#CES FORMS

#Setting Up CES Forms

This guide walks you through installing and configuring CES Forms on your own web hosting.

CES Forms is designed to work with standard PHP + MySQL hosting and can be used for applications, contact forms, staff applications, bug reports, support requests, and other custom forms.

#What You're Installing

CES Forms includes everything you need to create and manage forms on your website:

• A public form users can complete
• A private admin dashboard
• Form management
• Submission management
• Custom form fields
• Email notifications
• Database storage
• Form configuration

#Before You Start

You'll need:

• Web hosting with PHP and MySQL
• Access to your hosting control panel
• Access to phpMyAdmin
• The CES Forms .zip file
• A domain or subdomain where you want to install CES Forms

Tip: Shared hosting is usually enough for CES Forms.

#Step 1 — Create a Database

First, create a MySQL database for CES Forms.

#Hostinger

If you're using Hostinger:

1. Log in to hPanel.
2. Go to Databases.
3. Select MySQL Databases.
4. Create a new database.
5. Create a database user.
6. Set a secure password.
7. Make sure the database user has access to the database.

Write down the following information:

• Database name
• Database username
• Database password
• Database host

You will need these values during configuration.

For most hosts, the database host is:

localhost

#Step 2 — Import the Database

After creating the database, you'll need to import the CES Forms database structure.

1. Open phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel.
2. Select the database you created.
3. Click Import.
4. Select the CES Forms .sql file.
5. Click Go.

After the import finishes, the required CES Forms database tables will be created.

Important: Make sure you import the SQL file into the correct database.

#Step 3 — Upload CES Forms

Next, upload the CES Forms files to your website.

1. Open your hosting File Manager.
2. Navigate to your website's web root.

This is usually:

public_html

3. Upload the CES Forms .zip file.
4. Extract the ZIP file.
5. Rename the folder if desired.

For example:

public_html/forms

Your CES Forms installation would then be available at:

https://yourdomain.com/forms

#Step 4 — Configure CES Forms

Locate the CES Forms configuration file.

Depending on the version, this may be named:

config.php

Open the file using your hosting file editor.

Enter your database information.

Example:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user');
define('DB_PASS', 'your_database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

You will also need to configure your website information.

Example:

define('SITE_NAME', 'Your Website Name');
define('SITE_URL', 'https://yourdomain.com/forms');
define('NOTIFY_EMAIL', 'you@yourdomain.com');
MAIL_FROM

#Important Settings

SITE_NAME

The name displayed by CES Forms.

Example:

Crazy Eyes Studio

SITE_URL

The exact location where CES Forms is installed.

Example:

https://yourdomain.com/forms

Do not add a trailing /.

NOTIFY_EMAIL

The email address that should receive new submission notifications.

Example:

admin@yourdomain.com

MAIL_FROM

The email address used when CES Forms sends email notifications.

For the best results, use an email address belonging to your website's domain.

Example:

noreply@yourdomain.com

Save the configuration file when finished.

#Step 5 — Test Your Installation

Open the URL where you installed CES Forms.

For example:

https://yourdomain.com/forms/

Make sure the website loads correctly.

Test the following:

• Form loads
• Fields display correctly
• Form can be submitted
• Submission is saved
• Email notification is received
• Admin dashboard works

#Step 6 — Log In to the Admin Panel

Open the CES Forms administrator page.

Example:

https://yourdomain.com/forms/admin/

Log in using the administrator account created during installation.

Security: If your installation includes a default administrator password, change it immediately after your first login.

Use a strong password that is not used anywhere else.

#Step 7 — Create Your First Form

From the admin dashboard, create a new form.

Choose:

Forms → Create Form

Enter:

• Form name
• Form description
• Form fields
• Required fields
• Notification settings

For example:

Form Name:
Game Development Application

Description:
Apply to join the Crazy Eyes Studio Game Development team.

#Step 8 — Add Form Fields

Add the fields you want users to complete.

Common fields include:

• Name
• Email
• Phone
• Discord Username
• Subject
• Message
• Dropdown
• Multiple Choice
• Checkbox
• File Upload

You can make fields required when the information must be provided before the form can be submitted.

