcp]

is this what you want??

 

<a href="mailto:mymail@****">my name</a>

 

Or are you looking for something different.

[Ninepatch]

OK, makes sense not to put myself in a position to get a ton of spam. Ultimate Form Mailer - cPanel or 3rd party apps?

 

Oh, it looks like I just might snag that CD-ROM drive for $4.99, shipping is $8 so I'm pretty jazzed about that solution. No one else has even looked at it for the week it's been listed and there's only 3 hours left.

 

Bob - I wanted to call up an e-mail fast response, but Bruce has a good point, one I certainly wouldn't have considered. Now it'll be a new adventure learning Ultimate Form Mailer. But for reference, can you tell me what's the difference between what you posted and what Raul posted? I'm copying them both into a NotePad file and putting it into my "HTML Toolbox" directory. Lost that when my system crashed and just about cried - now I back it up once a week to a sub-directory here.

 

You guys are great - you can't know how much I appreciate your help.

[TCH-Bruce]

3rd party - a family member.

 

http://www.totalchoicehosting.com/help/id65.htm

[Samrc]

Thank you for the kind words about my site.

 

You can use a standard email link as directed by TCH-Raul, but I STRONGLY recommend you go one step further to disguise your email address in the link. Leaving a standard email link on the web page is an invitation to EVERYONE to get that address. There are lots of different ways to do that. Just a few are shown here:

 

http://www.samisite.com/test-csb2nf/id129.htm

Consider the email encoder to translate your address.

Just place the address in the code like this (with no spaces in the code):

 

<div><a href="mailto:]& #117; & #115; & #101; & #114; & #064; & #100; & #111; & #109; & #097; & #105; & #110; & #046; & #099; & #111; & #109; " title="Contact Me" onfocus="this.blur()" target="_top"><center>Contact Me</center></a></div>

 

On the encoder page is a link to other kinds of encoding to help limit the email address spiders.

 

I agree that the best option is to build a form that hides your address completely from those spiders. I have used PHORMJr to create forms with hidden email addresses and it is also a free third party code. TCH-Don (aka Turtle) wrote some instructions for the use of it and it does work well with CSB if you are interested in another option. I can send you to our protected order form (limited customer base is allowed access) so you can try it out. Just send me an email if interested and I will assign you a temporary password to have access to it. Instructions for it are here: http://csb.thepetscorner.com/form.htm

 

-Samantha

[TCH-Rob]

Be carefull as some of the harvesters can read ASCII so the encoder though a better solution than none at all still can be gotten around.

[Madmanmcp]

I just gave you the code you asked for, and Raul went the extra mile and place it in the rest of your code.

 

Can't beat the price on that CD...hope you get it

[Samrc]

I just gave you the code you asked for, and Raul went the extra mile and place it in the rest of your code.

 

And I think it was VERY nice that you both took your time to assist and give the link code as requested! Thumbs Up

 

Personal opinion here: I think it's better to start with an understanding of what the simple choice for code could be then work up to complicated alternative options like building a special form using a 3rd party code.

 

I have one client that refuses to use ANY protection on his email...He says he has had it posted so many years that it doesn't matter anymore. Go ahead and use a plain-ole mailto: link because it will not cut down on the spam to disguise or hide it!

 

-Samantha

[Madmanmcp]

He says he has had it posted so many years that it doesn't matter anymore.

 

I've had my same Prodigy email since 1989, not much I can do to protect it besides the spam programs. So it comes down to a case by case decision. If its a new email then you may want to try and protect it from getting harvested. If its too late like mine, don't worry about it.

[TCH-Bruce]

Personal opinion here: I think it's better to start with an understanding of what the simple choice for code could be then work up to complicated alternative options like building a special form using a 3rd party code.

I agree with you Sam. I just recommended the Ultimate Form Mailer because I do use the encoder and it has stopped nothing. I get more spam than ever. Of course Spam Assassin is catching the bulk of it.

 

Also, if you want to switch to XHTML it's a pitb to get the javascript document.write to validate without a lot of work.

 

There are several ways to accomplish anything. You should do what ever you feel comfortable with.

Edited September 8, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[Samrc]

Bruce, you are so right.

 

The more I learn the more I realize I need to learn! I get comfortable with one way and sure enough, someone comes out with something better, faster, safer and I learn something else.

 

The only constant in web building: You will never be done with the site! There are so many ways to accomplish the same task that it can make your mind spin.

 

This board is an EXCELLENT way to discover new and exciting options!

 

-Samantha

[TCH-Bruce]

The only constant in web building: You will never be done with the site! There are so many ways to accomplish the same task that it can make your mind spin.

So true. I'm creating new forms for my site and will have them up by the weekend.

 

While I am at it I am going to create an include for the footer on my site. This way I will only have to change one file in the future when a change like this is necessary.

 

While I am at it, I may as well create an include file for the horizontal navigation buttons on my site as well.

[Samrc]

While I am at it I am going to create an include for the footer on my site. This way I will only have to change one file in the future when a change like this is necessary.

 

HUH??? Are you meaning a PHP statement that appears on all pages, like a copyright notice or something? TCH-Don gave me an idea for that and I am in the process of updating a site with that so it is easier to update in the future. Right now I still have 350+ pages (Have to update several separate subdirectories and will put it in the page format to force a global change for that subdirectory I hope!)

 

Could you show me what you plan on implementing for your footer?

 

-Samantha

[TCH-Bruce]

Yes, basically I am going to take the bottom portion of my page which contains a link to the policy page, an email address and link to Total Chioce and place them in an HTML file of their own. Just the HTML no other tags.

 

Then I will use the PHP include function to have them parsed into the document.

 

<?php

include $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']."/whatever.html";

?>

 

When the server sends the page it will include whatever.html in to the document being served right where I place this code.

[Samrc]

Slick. Easy updating!

Same idea as the copyright dating so that one change updates all pages at one time. A dream come true!

 

-Samantha

[Ninepatch]

Thank you all for the great input! I'm looking at all sorts of options, but will definitely use a form. Spam is very high on my list of undesirables.

 

I, too, realize now that a site is always a work in progress but hope to get close to a releasable version of the rework sometime in the next week or so.

 

I read every new post in every forum daily - even the ones that are way above my head. I learn something new every day. Little by little it sinks in, or somewhere down the road a light comes on. This time around I've realized that my 1999 HTML Bible leaves a lot to be desired in 2004! Time to spend some bucks and update it - oh well, I like buying books and Amazon loves to see me coming!

 

Again, thank you for all your help, it is greatly appreciated. Thumbs Up

 

PS: I got that factory-sealed CD-ROM drive for $12 and change, including shipping! On it's way to me now - woo hoo!!

[TCH-Don]

Wow thats a good deal! Thumbs Up