Mar '06 Tools

When you're filling out forms over and over again, there are so many repetitive fields to complete - your name, address, phone number, password, favorite dog, mother's maiden name, and much more! Wouldn't it be great if somehow the forms could remember your information and automatically fill it in for you?

Fortunately, there are several options available that can make this tedious task easier. Most browsers have built in form managers where you can set certain preferences that will allow the browser to save the information that you type into a form and use it for future form completion. Depending on which browser you are using, and whatever settings you've selected, your path to form freedom will vary.

Here are the steps to take for a few of the more well-known browsers. The steps may be slightly different depending on which version of a certain browser you are using. If you need specific directions for your browser, just click the Help option on your browser's menu bar and search the Help contents for the word "Forms".

Internet Explorer: On your menu bar, click Tools > Internet Options > Content tab > under Personal Information section, click the AutoComplete button > check the Forms box. The AutoComplete feature saves previous entries you've made. Then, when you type information in one of these fields, AutoComplete suggests possible matches. Just start typing your information. If you've typed a similar entry before, AutoComplete lists possible matches as you type. If a suggestion in the list matches what you want to enter in that field, click the suggestion. If no suggestion matches what you are typing, continue typing. The latest Internet Explorer browser is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx.
Netscape: On your menu bar, click Edit > Fill In Form > View Stored Form Data. Netscape's Form Fill can store the information requested only with user permission. This information can then be used to automatically fill out forms by clicking "Fill & Submit". The latest Netscape browser is available at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/.
Mozilla Firefox: On your menu bar, click Tools > Options > Privacy icon > Saved Forms tab > check box "Save Information I enter in forms and the Search Bar. Firefox remembers what you type and automatically makes suggestions when you enter information again. Sometimes the AutoFill won't have the needed information to complete all the fields in a form. If this happens, fill the fields manually. When you submit the form you will be asked if you want to save the form information. Click OK, and the next time you come back to the same page, your form manager will be able to complete the entire form. The latest Firefox browser is available at http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/.
Opera: On your menu bar, click Preferences > Tools > Preferences > Personal information. In Opera, you can enter your personal information into predefined fields that you often use in forms. If you have turned on the option "Enable auto completion dropdown" in Opera's preferences, this information will be available from an auto completion dropdown menu which is activated when you type information into a form field. The latest Opera browser is available at http://www.opera.com.

There are also a couple of options for free software that will remember your form information and autofill your forms for you.

Google Toolbar - The Google Toolbar is free to download. Along with such features as Spell Check and WordTranslator, the Google Toolbar has an Auto Fill feature that lets you to fill out web forms with a single click. An important security measure to note - your credit card information can be password-protected. To begin using the autofill function, click the Google button on the toolbar, then click Options > Click the Autofill tab > enter the details you would like to use. If you opt to include credit card details, you can enter a password to protect them. When you visit a web page with a form, simply click the Autofill button on the Google Toolbar and the appropriate fields will be filled in. The Google Toolbar is available at http://toolbar.google.com.
RoboForm - RoboForm is a one-click web form filler and password manager that can be downloaded for free. RoboForm memorizes online passwords, fills login forms with memorized info, automatically logs you into a web site, allows you to view and edit passwords, fills registration or checkout forms from multiple personal profiles, and much more. RoboForm is free for personal use as long as you maintain a limit of 30 passcards. It does not have any ads. RoboForm does not contain Spyware and works with virtually any browser. Data is stored on your personal computer and not on an external server, so as long as you have a firewall and other secure measures in place, your information is secure. RoboForm is available at http://www.roboform.com.

A warning - not all free software is what it appears. Many free programs also contain spyware that will track your browsing habits and send the information to a 3rd party. Gator is a form manager program that has been known to contain spyware so it's best to avoid this product.