[Pro] Email address and spam question

Hi,

One of my clients has started to receive a large amount of spam which has encouraged me to look at the site I built for them a few years ago. (http://www.zest-graphics.co.uk) Now this might sound like a dumb question, but when it comes to writing an email address on a website, is it OK to appear in full and in HTML text? Does this have anything to do with spam issues?

I ask, as I often see people write email an address as info ‘at’ somewhere.co.uk rather than in full using the ‘@’ symbol - why is this?

I’ll be adding a captcha to their contact form soon, but wanted to see what the general consensus is when writing email addresses on websites? Obviously, the email address is referenced throughout the site as converting to graphic text is not really ideal.

I’d be interested in people’s thoughts!.

Thanks, Neil.


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as converting to graphic text is not really ideal

It looks like these email addresses on this site are already graphic text!

If you are using the PHP Feedback form action then one of the best things that you can do is enable the Spam Trap feature under the advanced options.

All adding Captchas does is annoy real people - the Spam Trap will catch the Bots.

But unfortunately nothing you can do will stop the poorly paid sub-continent dwellers that get a few rupees per 100 forms filled.

If you do use html email addresses then FW has an email obfuscation feature - you will find it in File>Document Setup under the Output Tab. It is called Email Hiding. I think the default setting is Encode with Entities.

D


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BTW - on zooming out from your Google Map there is a second (better) marker for Zest Graphics slap bang in the middle of Oxford.

D


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Thanks Dave for the swift reply. I converted all instances of the email to graphic text more out of ignorance than anything else, until I’d figured out the issue.

Given what you’ve said, I’ll convert it all back to graphic text then.

Regarding the spam trap, I was sure I’d ticked this when building the site initially. It’s been a few years since I’ve looked at this site (originally built in FW4) but now I’m amending in FW7 I can’t for the life of me find that option. It would normally be on a form action I’d assume, but the form (which I have in a table) appears to have no action applied at all? The form works fine on the uploaded site.


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I can’t for the life of me find that option.

You may have applied the PHP Feedback Form action as a Page Action.

D


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I did indeed. I’ve spent an age away from FW and need to kick my ass back into shape. Thanks Dave, appreciated.


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