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Stupid, stupid form designers

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  • C Chris Maunder

    Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

    a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

    cheers, Chris Maunder

    J Offline
    J Offline
    Jon Newman
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. You forgot the Zip Code I've lost count ho many times i've signed up with: City: Liverpool State: Washington Country: England ZipCode: 12345


    "How long has the "Quote Selected Text" been around???"
    - Marc Clifton, Lounge 4 Mar '03
    "But a fresh install - it's like having clean sheets"
    - Chris Maunder Lounge 3 Mar '03


    Jonathan 'nonny' Newman
    Web Designer, Programmer, Lover, Visionary Leader... Homepage [www.nonny.com] [^]

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    • C Chris Maunder

      Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

      a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

      cheers, Chris Maunder

      D Offline
      D Offline
      David Wulff
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      d) just leave straigt away. If they don't want me I'll find one in the UK.


      David Wulff

      "I feel inclined to blow my mind, Get hung up feeding ducks with a bun. They all come out to groove about; Be nicer than fun in the sun." - Itchycoo Park (Small Faces)

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      • C Chris Maunder

        Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

        a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

        cheers, Chris Maunder

        D Offline
        D Offline
        David Cunningham
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. I think we, as the international community should all get together and pick 1 state to be from, and we should pick on that will look statistically suspicious like, say, Idaho or Maine. David

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        • C Chris Maunder

          Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

          a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

          cheers, Chris Maunder

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Stephane Rodriguez
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          Chris Maunder wrote: What do you guys do in this situation? Fill with random choices. As long as the form submission proc does not try to match things like the zip code and state, or even if the e-mail address domain really exists, it's possible not to care about it. Of course, as soon as the form will be validated, the web sites will tank by themselves since no one is going to provide actual personal info (let aside the fact that non US citizens simply won't be able to do so).

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          • J Jon Newman

            Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. You forgot the Zip Code I've lost count ho many times i've signed up with: City: Liverpool State: Washington Country: England ZipCode: 12345


            "How long has the "Quote Selected Text" been around???"
            - Marc Clifton, Lounge 4 Mar '03
            "But a fresh install - it's like having clean sheets"
            - Chris Maunder Lounge 3 Mar '03


            Jonathan 'nonny' Newman
            Web Designer, Programmer, Lover, Visionary Leader... Homepage [www.nonny.com] [^]

            N Offline
            N Offline
            Nnamdi Onyeyiri
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Jonny Newman wrote: City: Liverpool State: Washington Country: England ZipCode: 12345 You didnt do very well in geography did you ;P

            | Website: http://www.onyeyiri.co.uk | Sonork: 100.21142 : TheEclypse | "If a dolar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?"

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            • D David Cunningham

              Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. I think we, as the international community should all get together and pick 1 state to be from, and we should pick on that will look statistically suspicious like, say, Idaho or Maine. David

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Shog9 0
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              David Cunningham wrote: statistically suspicious like, say, Idaho or Maine I'd go with Montana... ;) ---

              My whole life I've practiced the art of self-sabotage -- fearing success perhaps even more than fearing failure. I think I have got this flareup resolved, but I'm constantly waiting to see what new and exciting ways I can spoil my chances for a better life. - koreykruse, Compulsive Skin Picking

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              • C Chris Maunder

                Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                cheers, Chris Maunder

                P Offline
                P Offline
                Paul Watson
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. The worst is when they force you to put in a VALID zip code. e.g. 12345 does not work. The only zip code I know is 90210. So they think I am from Beverly Hills, South Africa :rolleyes: Oh and as for your problem... Something worse is what Microsoft do: You select your country and then start filling in other fields and the bloody page refreshes to show another drop down of the States/Provinces/Counties in the country you selected. Might be fine for guys with gigabit lines where you don't notice the refresh, but not for the rest of us. Very irritating, don't do it (and don't preload all the possible combinations using JavaScript either. Takes a day and a bit to download the page then.)

                Paul Watson
                Bluegrass
                Cape Town, South Africa

                Macbeth muttered: I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er DavidW wrote: You are totally mad. Nice.

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                • C Chris Maunder

                  Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                  a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                  cheers, Chris Maunder

                  A Offline
                  A Offline
                  Anders Molin
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. Yea, have used that one ;) - Anders Money talks, but all mine ever says is "Goodbye!"

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                  • C Chris Maunder

                    Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                    a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                    cheers, Chris Maunder

                    N Offline
                    N Offline
                    Nish Nishant
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. I always chose Alabama, India and if they forced me to enter a 5-digit zip I enter 90909 [these scripts only check if the first number is 9 I guess] Nish


                    Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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                    • C Chris Maunder

                      Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                      a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                      cheers, Chris Maunder

                      S Offline
                      S Offline
                      Smitha Nishant
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      Hello Chris, I say...I am from CA. Because some sites do a zipcode check and so its easy for me to enter the CA zipcode, as its in my visiting card [as part of our headquarter's address] Smitha The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. --Eleanor Roosevelt

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                      • P Paul Watson

                        Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. The worst is when they force you to put in a VALID zip code. e.g. 12345 does not work. The only zip code I know is 90210. So they think I am from Beverly Hills, South Africa :rolleyes: Oh and as for your problem... Something worse is what Microsoft do: You select your country and then start filling in other fields and the bloody page refreshes to show another drop down of the States/Provinces/Counties in the country you selected. Might be fine for guys with gigabit lines where you don't notice the refresh, but not for the rest of us. Very irritating, don't do it (and don't preload all the possible combinations using JavaScript either. Takes a day and a bit to download the page then.)

