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1994-04-24
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463 lines
EEllmm FFoorrmmss MMooddee GGuuiiddee
_W_h_a_t _F_o_r_m_s _M_o_d_e _i_s_, _h_o_w _t_o _u_s_e _i_t _t_o _c_r_e_a_t_e
_c_u_s_t_o_m _f_o_r_m_s_, _h_o_w _t_o _r_e_p_l_y _t_o _f_o_r_m_s_, _a_n_d _h_o_w _t_o
_u_s_e _i_t _f_o_r _A_T_&_T _M_a_i_l _m_e_s_s_a_g_e_s
Dave Taylor
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
1501 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto CA
94304
email: taylor@hplabs.HP.COM or hplabs!taylor
>>> Elm is now in the public trust. Bug reports, comments, etc. to: <<<
Syd Weinstein
Datacomp Systems, Inc.
3837 Byron Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006-2320
email: elm@DSI.COM or dsinc!elm
((CC)) Copyright 1986, 1987 by Dave Taylor
((CC)) Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 by The USENET Community Trust
AA GGuuiiddee ttoo FFoorrmmss MMooddee iinn EEllmm
(Version 2.3)
Dave Taylor
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
1501 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto CA
94304
email: taylor@hplabs.HP.COM or hplabs!taylor
>>> Elm is now in the public trust. Bug reports, comments, etc.
to: <<<
Syd Weinstein
Datacomp Systems, Inc.
3837 Byron Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006-2320
email: elm@DSI.COM or dsinc!elm
May 1, 1990
While there are a lot of mail systems that allow the transmission
of text and primitive pictures, to send and reply to more complex
forms is simply not possible. EEllmm, however, took the forms mode
implemented as part of the AT&T Mail package and has expanded on
it to be a smoothly fit part of the overall mail system.
Forms mode gives you the ability to send `template' files to peo-
ple and receive the filled-in replies.1 Let's look at an example
right off.
Say we were going to use computer mail as a way to file defects
with software. There is a certain amount of information we want
to be able to collect when each report is made, and if it is in a
specific format we can use programs to file the defects upon re-
ceipt.
The form we'll try to emulate starts out looking like:
__________
_1_. _n_o_t_e _t_h_a_t _t_h_i_s _f_e_a_t_u_r_e _a_s_s_u_m_e_s _t_h_a_t _t_h_e _p_e_r_s_o_n _o_n
_t_h_e _o_t_h_e_r _e_n_d _i_s _a_l_s_o _u_s_i_n_g _t_h_e _E_l_m _m_a_i_l _s_y_s_t_e_m_.
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
Defect Reporting Form
Program: ______________ Version: ________
Operating System: _____ Version: ________
Defect Type: __________
Date Found: ___________ By Whom: ______________
Date Reported: ________ Phone: ________________
Description: ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
This form can actually be created almost exactly as listed above
in the EEllmm mail system by using your standard editor and can then
be mailed about as needed.
Let's say that we want a bit more information, however, especial-
ly with fields like ``Defect Type'', we want to list all the rec-
ommended answers. To create the actual form, we need merely to
replace the underlines in the above form with spaces. The multi-
line comments can simply be indicated by a `:' by itself on a
line;
Defect Reporting Form
Program: Version:
Operating System: Version:
(Valid Defect Types are: user-error, doc-error, fatal, other)
Defect Type:
Date Found: By Whom:
Date Reported: Phone:
Description
:
Thank you for filling in this form.
__________________________________________________________________
As we can see, it is quite simple to create forms!!
Now that we have an idea what we're talking about, let's actually
officially define the system...
May 1, 1990 Page 2
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
FFoorrmmss MMooddee SSppeecciiffiiccaattiioonn
[Note that this is all taken from the document _S_t_a_n_d_a_r_d _f_o_r _E_x_-
_c_h_a_n_g_i_n_g _F_o_r_m_s _o_n _A_T_&_T _M_a_i_l, Version 1.9 of 6/7/86, from AT&T]
The forms mode is really quite simple. Simple enough that it is
amazing that it hadn't been implemented before AT&T Mail came
along!!
In a nutshell, each field is delimited by a `:' followed by a
number of blank spaces or tabs that represent the valid size for
that field. That is, if we have a line in the form like;
``Phone (area-code): Number: ''
The area-code field will be limited to three characters and the
number to nine. (this is kind of hard to see with the propor-
tionally spaced formatted copy, alas). The only exception to the
rule is that a `:' by itself on a line represents a field that is
as large as the user entering the data desires.
The actual form that is transmitted, in AT&T Mail parlance, is a
``SIMPLE'' forms handler message (as opposed to the ``ADVANCED''
handler). This means that it contains three sections;
_T_h_e _M_e_s_s_a_g_e _H_e_a_d_e_r
[[OOPPTTIIOONNSS--SSEECCTTIIOONN]]
******
[[FFOORRMMSS--IIMMAAGGEE]]
******
[[RRUULLEESS--SSEECCTTIIOONN]]
EEllmm generates form messages with the ``options'' section filled
out, but ignores it when receiving mail. The filled out section
is:
WWIIDDTTHH==8800
TTYYPPEE==SSIIMMPPLLEE
OOUUTTPPUUTT==TTEEXXTT
The FORMS-IMAGE section is that described above. The RULES-
SECTION can contain explicit rules about the possible values of
each field, but this is currently ignored by EEllmm, being a ``SIM-
PLE'' forms mode mail system.
