
This is a prototype for an interactive form using the gopher
protocol.  Please try it.  This is only a crude example of what is
possible.  For example, I think this technique could be used to give a
gopher protocol interface to a database.  But at the moment I am
interested in feedback from you about how you think it works.

Here's how to use it:

Select the "Enter your name:" menu item and give your name (or an
alias if you want) in response to your client's prompt.  If the client
prompt says something like "Find documents containing these words:"
don't pay any attention -- that just shows a lack of imagination on
the part of whoever wrote that client :)

After you have entered your name it will appear on the menu like

    Enter your name: John Q. Public

If you made a mistake or want to change an entry, just select it again
and provide a new entry.  When you are satisfied with your entries
select the "Done" line and your form will be submitted.  If you left
the name field or email field blank you'll get a message asking you to
fill them in.  But if you have entered them you'll get a little
message that everything went ok.  A copy of this message will be sent
to you by email.  If at any time you want to quit just leave the
menu.

If you submit the form without filing in your name or email address
you will get a message telling you what is missing.

If this experiment is successful interactive forms will become part of
the next release of the gn gopher-protocol server.  At that point it
should be fairly easy for providers using gn to create their own
interactive forms -- at least as easy as the "ASK" forms in gopher+.
One big advantage IMHO of this scheme is that it works with *all*
clients capable of simple searches, not just gopher+ clients.  The
main limitation that I see is that multiline fields are not possible
because gopher clients don't have the capability.

So, try it!  Let me know what you think.

John Franks (john@math.nwu.edu)
