L A Bridge uses Netcloak created by Maxum Development Corp. for Mac OS X Servers. Netcloak is the forms-processing tool for Macintosh Web servers that makes it easy to use HTML forms on your Web site. With Netcloak installed on the L A Bridge Mac Web server, you can turn data from HTML forms into data files, e-mail messages, even new Web pages. Create mailing list maintenance pages, guest books, surveys and online discussion forums with no programming required!

Netcloak is pre-scripted "backend CGI" software that allows you to build interactive pages without knowing how or having to code any CGI (Common Gateway Interface). For example, you can create standard HTML "form" pages with standard "Submit" buttons that store your data in a tab delimited text databases, return a "thank you" confirmation (or non-confirmation) page, send off an email advising the submitter and/or another person (you, webmaster, etc.) that your database was added to. You can also create discussion bulletin boards and have HTML pages created on the fly when a user posts a comment (or followup comment) via a forms page.

While you do not have to program CGI, you do have to create HTML forms pages and corresponding .FDML (Forms Definition Markup Language) pages which are the "instruction" pages for your HTML form pages similar to how a .class file instructs a HTML page featuring a Java call. Writing .FDML pages is easy and quite similar to HTML.

Fortunately, Maxum offers you full instructions and a number of templates FREE! At present, there are several pages where you can find templates and demos for your study, review and use:

You can go to the main Netcloak page and from there (or right from here) go to the Download page and download the latest version of Netcloak. This download gives you a full working demo of the Netcloak server application and all support documents.

Look for the Introduction folder, which features the manuals, instructions and ready to go template pages. The rest of the main demo folder features a 30-Day Netcloak application demo, which you won't need unless you want to serve pages from your own Mac server.

In addition to the templates for study, there are working online examples located at Standard Demos and Example Systems

You can review online or print out the Netcloak manual which nicely broken down by type of page you might wish to set up on Maxum's User's Guide page. Additionally, you can buy a fully printed version of the User Guide from Maxum for only $9.95 (plus shipping) by calling or emailing Maxum at:

Maxum Email: admin@maxum.com
Maxum Phone: (630) 830-1113

And lastly, there is the Netcloak FAQ, which offers even more information and help. Please do not e-mail Maxum directly with technical support questions.
Enjoy and have fun!
L A Bridge