Create Forms easily with Google Docs

Now you can create forms easily with Google Docs.
In few clicks you’ll have your form up !
The Benefits :

• You’ll be able to send forms online by e-mail which is a great advantage for a customer service departement for example.
• You can customize the form by choosing the input types (text, paragraph, multiple choices, scale, checkboxes and list).
• You can mark a question as “Required Question” to get the info you need from the user.
• You’ll have a URL (or “link”) for the form so that you’ll be able to have access to it from anywhere on the web.

Google Docs
(No need to mention that the user needs to have a Google Account)

Web Design For the Ultimate Beginner !

Nowadays everybody can design his own webpage easily with all the tools and support given from Open Source communities.
And because information MUST be free, i’m gonna provide you with some Open Source tools to build easily a webpage.

First you need to get familiar with HTML :
You can learn HTML basic on W3 Schools.

Second you need to learn CSS basics :
This is the best site for learning CSS !
Check it here at CSS Basics !

Great links and ressources :
We do your coding ?
You stay hours creating great layouts on Photoshop, Gimp, Free Hand, Illustrator, Inkscape …
You know about HTML and CSS, but you’re very weak in coding ?
Open Source Community is here to help you !
Use Web Form Factory to add PHP code to your forms in HTML, so that they can have more value ! Web Form Factory is a great tool because I’ve searched for years how to implement databases in my HTML forms, and I tried many languages (PHP, ASP …), still I’m weak !

Your CSS templates are weak ?
They don’t give a great layout ?
Check this site : My Celly
This open source website provide you with simple CSS codes that will change the look of your webpage !

CSS professional tutorials :
You want to do some complicated code in CSS ?
You will see some javascript codes (for example : alerts …).
All the codes you need are written in this website : CSS Design Patterns

Check your webpage in different browsers !
Now you can check your webpage in different browsers without having to install them on your PC. You just have to enter the URL of your webpage and you will be able the view screenshots of your webpage in many browsers versions.
Supported browsers : Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, Epiphany, Galeon, Iceweasel and Konqueror.
Check it here : Browser Shots

Change the look of your picture with Javascript :
You want to add some “Photoshop” image effects to your pictures with having to edit them manually ? Use these Javascript codes to add : blur, bevel, curl, reflect, edge, corner, glossy … effects on your pictures.
Check it here : CVI Projects
Must-have softwares :

Gimp – Pixel Graphic Editor, similar to Adobe Photoshop.
Inkscape – Vector Graphics Editor, similar to Adobe Illustrator.
NVU – Web Authoring Program, similar to MS Frontpage and Dreamweaver.
EditPad Lite – Text and Source Code Editor, similar to Notepad.
Amaya – Web Browser and HTML/CSS Editor, an great open source software !

Other great softwares :

PSPad – Web Authoring Program, similar to MS Frontpage and Dreamweaver.
Includes the free version of CSS Editor, Top Style Lite.
NotePad ++ – Text and Source Code Editor, similar to Notepad.
It supports a huge number of programming languages !
N.B : All these programs are free and/or open source.

Some external great links :
Need more HTML/CSS Editors ? A full list of free HTML/CSS Editors is available here.
A Open Source Web Design Toolbox : a full list of great web design tools.
(Templates, Editors …)

Need to create working forms in HTML ??

That’s one of my favorite because when I began to learn HTML, I was lost in my development project … I didn’t knew how to make these forms work …
Now everyone can build forms easily with these new tools :
http://www.webformfactory.com/
http://www.phpform.org/

Using Web Form Factory :

1- Upload your HTML file (with the “<form></form>” tag in it.
2- Choose the Form Type : database form or e-mail form.
N.B : In the database form, you must have a MySQL Server installed since it works very well with PHP scripts.
You can get it here for free. Note that ASP.NET / SQL Server aren’t supported.
3- You choose the PHP language you want : PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 5.1
4- You locate the file that you will upload (HTML file) and the “Thank You” file which is most known as the Destination Page.
5- You name your form.
6- You click on GO !
and you’re DONE !

“When you generate a database form, WFF generates all the necessary code which collects and inserts data into a MySQL database. You don’t have to write any code. Once the form is ready, all you need to do is edit the configuration file provided by WFF (configuration.php) with your database login and password and your form is ready to start collecting data. WFF even provides an admin interface for you to view the collected information.” >> from the Authors (link).
Using the e-mail form, you can send the data to an e-mail address if you don’t want to store it in a database.

Using PHP Form :
This one lets you create the form online and then download it to your PC.
You can choose the fields and fill up all the details you need.
You can even choose the color scheme.

Got some color and fonts problems ?

You have problems choosing colors and fonts ??
Here you have some great tools :

Color Chooser :
Color Scheme Generator 2 : it gives you an idea for choosing background, foreground, text and box colors.
And you can know how many people with vision problems can view your colors. (a great step for handicapped persons).
Site Pro Central : You can choose complimentary colors and adjust the brightness and many other options.
Color Schemer Online 2 : This is one gives you HEX and RGB with many a “lighten” and “darken” button to adjust the brightness of the color you need. It can also be downloaded to your PC or MAC.
Color Chooser from Emory : This tool give a real idea of the color you’re about to choose with its great preview. (:( but you don’t have all the colors you want !)
Akgupta Java Color Chooser : With its simple interface (but bad design … ) this tool has the ability to show you a colored text within a colored background ! Very useful when it comes to use colored text on a dark background !

Fonts :
Smashing Magazine : I checked this great post about fonts. More than 40 excellent fonts for your everyday web design !
Type Now : This site offers fonts from Movies, Games, Music Bands, Brands … (for example you will see fonts for Metallica, Addam’s Family, CNN … ).
Show Font : My first resource of fonts when I began to design web pages. You choose the font you want with a simple interface and you download it within a click !
Simply the Best : This website provide free categorized fonts, which lets u find easier what you want if your building a specific web page (”Creaminal” is one of my favorite with its Web 2.0 style).
Advanced Font Viewer : It’s a desktop software that let you compare all of the fonts you want, changing the style, the size …
A great tool but it needs a registration.