What happens, after form is submitted?
Data validation with Javascript (in Browser)
After a user has clicked on the submit button, the inputs are validate in the browser, using the Javascript based jQuery Validation Plugin. If there are invalid inputs with regard to the rules you have defined for the form fields error messages are display. Only after validation doesn't detect any more errors user inputs are sent to the server.
Spambot Check
If the form option Use Plugin Spambotcheck is enabled the next step will be to check if the inputs are made by a known spammer. In this case the process of submitting the form is stopped immediately and an error message is thrown.
Data validation with PHP (on server)
As it is possible that data validation with Javascipts fails, for example because Javascript is disabled or the user works with a very old browser, that cannot validate properly, it is good practise to always implement a validation step on the server as well. If PHP validation detects invalid user inputs, the form including all user inputs that are already made, is displayed again. Validation errors are displayed in a message block at the top of the form.
Captcha check
If you have enabled Captchas as a form option, the next step is to check, if the user has provided a correct captcha. Invalid captchas will result in a error message and the form including all user inputs which were already made is displayed again.
Security Checks
Next Visforms performs several security checks to prevent hacks.
Store user inputs
During this step upload files are uploaded. If you have enabled the form option "Save results" user inputs are stored in the data base as well.
Send Mails
According to the mail settings in the form configuration, result and/or recipient mails are sent. With this step form submission is finished.
Redirects and/or Result Message
If you do not specify any redirct or result message options, the user is now redirected to the home page and the message "Form successfully sent" is displayed.
Alternatively you can create your own message text or redirect the user to a specific page. These options are set in the forms "Result" tab".
Customise Result Message
Just insert the result message in the forms "Result" tab in the editor at Text Result. Visforms will redirect user to a custom page that displays the result message. You can use user inputs in the result message (see: Using User Inputs in Result Text and E-Mails)
Redirect to a specific page
Alternatively you can redirect the user to any internal or external website, like a specific article or the frontend data view. Enter the URL to this page into the Redirect URL option in the forms "Result" tab. Please note, that an internal URL has always to start with "index.php" and that you must use the original Url (i.e. index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=1) and not the SEF-Url (i.e. index.php/thank-you-message). The original Url will be converted into an SEF Url by automatic action, if SEF Url's are enabled for your website.
It is not possible to divide a form into several subforms. But you can use redirects as a work around by redirecting a user to a second form after they have successfully sent the first form.
You can add submitted user inputs as url parameters to the redirct url. Use the field option "add to redirect url" (tab "advanced in the field configuration) for this purpose. (For further information please see: Using Url Parameter to set default Values in Forms). If you enable this option for a field, the user input of this field will be added to the redirect url in the format "fieldname=user input". For fields of type select or checkbox group it's "fieldname[]=user input".
Note: You can either use an individual result message or redirect the user but you can not do both things at a time. If you enter a redirect URL this option will always take precedence over an individual result message.
The Visforms Subscriptions offers some interesting additional redirect options after form was submitted