How does mailto: work?

[karayan]

I am using a mailto: form to have users send email. I am not sure, however, of the exact mechanics of the submission. What exactly happens when you submit a form like that?

When I tested the form with IE, it wants to open Outlook Express. When I use Netscape, it does nothing on submit. You would think it would try to open Netscape Mail. Am I missing something?

Also, is this a good way to send email? I cannot use CGI, so that's out.

[Charles]

If you cannnot use CGI then it doesn't really matter that your form will not always work. There's nothing that you can do about it.

[karayan]

Thanks for the reply. I guess what I'm really asking is HOW it works. What does the browser do with a form like that. Does it try to send email by looking for some default POP server? Does it look to fire the default mail application on the user's computer? I need to know what is required for the mailto: form to work properly, so I can discuss this in the user requirements.

Thanks.

George