Create a VERY simple form in Drupal - php

Question

All I need to do is have a form that does this:
User enters postcode in text box
Upon submit user is redirected to mysite.com/[user postcode]
That's it! I know validation etc. would be desirable as well, but I just need to get this working for now. I don't mind if it's harcoded or utilises the Drupal form API (actually I'd prefer the former!).
I know this is dead simple, but unfortunately I'm coming from a front-end background and have a bit to learn about this sort of thing :(
Cheers!

Answer 1

This is pretty easy with the Form API and a custom module. You'll build a form using the Form API and add a submit handler that changes the redirect for the form to whatever you'd like. Finally, you'll need to create a way to access the form (either by creating a menu item or by creating a block).
Here's an example that implements a form like you want: you'll want to peruse the Form API reference to see all the options you have when building a form. It also provides two ways to access the form:
Using hook_menu() to provide a page for the form at http://example.com/test
Using hook_block() to provide a block containing the form that you can add and move around on the block administration page.
Example code:
// Form builder. Form ID = function name
function test_form($form_state) {
$form['postcode'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('Postcode'),
'#size' => 10,
'#required' => TRUE,
);
$form['submit'] = array(
'#type' => 'submit',
'#value' => t('Go'),
);
return $form;
}
// Form submit handler. Default handler is formid_submit()
function test_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
// Redirect the user to http://example.com/test/<Postcode> upon submit
$form_state['redirect'] = 'test/' . check_plain($form_state['values']['postcode']);
}
// Implementation of hook_menu(): used to create a page for the form
function test_menu() {
// Create a menu item for http://example.com/test that displays the form
$items['test'] = array(
'title' => 'Postcode form',
'page callback' => 'drupal_get_form',
'page arguments' => array('test_form'),
'access arguments' => array('access content'),
'type' => MENU_NORMAL_ITEM,
);
return $items;
}
// Implementation of hook_block(): used to create a movable block for the form
function test_block($op = 'list', $delta = 0, $edit = array()) {
switch ($op) {
case 'list': // Show block info on Site Building -> Blocks
$block['postcode']['info'] = t('Postcode form');
break;
case 'view':
switch ($delta) {
case 'postcode':
$block['subject'] = t('Postcode');
$block['content'] = drupal_get_form('test_form');
break;
}
break;
}
return $block;
}
More info:
Creating modules - a tutorial: Drupal 6.x
Form API Quickstart Guide
Form API Reference
hook_menu() API reference
hook_block() API reference
Example of hook_block in Drupal 6

Answer 2

The Drupal Form API -is- dead simple and its something you need to learn as a developer eventually. Might as well jump in and do it through the API since its not too hard, what you are trying to do.

Answer 3

Creating forms in Drupal is fairly easy once you get the hang of it. I would recommend reading the following link. http://drupal.org/node/751826 It gives a good overview of how to create the form.
In the _submit hook, you can then redirect to the appropriate page by setting $form_state['redirect'].
This is assuming of course that you already have the hang of creating custom modules. If you need more info on that, go here.