Not finalized submissions

[Lina]

Hello,
I have a (small) problem. My form is working perfect , but some submissions are not finalized in my database - I have 3-4 good submissions, then 1 not finalized, 5 good, 2 not finalized etc. I found somewhere on the forum that code on the first page creates new blank submission, right? What does this mean? Someone was on page with form and didn't fill up the for and didn't click submit? (All fields are required and there is also verification script on form page)
I'm so happy with form tools so this is not a big problem for me, but I'll be glad to know how to solve it (if it's possible).

Thank you,
Lina

[Ben]

Hi Lina,

I found somewhere on the forum that code on the first page creates new blank submission, right? What does this mean?

The API works by creating an empty, hidden (i.e. unfinalized) submission when the user goes to the form. They then fill it up with values as they progress through the form pages. Once they click to the thankyou page, the submission is (usually) finalized, which means at that point it's then visible within the Form Tools interface.

The reason it's done this way is to create a storage mechanism for all the form data as the user progresses through the form - the database itself! "Finalization" is a simple way to hide those incomplete submissions until they've been completed.

So when you look at your database, yes - you'll see some unfinalized submissions. Those are from people that either just clicked to the form and didn't fill anything in, or started filling in the form but stopped somewhere along the way. It's normal! Don't worry.

If you don't like your database table getting all cluttered with this dud data, check out this function:
http://docs.formtools.org/api/?page=ft_a...ubmissions

You can just include that function on one of your form pages and it will clean out the database's old, unwanted unfinalized submissions.

Hope this helps!

- Ben