The installation will be completed in a few minutes!

Prerequisites

  • Web server that support PHP 7.4 or greater (PHP 8.3 compatible)
  • Ideally, domain-specific email address (info@your-domain.com)
  • HTML editor
  • For Windows, we recommend using Notepad2.
  • For MacOS, we recommend using Brackets.


Text Guide

  1. Download the file kontaktformular.com.zip from the download page.

  2. Unzip the file kontaktformular.com.zip in a folder on your hard drive.

  3. Open config.php with an HTML editor (we recommend using Notepad2 or Brackets).

  4. Insert your email address between the quotation marks in line 3 and your (company) name in line 5. The exact position is specified in a comment in the file.


    5. Privacy Policy: In line 7, you can enable the checkbox for agreeing to the privacy policy by entering 1 and disable it by entering 0. You can customize the link to the privacy policy in line 9.

    Loading Spinner: You can enable/disable a loading spinner in line 11. The loading spinner is displayed in the submit button.

    Success message: The success message (message after a successful email delivery) can be enabled/disabled in line 13. If the success message is disabled by a '0', the user is automatically redirected to the thank-you page. The thank-you page can be customized individually.

    Thank You Page: In line 15, you can customize the link to the Thank You Page. Tip: Display Thank You Page outside of an iFrame

    Spam Protection Options: In lines 22 to 42, you can enable/disable various options (including Honeypot, Click Check, Time Delay, Bad Word Filter). The visible spam protection (security code or security question) can be enabled/disabled in line 22/24.

    Rate Limiting: With this option (line 49), it is possible to limit the views of the contact form (contact.php) per IP address. Through a custom-developed login area (URL: rate_limiting/login.php), you can view and clear the log file via a browser at any time. This allows for effective defense against potential DDoS attacks. In line 51, you can set the maximum number of views, and in line 53, you can assign the password for the login area. Important: The file rate_limiting/log/ip_log.txt requires write permissions: chmod 666 Notice: This option should only be used if storing IP addresses is permitted in your country.

    Copy to Sender: With this option (line 60), you can specify whether the user should receive a copy only upon consent, generally, or never. Notice: Some hosting providers (e.g., Hosteurope) block the server-side functionality for sending emails to the sender. In this case, this option cannot be used.

    HTML5 error messages: You can enable/disable modern HTML5 error messages in line 62. This option is enabled by default.

    SMTP function: Complete the information in lines 71 to 81.

    File attachment / Upload function: You can enable this option in line 90.


  5. Save the config.php file.

  6. Upload all files to your server or web space. Important: Do not alter the directory structure (see image).

  7. Open the file test.php in your browser. Enter your email address in the appropriate field. (ideally: info@your-domain.com). We generally recommend using a domain-specific email address, as external email addresses [e.g., from GMX, Gmail, Yahoo, Web.de, Outlook, Freenet, Tuta, or Telekom/T-Online] are usually not permitted by hosting providers. Then click on Send.

    Now it will be checked whether the PHP function mail() is enabled on your server. Within a few seconds, you should receive a test email. If you do not receive an email, perform the test directly via the contact form (contact.php) by entering your email address into the config.php file. The file test.php should now be deleted for security reasons. Did not receive an email? Please click here!


The contact form is now ready to use! Open the file contact.php in your browser.



Read the FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions (layout, technical issues) and any potential error messages. With our tutorials, you can edit the form fields and customize the design.







  Embed the contact form into your website
Read our short instructions to embed the form!

There are two ways of inserting the contact form into your website. You can either use an iFrame (very easy, also supports responsive design) or a PHP include command. Embedding the form with an iFrame is the simplest solution. (it also works in WordPress!)

  Embed with iFrame

Insert this HTML code into the website where you want the form to appear:

<iframe src="contact.php" style="border: none; width:100%; height:700px;"></iframe>

Note: This iFrame does not yet include automatic height adjustment.
»  Go to iFrame with automatic height adjustment!

  1. Ensure that the path to contact.php is correct. If the file is in a directory (e.g. contact_form), change the path to: "contact_form/contact.php".

  2. Use the "height" attribute to define the height of the iFrame. Alternatively, you can automatically adjust the height as well using this responsive iFrame.
    Info: Use a frame breaker script for the thank-you page if you use the responsive iFrame.

  3. You’re done!



  Possible error messages


  1. If after installing the form it does not display a security code, open document_root.php (in the captcha folder) in your browser. You will now see the absolute server path.

  2. In my example, it is: /home/www/

  3. Select the absolute server path and copy it to the clipboard. (right-click with the mouse - copy)

  4. Open captcha.php (in the captcha folder) in the editor and scroll down to line 64. ($ttf = "/Imperator.ttf";)

  5. Important: Insert the absolute server path from the clipboard in front of /imperator.ttf. (right-click with the mouse - insert)

  6. In my example, this would be: $ttf = "/home/www/Imperator.ttf";

  7. The font is not in the root directory (main directory) of your server, so you will have to specify the location in the path.
    If, for example, the contact form is in the contact-form folder, the path needs to look like this: $ttf = "/home/www/contact-form/captcha/Imperator.ttf";
    (You should also remember to insert the captcha folder, as the font is stored in there. ;-) )

  8. Now you should be able to see the security code.





  FAQ & Tutorials

Use our FAQ page if you encounter any issues with the installation or integration of the contact form. Error messages are also addressed. On our tutorial page, you will find various guides to customize the contact form according to your preferences. The tutorials will help you, for example, to edit the form fields and adjust the design.



  Installation service

If you encounter any issues with the installation or configuration of the software, our support team is available to assist you. Simply provide your contact details via our form. We will get in touch with you within 48 hours.



  Information

This script allows you to provide your visitors with the option to contact you. The form is sent to the webmaster via the PHP function mail() or via SMTP. To protect against spam, a number of options can be enabled or disabled. Additionally, there is an option to enable or disable a file attachment field. The copyright notice in the footer of the script must not be removed. If you still wish to remove it, you must purchase a non-copyright license. Please fill out the order form for this. If you want to use the contact form on a commercial website, you need to purchase a commercial license. Please also use the order form for this. By downloading, you agree to these terms by accepting the license conditions.