FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

How to unlock the Free Version

Please click on "Info & Update", enter the "License Key" and click on "Validate License".
Unlock Web Form Builder

 

 

Where do I find the User Manual?

The user manual is available online at this page.

 

 

Setup Error: "Setup files are corrupted"

Please clear your browser cache and retry to download the software. 
It could be a transmission error over the net.

You can also use our alternate download (zip-compressed setup) or our alternate download server.
In some cases it also helps if you rename the newly download file, e.g. to awebform2.exe.

If you get this error message for every application you try to install, then the windows installer on your computer might be damaged.

 

 

I always get the error page when I test the form on my local computer

Important: If you are testing the form on your local machine, e.g. using XAMP, then you might always get the error page and NO mail will be sent. The reason is, that sendmail will not work on some local machines using a dynamic IP address, because most mailexchangers are blocking dynamic IP address ranges. Please upload the form to your webserver and run it there.

 

 

What's the difference between the Free and the Licensed Version?

The Free Version is fully functional, but adds a reference to "Arclab Web Form Builder" at the bottom of the form.

 

 

How can the Captcha work without Cookies and Javascript?

The program uses php Sessions, which are temporary saved values on the server. The session ID will be passed along with the URL. The key code is random for each Captcha, encrypted and saved out of reach for bots. The session ID is shown in the browser URL, but useless for an attacker. It cannot be used to submit the form twice. The session values on the server are NOT used for regular input fields!

The Captcha included in Arclab Web Form Builder does NOT require or use Cookies or Javascript.
It will work with Cookies turned off completely!

 

 

How is the script protected against php mail header injections?

There is one golden rule agains injections of all kind - never use unfiltered user input.

Arclab Web Form Builder is protected against such an attack in multiple ways:

It checks the email address for the correct syntax if you use the "Email Address Input Element" in the program. Arclab Web Form Builder uses a second filter function in addition to the email syntax verification to filter all mail header elements.

Please take a look at: How to protect a php Email Form using php mail or mb_send_mail against Mail Header Injection for details.

 

 

My Form has multiple Pages. Can I place the "Submit" button on the first page?

No, the "Submit" button should be placed on the last Form Page.
The script will not accept form submissions from other pages.

Please note: If you use a Captcha then the Captcha should also be included on the last Form Page!

 

 

Can I edit the .php file in my HTML editor?

No, the .php file cannot be edited. Please reload the form in the program and make the changes. If you want to change the HTML template, in which the form was embedded, then edit the HTML template file in your HTML editor, reload the HTML template in the "Form Properties" and re-create the .php file using the program.

 

 

HTML or XHTML?

The program supports both. It closes all tags, e.g.

<p> ... </p>
<div> ... </div>
<br />
<input ... />

 

 

How do I include the Form in my existing Webpage?

php or iframe

The difference between a) and b) is, that when you embed the HTML host page in the php file, then the php file contains the HTML host page (the HTML page, which in which you want to insert the form) and the form code - this means everything is inside the .php file. Please link to the .php file instead of the html file to open the web page containing the form.

If you want to use an <iframe>, then the php form will be inserted as an iframe in the HTML page. In this case you don't need to change your links, because the php form will be loaded from the HTML page. Please note, that you need to specify the height in the <iframe>, which might be a problem on multi-page forms and different browsers.

 

 

I have uploaded the form to my hosted webserver, but no mail will be sent

Please make sure, that you have entered the correct email address as "Recipient" in the "Form Properties".

Some hosted webservers require that you define a default sender email address in the webserver configuration before you can use any php-formmailer. You need to define the default sender in the webserver configuration - not inside the program or the php-form! The php-script should work fine after you have defined a default sender. Please also take a look at the help pages and FAQ of your webhosting service.

 

 

How can I change the sender of the email?

Thats easy, just define a variable [Email] in your form.
Please take a look at the user manual: Sender for details.

 

 

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}'

You will get this error, if you have installed an older php version e.g. 4.4.9, which does not fully support object oriented programming.
Please update your php version to 5 - most providers already use php5 or you can change the php version in the settings of your web server.

 

Important: Some web providers have installed e.g. php version 4 AND 5 at the same time.
Please try to rename the php file (change the extension) if you get the above error.
Change the extension of the php file created by the program from .php to .php5 e.g. rename webform.php to webform.php5

 

 

Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent

See: Causes for php Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent

 

 

The captcha image will not be shown (a broken image icon will be shown instead)

This indicates, that PHP SESSIONS are not enabled on your web server.
Please enable PHP SESSIONS, if you want to use a captcha in your form.

e.g. if the session.save_path is not setup correctly in the php.ini then PHP sessions will not work
session.save_path = /xxx/.../phpsessions  - Make sure, that you enter the valid path here! -
Please refer to the documentation of your webspace or contact your webhost provider how to enable php sessions for your webspace.

 

 

Missing or invalid characters in web forms using the charset utf-8

Reason 1:
You are using a HTML host page, which does not include a charset definition.

Reason 2:
If a default charset is setup in the web server settings or .htaccess , then the charset will be sent in the http-header and any charset defined in the HTML/php page will be ignored.

See: Missing or Invalid Characters - e.g. Umlauts - in Webpages using utf-8 Charsets for details!

 

 

Can I use an iframe?

Yes, you can also use an iframe to include the webform into an existing HTML page.
Please take a look at: User Manual -> iframe for details.

 

 

Error Message: PHP mbstring not enabled

The problem is, that the php mbstring extension - which is required for utf-8/unicode php functions - is not installed on your webserver. This cannot be fixed in the form, its a configuration issue on the webserver (php installation).

Please refer to the information of your webhost provider how to enable/install the mbstring php extension and contact your webadministrator or hosting provider regarding this issue if you cannot get it to work.

 

 

The captcha image disappears after a few seconds

We have reports about this problem from users using Google Chrome. It seems to be a problem with Google Chrome and the php image function. Its recommended to update the php version if your form has the same problem. (This is not a error in the form, its an issue with php and Chrome).

Please contact your webprovider if you don't know how to update php to a newer version!

 

 

How can I change the background color?

The form is transparent and has no background color, so you need to change the background color of the element hosting the form.
See: How to change the background color

 

 

Additional backslashs in backslashs, quotes and apostrophes

If you find additional backslashs on backslashs, quotes and apostrophes then magic_quotes might be turned on.
magic_quotes are DEPRECATED and should no longer been used.
Please disable magic_quotes in your PHP configuration to fix this issue.
Please take a look at the php.net manual for details.

 

 

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question here