Introduction As Web sites become more powerful by integrating database functionality, we are forced to build more robust user interfaces for these sites. This new generation of UIs must be developed with all types of users in mind. Everyone from experienced power users to little old ladies from Pasadena are on the Web and using the interfaces we are building. Our HTML writing skills are being pushed to the limit, as our sites have to do more and more.
Forms are the integral part of Web applications and also are the biggest stumbling block.
Forms are where the information goes in and where it sometimes comes back out, and is also the primary location where your data gets messed up. I used to have a lot of data problems, especially on forms that had drop-down menus, check boxes, and radio buttons. For instance, I would have a form where a user could update or edit a record from the database. If you didn t get the option to be selected and the user submitted the form, the database record was updated with the first option on the drop down. The result was many headaches and angry clients.