Forms also have the header ``Content-Type: mailform'' to indicate
to the mail system (either EEllmm or AT&T Mail) that a form is being
sent.
EEllmm further indicates that a form has been received by having an
``F'' as the status character in the header display section (in-
stead of ``N'' for new, etc).
CCoommppoossiinngg aanndd SSeennddiinngg aa FFoorrmm
The first step to enable sending forms is to change the setting
of the variable _f_o_r_m_s in your _._e_l_m_/_e_l_m_r_c file to ``ON''. E.g.:
forms = ON
The next step is to send the message to someone using the `m'
(_m_a_i_l) command. This then will drop you into an editor. Type in
May 1, 1990 Page 3
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
the form as indicated above, with appropriate colons and com-
ments, and end the entry by leaving the editor.
The prompt is now;
CChhoooossee:: EE))ddiitt mmssgg,, eeddiitt HH))eeaaddeerrss,, MM))aakkee ffoorrmm,, SS))eenndd oorr FF))oorrggeett :: @@
so we choose `m' -- _M_a_k_e _f_o_r_m. The program then will either
rewrite the prompt without the M)ake form option, indicating that
the form has been accepted, or will indicate the problem and give
you a chance to correct it.
Once it has been accepted, simple use the `s' -- _s_e_n_d _m_e_s_s_a_g_e -
command and it's off!
_N_o_t_e _t_h_a_t _y_o_u _c_a_n_n_o_t _r_e_p_l_y _t_o _a _m_e_s_s_a_g_e _w_i_t_h _a _F_o_r_m_.
RReeppllyyiinngg ttoo aa FFoorrmm
Let's reply to the form message we generated now. The header
page of the EEllmm mail system will indicate that the message is a
form by having an `F' next to it. So we use `r' to reply and the
screen is immediately cleared and we're prompted, field by field,
for the data requested. Each field has underscores in the input
area to indicate the size field that is expected.
After answering all the questions we'll have a screen that looks
like;
Defect Reporting Form
Program: TThhee EEllmm MMaaiill SSyysstteemm___________
Version: 11..55___________________________
Operating System: HHPP--UUXX_________________________
Version: 55..114411 CC_______________________
(Valid Defect Types are: user-error, doc-error, fatal, other)
Defect Type: ffaattaall_____________________________________________
Date Found: 1100//99//8866_______________________
By Whom: DDaavvee TTaayylloorr___________________
Date Reported: 1100//99//8866_______________________
Phone: ((441155)) 885577--66888877________________
Description
(Enter as many lines as needed, ending with a `.' by itself on a line)
WWhheenn rruunnnniinngg iitt oonn aa CCPPMM ssyysstteemm II ccaannnnoott ccoommppiillee ssuucccceessssffuullllyy..
..
Thank you for filling in this form.
Choose: E)dit form, edit H)eaders, S)end or F)orget : @
__________________________________________________________________
Quite simple. Notice, however, that the order of prompting is
left to right on each line, so the fields that on the form are
May 1, 1990 Page 4
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
placed in what seems like a logical place, ``By Whom:'' and
``Phone:'' turn out to be confusing when filling in the actual
form since it isn't clear what ``Phone:'' is being asked for be-
cause of the intervention of the ``Date Reported:'' field.
The message that will actually be sent out from this will have
the fields in a more acceptable format;
May 1, 1990 Page 5
Forms Mode Guide Version 2.3
WWIIDDTTHH==8800
TTYYPPEE==SSIIMMPPLLEE
OOUUTTPPUUTT==TTEEXXTT
DDeeffeecctt RReeppoorrttiinngg FFoorrmm
******
PPrrooggrraamm:: TThhee EEllmm MMaaiill SSyysstteemm VVeerrssiioonn:: 11..55
OOppeerraattiinngg SSyysstteemm:: HHPP--UUXX VVeerrssiioonn:: 55..114411 CC
((VVaalliidd DDeeffeecctt TTyyppeess aarree:: uusseerr--eerrrroorr,, ddoocc--eerrrroorr,, ffaattaall,, ootthheerr))
DDeeffeecctt TTyyppee:: ffaattaall
DDaattee FFoouunndd:: 1100//99//8866 BByy WWhhoomm:: DDaavvee TTaayylloorr
DDaattee RReeppoorrtteedd:: 1100//99//8866 PPhhoonnee:: ((441155)) 885577--66888877
DDeessccrriippttiioonn
WWhheenn rruunnnniinngg iitt oonn aa CCPPMM ssyysstteemm II ccaannnnoott ccoommppiillee ssuucccceessssffuull--
llyy..
TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr ffiilllliinngg iinn tthhiiss ffoorrmm..
******
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CCoommmmeennttss oonn FFoorrmmss MMooddee
As was said at the beginning, this way of sending about forms
could prove to be very helpful and useful in a variety of con-
texts. On the other hand, until a more sophisticated forms lan-
guage is used for the forms, this should be sufficient to embody
the power of the idea.
I welcome any comments and thoughts on this system and also wel-
come possible enhancements.
I also gratefully thank Dale DeJager of AT&T Information Systems
for sending me more information on AT&T Mail than I could possi-
bly digest in any finite amount of time.
May 1, 1990 Page 6
