Naming fields confuses Google Autofill...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kenneth
  • Start date Start date
K

Kenneth

Howdy,

I just went to a contact form on our own website, and
clicked my Google Toolbar Autofill button.

Lots of correct information snapped into place, but much of
it was in the wrong fields.

Of course, that told me that these fields were not named
properly, and so, I went into Frontpage to check.

I re-named many, published the new page, but the problems
remain.

I'm baffled.

For example, we have a field (now) named "fname", and based
upon the Google help file instructions, would expect that to
fill in with the First Name.

Instead, the email address is entered in that field!

What might be causing all this, and what should be my next
steps to sort it out?

Very sincere thanks,
 
Input names can be named different things. I have not used the Google
Autofill before, but I would check to make sure it is fname and not ename.

Does the Google Autofill have a place for you to enter the input names?

What about the source code?

It would be something like:
<input id="name" name="name" />
 
Input names can be named different things. I have not used the Google
Autofill before, but I would check to make sure it is fname and not ename.

Does the Google Autofill have a place for you to enter the input names?

What about the source code?

It would be something like:
<input id="name" name="name" />
Click to expand...

Hi Corey,

The Google help site explains all this at some length, but I
suppose that I might be interpreting something.

As I understood it, if a field had any of several names,
AutoFill would enter the correct data.

I know that "fname" is one option for the first name field,
as is "lname" for the last name field.

I tried those originally because they were simple, but I
also tried other options as well.

Thanks for any further thoughts,
 
Usually most people are asking what the yellow fields are actually.

looking at http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html - you might need to
enter the information once into your form before Google knows what fields you
are choosing. I did not see lname listed on
http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html

Have you tried with just name instead of lname? Or do you have a page where
Google Autofill does work on your system that you could share the URL with
us? That way looking at their source code might tell us what the names are.

Also, looking at the information that Google wants - it seems to want your
full name - so have you tried naming the input name: example:
<input id="name" name="name" />

Since on the Autofill tab under the Toolbar options do not have two boxes -
one for First Name and Last Name, but only has Full Name
 
Usually most people are asking what the yellow fields are actually.

looking at http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html - you might need to
enter the information once into your form before Google knows what fields you
are choosing. I did not see lname listed on
http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html

Have you tried with just name instead of lname? Or do you have a page where
Google Autofill does work on your system that you could share the URL with
us? That way looking at their source code might tell us what the names are.

Also, looking at the information that Google wants - it seems to want your
full name - so have you tried naming the input name: example:
<input id="name" name="name" />

Since on the Autofill tab under the Toolbar options do not have two boxes -
one for First Name and Last Name, but only has Full Name
Click to expand...

Hi again Corey,

I got my information from:

http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/answer.py?answer=18183&topic=11755

There, among other things, it says:

"While we're unable to provide code support at this time,
the AutoFill feature will look for a substring of the
official ECML name. For example, if the official ECML name
for a ship-to city field is [Ecom_BillTo_Postal_City],
AutoFill will look for "city."

Below are some of the things AutoFill will look for when
labeling form control elements:

- Post Code: zip, postal, post code, postalcode

- City: city, town

- First Name: first name, initialize, fname, name_first

- Last Name: last name, lname, surname, name_last"


but when I name a field fname, the AutoFill inserts my email
address.

As I may have mentioned, I also tried the complete ECML
name, with the same result.

Thanks for any further thoughts,
 
Do you have IE's autofill enabled as well?

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================


Kenneth said:
Usually most people are asking what the yellow fields are actually.

looking at http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html - you might need to
enter the information once into your form before Google knows what fields you
are choosing. I did not see lname listed on
http://toolbar.google.com/autofill_help.html

Have you tried with just name instead of lname? Or do you have a page where
Google Autofill does work on your system that you could share the URL with
us? That way looking at their source code might tell us what the names are.

Also, looking at the information that Google wants - it seems to want your
full name - so have you tried naming the input name: example:
<input id="name" name="name" />

Since on the Autofill tab under the Toolbar options do not have two boxes -
one for First Name and Last Name, but only has Full Name
Click to expand...

Hi again Corey,

I got my information from:

http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/answer.py?answer=18183&topic=11755

There, among other things, it says:

"While we're unable to provide code support at this time,
the AutoFill feature will look for a substring of the
official ECML name. For example, if the official ECML name
for a ship-to city field is [Ecom_BillTo_Postal_City],
AutoFill will look for "city."

Below are some of the things AutoFill will look for when
labeling form control elements:

- Post Code: zip, postal, post code, postalcode

- City: city, town

- First Name: first name, initialize, fname, name_first

- Last Name: last name, lname, surname, name_last"


but when I name a field fname, the AutoFill inserts my email
address.

As I may have mentioned, I also tried the complete ECML
name, with the same result.

Thanks for any further thoughts,
Click to expand...
 
Do you have IE's autofill enabled as well?
Click to expand...

