How to Create a Forms Data Processor (FDP) Form

This page provides instructions for setting up a form for use with the Forms Data Processor which stores results from your forms. To use this system, you will need to have proper access. You may request access from your departmental forms administrator, or contact Information Technologies.

Define your form in the FDP engine

1. Log in at https://www.udel.edu/fdp/

2. Click the first tab titled Manage forms.

3. Click the Add a form button.

4. Complete the Add a form section.

   1. Form ID: All forms require a unique ID. The ID that you enter on this screen should also be included as a hidden field on your form (see the "Edit Your Form" section below for example syntax).

   2. Status: In most instances, you will want to leave this set to Active.

   3. Description: This should be a brief title of your form. This name appears in the table list of your forms when you are querying the results.

   4. URL: Enter the URL of your form (i.e. https://www.udel.edu/yourdirectory/formname.html). It must be typed as a full path URL.

   5. Group: The dropdown displays all groups to which you have access. Most users only belong to one group. Select the appropriate group for this form.

   6. Email results to: Enter a valid UD email address where the results of the form may be sent (optional, but recommended for submitters to receive a receipt). This may be an individual, a mailing list or a value from a field on the form. For example, if an email receipt is to be sent to the form submitter, and the email address field on your form is named "submitters_email", then select "Variable (value of form field)" and enter "submitters_email" in the input box.

   7. Replyto value: If an email message will be generated when the form is submitted, enter an email address that the user will see as the reply-to: address. (optional). This may be an individual, a mailing list or a value from a field on the form, similar to the "email form results to:" field. Note: If a Replyto value is not specified, the From value will be used for replies.

   8. From value: If an email message will be generated when the form is submitted, enter an email address that the user will see as the From: address. (strongly recommended). Note: If a From value is not specified and someone replies to the email, it will be sent to IT Web Development.

   9. Carbon copy: If an email message will be generated when the form is submitted, enter an email address for anyone who needs a carbon copy. (optional) This may be an individual, a mailing list or a value from a field on the form, similar to the "Email results to:" field.

   10. Blind copy: Similar to the carbon copy, but this email address will be used as a BCC for the email message generated when the form is submitted.

   11. Message subject: This field is required if an email message will be generated when the form is submitted. Enter text that will appear as the Subject of the email.

   12. Email template: This field is required if an email message will be generated when the form is submitted. Attach a template file of what the email message will look like. It can contain any text or field values.

   13. Return page: Enter the URL of the page that the submitter will see after they submit the form. This can be your department's home page, or a simple page that just says "Form submitted. Thank you." It must be typed as a full path URL (required).

   14. Click Add form.

Edit your form to feed to the FDP engine

1. When coding your form, set the form action value to:

   <form method="post" action="https://udapps.nss.udel.edu/formsPro/collect">

2. Add a hidden field for the Form ID you established in Step 3.a above. For example, if your form ID is "MY_FORM", the hidden field to include on your form would be:

   <input type="hidden" name="formId" value="MY_FORM">