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Question

Absolute Beginner , trying to develop online forms

May 10, 2013 4:34PM PDT

I currently run a small game for colleagues, based on predicting the outcome of each weekend's football fixtures. Points are awarded for how closely the prediction matches the result and there are weekly and overall tables etc.
At the moment I run the game through email and use Excel for calculations. I.e. each week I send out a table of fixtures and the players reply with their predictions. I then copy and paste the predictions into the Excel workbook, enter actual scores and send out results through email.
I'd like to automate the data entry process by developing a website that users can login to in order to make predictions. I haven't decided yet whether to have the website calculate the scores or keep the existing spreadsheet but have a macro pull the predictions from the site. This would reduce data entry errors I occasionally make and allow more players to join the game.
I'd want to hosts the site on the free space provided by my ISP
I have absolutely no knowledge of website development, but have some experience of visual basic and VBA. My target is to have something in place before the start of the next season (August)
Can anyone suggest any tools/ tutorials I'd need to complete this, as this is a hobby I'd prefer freeware, if possible?
Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: online forms
May 11, 2013 12:10AM PDT

I'd start with studying PHP and MySQL. But be sure your ISP lets you run PHP linked to a database on your website. If not, find a webhost that does.

Kees

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And ...
May 11, 2013 7:56AM PDT

it might be easier to do it with Outlook forms and an Excel macro to process the forms received. That is, assuming you and your colleagues have Outlook at work.

Kees

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Thanks!
May 15, 2013 7:48AM PDT

Thanks for your help, I'll check out my ISP - I'm not hopeful though...
I'll look at Outlook forms / InfoPath as well. I'd originally thought of that but I'd wanted to avoid it as some of the users send predictions in from home.

Chris

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Answer
Use HTML and PHP(logic.)
May 27, 2013 4:13PM PDT

HTML can be handy and easy to deal and with the minor help of PHP code you can create a good form. MySql would be the teasing factor but with a minimum effort you can learn both. MySql would be used as your database to store the information what is going to be filled up in the form. The tools what could be used for PHP is PHP designer, it would not only help you for PHP but can also help you for HTML.

Good Luck!