Hi Thomas,

I am not certain that I know what you mean...

Do you mean locally? That is, on our machines? Then yes.
Each will autofill when we click on the button.

On other sites, the information filled in is correct.

So, if, for example, on my Desktop box, I go to a retail
site and place an order. I can then click AutoFill and all
the correct information fills in.

If, instead, I go the my firm's website, and try to do the
same on the Contact form, several fields are incorrectly
filled (as I mentioned, the first name field fills with my
email address.)

So, as best I can understand it, the Google Toolbar "looks"
at our website to see if there is something that AutoFill
can use. Then, it looks at the names of the fields to get
the right info into the right slots, and it puts the stuff
in.

I am using the names that Google says to use, but still
something is crossed up.

I hope that clarifies, and I would certainly welcome further
thoughts,
 
IE stores field content when enabled based on the name of the form field with no relationship to the
site the form field what completed on. So a form was completed somewhere from your machine where you
enter an email address in a field that was named "fname, first_name", etc. So if Google is using
this content, then this could be the cause of your issue.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================
 
IE stores field content when enabled based on the name of the form field with no relationship to the
site the form field what completed on. So a form was completed somewhere from your machine where you
enter an email address in a field that was named "fname, first_name", etc. So if Google is using
this content, then this could be the cause of your issue.
Click to expand...

Hi Thomas,

When in IE, I click on Settings | Options | AutoFill
Settings, and fill out the form that appears there.

That is where the IE on this machine gets its info.

If I go to a site (other than my own) that has a form asking
for such information, IE fills in the information correctly.

If, instead, I go to my firm's site, and do the same thing,
the information gets put in the wrong fields.

That would certainly seem to indicate that the problem is in
the naming of the fields on the website.

Do you see that differently?

Sincere thanks,
 
Ok, I don't use the "My Profile" function, I just use autocomplete function where IE stores the
content for any form field that I complete.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================
 
Some URLs or source code would really be beneficial.

But IE would read fname in its autofill (and if that is turned on). I have
it turned on an rely on it quite a bit. Of course, depending on what a site
has named that text field will depend on what you have entered previously.

Also, are these fields yellow? It is my understanding that Google will
identify fields that it can complete as yello
 
On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:19:00 -0700, Corey Bryant


Hi Corey,

Please see my comments inline below...

I will post some code when I am next in my office.
But IE would read fname in its autofill (and if that is turned on). I have
it turned on an rely on it quite a bit. Of course, depending on what a site
has named that text field will depend on what you have entered previously.
Click to expand...

Huh...?

The name of each text field is in the HTML, and (unless I
misunderstand your comment completely) would NOT depend on
what was entered previously.
Also, are these fields yellow? It is my understanding that Google will
identify fields that it can complete as yello
Click to expand...

Yes, the fields are yellow...

Thanks again,
 
With IE and naming the text fields...

If I go to one site and the textbox is named fname:
<input type="text" name="lname" /> (in the source code)

And I enter Bryant as the last name and then go to another website which has
lname in their source code:
<input type="text" name="lname" />

Then Bryant would show up in IE's autofill.

Looking at Google's autofill option, there is not a text field for First
Name and Last Name - only Name. This would suggest that they do not
distinguish between lname and fname but only Name
 
With IE and naming the text fields...

If I go to one site and the textbox is named fname:
<input type="text" name="lname" /> (in the source code)

And I enter Bryant as the last name and then go to another website which has
lname in their source code:
<input type="text" name="lname" />

Then Bryant would show up in IE's autofill.

Looking at Google's autofill option, there is not a text field for First
Name and Last Name - only Name. This would suggest that they do not
distinguish between lname and fname but only Name
Click to expand...

Hi again Corey,

Something is now dawning...

Based upon your comments above, it would appear that I may
have two AutoFill functions that are in conflict.

Does IE7 have such a function independent of the Google
Toolbar AutoFill function?

Sincere thanks,
 
Hi again Corey,

Something is now dawning...

Based upon your comments above, it would appear that I may
have two AutoFill functions that are in conflict.

Does IE7 have such a function independent of the Google
Toolbar AutoFill function?

Sincere thanks,
Click to expand...

Hi Corey,

Having experimented further, I now see what you were
describing:

But IE does not autoFILL, it autoCOMPLETES, that is, IE
suggests possibilities and the user chooses.

As you know, the Google AutoFill function inserts all the
information at once after it has been entered in the
appropriate fields within the toolbar.

It is with the Google function that I am having my
difficulties in that the field names Google uses to match
its entries with their proper location seem not to be
working properly.

