FORM using multiple pages..?

[NGJ]

I have a questionnaire FORM that, due to its size, would be better presented on screen if it could be split into sections - i.e. the user completes section1 then clicks "Next" to clear the space and display the text asssociated with section2 - instead of the user just scrolling down the page until they reach the end of all the sections.

Can anyone please suggest how I might do this? I just want to keep the page tidy and present each section in a uniform style. I guess I need to keep all the FORM values within the one htm page for it to POST the necessary field values properly?

Thanks in advance,

N.

[Twey]

Depends on how you're handling the form. The best idea would be to use cookies or sessions to preserve the entered data. Failing that, you could use hidden form elements to transfer data from one page to the next. As a last resort (Javascript dependence) you could use something like the Multipart Content script here on DD.

[mwinter]

The best idea would be to use cookies or sessions to preserve the entered data.

Sessions, preferably. Like scripting, cookies shouldn't be relied upon. Moreover, from the sound of things, there might be too much data to stuff into cookies.

Mike

[djr33]

You could just have them submit twice, but make matching values, like use IP address and general time frame to match people.
That way, it woudln't require much extra work, and you'd be able to match the submissions up easily enough.

[benslayton]

If you interested you could go this route...
http://express.perseus.com/perseus/asp/login.aspx

[mwinter]

[...] use IP address and general time frame to match people.

Hardly bulletproof. The user should be assigned a unique identifier to be returned on every request, either through the URI or cookies, which is precisely what sessions do.

Mike

[NGJ]

Thanks guys - it's given me a few things to think about...