i'm looking for a free PHP, ColdFusion, ASP, or Perl voting poll
(preferrably something that doesn't require a database, but maybe it might simply write to a .txt file-- this isn't necessary, but would make it easier on me as i'm an inexperienced programmer)

i want visitors to be able to add new items.

specifically, i want the fans in my band's e-mail listserve to visit a page and either mark their vote for the existing list of songs, or add a new song that they'd like the band to peform.

i have found a ton of polls/ voting scripts, but i'm having trouble locating something that will allow the visitor to add new items. (is there a keyword that would help me to find this?)

your help is appreciated!

thanks!
--js

Here's one way you could go about this if you don't find one:
You could find one that's simple, that you like the look of, and that the licence allows you to modify the code in some way. Then you could let us here at WT know and we could possibly help you modify it to be able to add items, that is, if you're up for a bit of scripting work yourself.

A better way might be getting people to e-mail you suggestions, then you add them yourself - this would prevent people spamming it with many useless items, prevent spelling errors, etc. I'm sure you could find an e-mail script that you could modify the interface to simply say 'Suggest an item: <text box> <submit>' that would e-mail you the suggestion...

thanks for the suggestions, and your willingness to help. i'll keep you in mind if i find something.

actually... part of the idea behind this... the fun of it, is to have everyone see the results so far when they visit the page-- so the e-mail idea wouldn't allow that, and obviously, i'm trying to avoid manual work of adding the new items, etc.

thanks!

Minaki,

i'm sorry... i didn't read your reply clearly upon my visit earlier today-- i understand now what you're saying about adding the item via e-mail! it would of course still make for a bit of work on my part though (albeit, an acceptable amount of work). but, i was hoping to have this thing to start off w/ a blank page just to see what the fans really want-- unbiased.

so, i'm reaching the end of my rope here in terms of searching for scripts, trying them out, or finding dead links, etc-- it's drivin' me batty, and all for what i'll bet is quite a simple few lines of code.

so, here's my plan...
realize that i am really new to the whole dynamic web design realm. i'll be completely honest-- all i've done so far is examine the code that powers this page (a friend wrote the code for me), tweaked the html around it (not to modify it's functionality or make it pretty as you can see if you view that page, but merely to organize the tables in a manner more suitable to my needs)-- at least my server supports CFML, so that's a bonus!


I've also installed ColdFusion MX developer edition server on my local machine, and completed the Macromedia online ColdFusion tutorial here.

my roommate, an instructor for ITS (training services) at PSU gave me his instructor's edition of the book Course ILT Dreamweaver MX 2004 and a copy of Dreamweaver MX 2004 with asp, coldfusion, and php in which the reader is guided through converting a static "Newland Tours" website into a dynamic site.

so, i have enough resources! can you advise me where to start, and i'm going to try to build this thing on my own! (that may make you laugh 'cause i imply that it's a huge undertaking, but to me-- it is!)

okay-- i'm ready-- what should be my first step? (please refrain from inserting the joke that i opened myself up for there!... "..your first step should be... get a clue, dummie!..." or something!..hehe)


serioulsy, anyone care to start a little game of tutoring the new guy online to see if he can get it?

First step is to get a plan together. Jot down exactly what you want it to do, include everything you can think of - user interface, options, etc.
Then look at Data Storage - if you have a database, that's probably a good place to start, but if you're just working with a fairly small ammount of data you could probably use Text/CSV files fairly easily...

Hey, this shouldn't be too hard. I'm not proficient with php, but it should be real easy for me to do in Tcl. Are you using a linux server?

One thing I'd do is make a DB or text file list of all your songs. That way when someone enters a song name, the script can check to see if it's a valid song, but then again, you'd have to account for people misspelling song names or entering partial song names.

Originally Posted by Ah46

Hey, this shouldn't be too hard. I'm not proficient with php, but it should be real easy for me to do in Tcl. Are you using a linux server?

Tcl? the server is powered by Unix - BSDI (?)
more info about that server here
my website here

Originally Posted by Ah46

One thing I'd do is make a DB or simple text file list of all your songs. That way when someone enters a song name, the script can check to see if it's a valid song, but then again, you'd have to account for people misspelling song names or entering partial song names.

you're describing the use of a "flat file", right?
i don't mind about misspellings and what not. it's just for fun really-- and for the band to get an idea of what our fans really want.

thank you for your willingness to try. i think i could tackle it too in coldfusion (cause i have books and tutorials, and it seems to me the easiest to learn-- especially that i have DreamWeaver), but i simply haven't had the free time to devote to learning while doing. it would be different if i already knew what i was doing! ultimately, i want to know enough about coldfusion to build a db driven site for a music store's inventory-- so i do plan to hit the books real soon!

If you're learning it anyway then this might be a good place for you to start, start small instead of diving in at the deep end. That way you can learn from your mistakes made for something that's a bit of fun when you come to do something more serious.

May be you need just vote with text-answers options? Not predetermined list of answer options, but text field where user can enter his opinion.

look at the date on the thread!

It's 2 years old and now closed