I will have more information soon, and thank you again,
 
Actually it looks like to be a bug in their system:
http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/answer.py?answer=18183&ctx=sibling

""Below are some of the things AutoFill will look for when labeling form
control elements:

- Post Code: zip, postal, post code, postalcode

- City: city, town

- First Name: first name, initialize, fname, name_first

- Last Name: last name, lname, surname, name_last

We're aware that AutoFill doesn't follow the ECML standard in all cases, and
our Toolbar engineering team is working to resolve these issues. We hope to
improve AutoFill's compliance with this standard in a future version of the
Toolbar. ""

While it has lname listed it might not work because in the Google Tool,
there is not two fields but one field (name)

While I actually activated it and tested it on
http://www.loudexpressions.com/contact.asp - I have the input named name.
And the email input named EMail. When I choose autofill, in the name fill
Corey Bryant filled in. And the email address that I chose complete.

If you need to see that in action - let me know. But it would seem to
suggest to use name now until they work out their bugs
 
Actually it looks like to be a bug in their system:
http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/answer.py?answer=18183&ctx=sibling

""Below are some of the things AutoFill will look for when labeling form
control elements:

- Post Code: zip, postal, post code, postalcode

- City: city, town

- First Name: first name, initialize, fname, name_first

- Last Name: last name, lname, surname, name_last

We're aware that AutoFill doesn't follow the ECML standard in all cases, and
our Toolbar engineering team is working to resolve these issues. We hope to
improve AutoFill's compliance with this standard in a future version of the
Toolbar. ""

While it has lname listed it might not work because in the Google Tool,
there is not two fields but one field (name)

While I actually activated it and tested it on
http://www.loudexpressions.com/contact.asp - I have the input named name.
And the email input named EMail. When I choose autofill, in the name fill
Corey Bryant filled in. And the email address that I chose complete.

If you need to see that in action - let me know. But it would seem to
suggest to use name now until they work out their bugs
Click to expand...

Hi Corey,

This is bordering on the bizarre...



If you visit www.soleassociates.com and on the left side,
click "Contact S&A" and it will bring you to a page with a
form.


Here is some of the HTML starting at the top of the form:

please complete the form below.</span></p>

</FONT>
<form method="POST" name="FrontPage_Form1"
action="--WEBBOT-SELF--"
onsubmit="location.href='_derived/nortbots.htm';return
false;" language="JavaScript" webbot-onSubmit="return
FrontPage_Form1_Validator(this)">
<!--webbot bot="SaveResults"
U-File="_private/form_results.txt" S-Format="TEXT/PRE"
S-Label-Fields="TRUE"
S-Email-Address="(e-mail address removed)"
S-Email-Format="TEXT/PRE" startspan
B-Reverse-Chronology="FALSE" B-Email-Label-Fields="TRUE"
S-Builtin-Fields U-Confirmation-Url="contact_to_thanks.htm"
--><input TYPE="hidden" NAME="VTI-GROUP"
VALUE="0"><!--webbot bot="SaveResults" endspan
i-checksum="43374" -->
<p><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif">
<input type="text" name="Name" size="38" maxlength="50">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">
Name<br>
</font>
<input type="text" name="Email" size="38" maxlength="38">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Email
address</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="1">Mailing
Address:</font><br>
<input type="text" name="Address_1" size="38"
maxlength="38"> <font face="Verdana" size="1">Line
1</font><br>
<input type="text" name="Address_2" size="38"
maxlength="38"> <font face="Verdana" size="1">Line
2</font><br>
<input type="text" name="Address_3" size="38"
maxlength="38"> <font face="Verdana" size="1">Line
3</font><br>
<input type="text" name="City" size="38" maxlength="38">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">City</font><br>
<input type="text" name="State" size="27" maxlength="38">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">State</font><br>
<input type="text" name="Zip" size="20" maxlength="20">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Zip or
postal code</font><br>


As you can see, the first field is named with: name="Name"

and the second field is named with: name="Email"

The first field in the address section is named with:
name="Address_1"


But, when I click on AutoFill, the Google Toolbar puts my
email address in all three slots!

Also, yes, I have checked to see that the AutoFill table is
correctly completed within the Toolbar.

I have the same problem on two different machines, so I
suspect that you will see the problem if you click AutoFill
to complete the form.

I will add that for me, City, State, and Zip all fill in
correctly.

Can you spot the difficulty?

Sincere thanks, once again,
 
It does not seem to have anything to do with Frontpage - chances are it is a
Google Autofill bug

On the previous link I gave:
While we're unable to provide code support at this time, the AutoFill
feature will look for a substring of the official ECML name. For example, if
the official ECML name for a ship-to city field is [Ecom_BillTo_Postal_City],
AutoFill will look for "city."

Since you have Address in there, chances are Google is looking at Address as
Email Address. You will notice that it does not list a name for the street
address.

It just seems to be a bug, Google states even they are unable to provide
support.

I would not worry about it - look more into HTML code so not to rely on some
of the deprecated code that is being used.

You might check out Google Newsgroups. They have
http://groups.google.com/group/Google_Webmaster_Help which might be able to
help you out as well. My guess though it is a bug and don't worry about it.
Personally, I don't use the autofill from Google and would never give them
any personal information unless I really needed it
 
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