                        Paul Watson
                        Bluegrass
                        Cape Town, South Africa

                        Macbeth muttered: I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er DavidW wrote: You are totally mad. Nice.

                        N Offline
                        N Offline
                        Nish Nishant
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        Paul Watson wrote: The only zip code I know is 90210. LOL! Et tu Paul? Another case of great minds and like thoughts! Nish


                        Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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                        • S Smitha Nishant

                          Hello Chris, I say...I am from CA. Because some sites do a zipcode check and so its easy for me to enter the CA zipcode, as its in my visiting card [as part of our headquarter's address] Smitha The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. --Eleanor Roosevelt

                          N Offline
                          N Offline
                          Nish Nishant
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          Smitha Vijayan wrote: Because some sites do a zipcode check Use 90210 [ haven't you seen that TV series? ] Nish :-)


                          Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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                          • A Anders Molin

                            Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. Yea, have used that one ;) - Anders Money talks, but all mine ever says is "Goodbye!"

                            N Offline
                            N Offline
                            Nish Nishant
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            Anders Molin wrote: Yea, have used that one Looks like this is another rare case where Anders and I agree ;-) Nish p.s. Nice to know that I have so many fellow-Alabama-ians in the Lounge :-)


                            Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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                            • C Chris Maunder

                              Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                              a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                              cheers, Chris Maunder

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              Ranjan Banerji
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              If it is for some stupid subscription then I just enter garbage (even though I live in the US). Figure why do they need to know all that in the first place. If it is for some serious business then I dump that web site because if they cant even get this part straight then how can I trust them with getting anything else done right. :-) If they are the only provider of a service that I desperately need, then I try and contact them. :-)

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                              • D David Cunningham

                                Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. I think we, as the international community should all get together and pick 1 state to be from, and we should pick on that will look statistically suspicious like, say, Idaho or Maine. David

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Ranjan Banerji
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                Somehow, I can never get myself to say I am from Alabama.... lol choosing a random state is a lot better....

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                                • N Nish Nishant

                                  Chris Maunder wrote: c) Say you are from Alabama. I always chose Alabama, India and if they forced me to enter a 5-digit zip I enter 90909 [these scripts only check if the first number is 9 I guess] Nish


                                  Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Ranjan Banerji
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  Well a good ZIP code check should check for a valid zip code. and zip codes do not need to start with 9. Alabama? yuck!!!!! shiver!!!!!!!! least you can do is choose a cool state. :-) Montana or Alaska.

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                                  • C Chris Maunder

                                    Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                                    a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                                    cheers, Chris Maunder

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Steven Hicks n 1
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    Fix the thing, and provide the option for users to add contries (with your approval off ofcourse), if they were already registered I would let them add it automatically. -Steven

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                                    • R Ranjan Banerji

                                      Well a good ZIP code check should check for a valid zip code. and zip codes do not need to start with 9. Alabama? yuck!!!!! shiver!!!!!!!! least you can do is choose a cool state. :-) Montana or Alaska.

                                      N Offline
                                      N Offline
                                      Nish Nishant
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      Ranjan Banerji wrote: Well a good ZIP code check should check for a valid zip code In such cases I use 90210 Ranjan Banerji wrote: and zip codes do not need to start with 9. Oh, didnt know that :-) Ranjan Banerji wrote: Alabama? yuck!!!!! shiver!!!!!!!! It's the first one on the combobox and I never drop it down and thus settle for alabama. Nish


                                      Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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                                      • R Ranjan Banerji

                                        Somehow, I can never get myself to say I am from Alabama.... lol choosing a random state is a lot better....

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        Roger Wright
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        Ranjan Banerji wrote: I can never get myself to say I am from Alabama I understand that - that stigma could be hard to overcome. If you sign up for a magazine subscription, they're likely to send you the coloring book edition. The Beverage of the Month Club will only send beer, and the retail catalogs you receive won't have shoes in them. On the bright side, though, any spam you get will be composed with nice, short monosyllabic words.:) It is ok for women not to like sports, so long as they nod in the right places and bring beers at the right times.
                                        Paul Watson, on Sports - 2/10/2003

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                                        • C Chris Maunder

                                          Yes, this is a rant but it's also an issue that affects many programmers and most web users. Have you ever seen those forms where they ask you to enter your State or Province from a drop down, while also asking for your country. And, of course, the dropdown only contains US states? If you are going to go to the trouble of actually offering other than the US in the 'Countries' drop down, then maybe it might be worth offering a choice of State that isn't in the US. I don't get it. What do you guys do in this situation?

                                          a) Email the webmaster with an angry email saying their site sucks (yes - I know many of you do that. I have examples in my intray ;)) b) Try and work around it then essentially give up c) Say you are from Alabama.

                                          cheers, Chris Maunder

                                          M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          Member 96
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          This happened to me with a QuickBooks SDK order, it caused the shipment to never arrive even though I manually typed in all the relevant information because I couldn't select my province but they provided a text area to type in the extra information. Apparently it did get shipped to Alabama according to the QB guy I eventually got a hold of on the phone, who knows what they ended up doing with it there. I complained bitterly to them for being so shortsighted (as is my wont) ;) And I too always pick 90210 when asked for a US area code, but I think everyone should make a point of emailing and complaining if they can't find another service that is aware that there are actually people using the internet that live outside the U.S.

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