Example:

Name *
Email *
Discord Username
Portfolio
Experience *
Additional Information

#Step 9 — Configure Notifications

CES Forms can send notifications when someone submits a form.

Configure the notification email address in your settings.

Example:

New Form Submission

Form:
Game Development Application

Submitted:
September 10, 2026

Name:
John Doe

Email:
example@email.com

If emails are not being delivered, see the Troubleshooting section below.

#Step 10 — Publish Your Form

Once your form has been tested, publish it.

Your public form may be available at an address similar to:

https://yourdomain.com/forms/

You can then link to the form from:

• Your website
• Discord
• Social media
• Job pages
• Application pages
• Support pages

#Managing Submissions

Open the admin dashboard to view submissions.

From the submissions area, you can review information submitted by users.

Depending on the CES Forms version, you may also be able to:

• View submissions
• Search submissions
• Delete submissions
• Review submissions
• Export submissions
• View submission details

#Managing Forms

You can create multiple forms for different purposes.

For example:

#Game Development

Used for developers applying to work on CES projects.

#Creative & Content

Used for artists, video editors, writers, designers, and other creative positions.

#Testing & Support

Used for QA testers, support staff, and technical assistance.

#Business

Used for business inquiries, partnerships, and other professional requests.

#Embedding CES Forms

If your version of CES Forms supports embedding, you can place forms directly onto another website page.

For example:

https://yourdomain.com/apply

Use the embed code provided by CES Forms.

Important: Do not manually change the embed code unless you know exactly what you are changing.

#Security

Because CES Forms stores user submissions, make sure your installation is properly secured.

#Recommended

• Use HTTPS.
• Use a strong admin password.
• Keep PHP updated.
• Keep CES Forms updated.
• Do not share database credentials.
• Do not publicly expose configuration files.
• Limit administrator access to trusted users.
• Back up your database regularly.

Never publish your database password or other private credentials publicly.

#Troubleshooting

#Database Connection Failed

If CES Forms displays a database connection error, check:

DB_NAME
DB_USER
DB_PASS
DB_HOST

Make sure these values exactly match the database you created.

#The Website Shows a Blank Page

Check:

1. PHP version compatibility.
2. PHP error logs.
3. File permissions.
4. The configuration file.
5. That all CES Forms files were uploaded correctly.

#Form Submissions Aren't Being Saved

Check:

• Database connection
• Database tables
• PHP errors
• Form configuration
• Required fields
• Server permissions

Make sure the database import completed successfully.

#Email Notifications Aren't Working

First check your notification email address.

Then check that your MAIL_FROM address uses your own domain.

For example:

noreply@yourdomain.com

Also check your spam or junk folder.

Some hosting providers do not allow PHP mail() to send reliably. If this happens, you may need to configure SMTP through your hosting provider.

#File Uploads Aren't Working

If your form allows file uploads, check:

• PHP upload limits
• Maximum file size
• Allowed file types
• Folder permissions
• Available server storage

Also make sure the upload directory exists.

#Updating CES Forms

Before updating CES Forms:

1. Back up your files.
2. Back up your database.
3. Download the new CES Forms version.
4. Read the release notes.
5. Upload the updated files.
6. Apply any required database updates.
7. Test your forms.

Important: Do not overwrite configuration files containing your database credentials unless you have backed them up.

#Backup Recommendations

We recommend regularly backing up:

#Website Files

Keep a copy of your CES Forms installation files.

#Database

Export your CES Forms database through phpMyAdmin.

A database backup is especially important because form submissions are stored there.

#Need Help?

If you are having trouble installing or configuring CES Forms, contact Crazy Eyes Studio Support.

When requesting support, include:

CES Product:
CES Forms

Problem:
Describe the issue.

What were you doing?
Describe what you were trying to do.

Error Message:
Copy the exact error message here.

PHP Version:
Your PHP version

Hosting Provider:
Your hosting provider

Website URL:
Your CES Forms URL

Screenshots:
Attach screenshots when possible.

Providing the exact error message and screenshots can significantly speed up troubleshooting.

#CES Documentation

Return to the CES Docs homepage to find documentation for other Crazy Eyes Studio products.

Crazy Eyes Studio

https://crazyeyesstudio.com/

© 2026 Crazy Eyes Studio. All rights reserved