.php alignment problems

Question

How do I insert a php form onto the Dreamweaver page without screwing up surrounding tables and alignment.  I have accounted for the red box and "hidden" area around the form.  I gave it plenty of empty space around it, but it won't go where it is supposed to and realigns everything else on the page.  This is not the first time I have had this issue.  It is so bad, I have finally  made the entire front page an image to keep the form from shoving things up, or down or to the sides.   This works, but of course it isn't a good plan for updating or SEO.
It is a short, simple customer inquery form.  It is generated by a data software program being used by the company for a number of tasks, so I don't have much control over the form itself. I have had this problem in the past with things like PayPal buttons.  I wanted to put the form on a popup page, but then they got involved with some marketing outfit which insists that the form needs to be visible on the front page.
Thanks, Cyndee

Answer 1

Here is the code that was given to me to use for the form
<form action="https://xxxxxx.xxxxx.com/AddForms/processFormSecure.jsp" method='POST'>
<input name="xid" type="hidden" id="xid" value="8277507820cf7f755bb0b31dc3b51b54" />
<input name="type" type="hidden" id="type" value="CustomFormWeb" />
<table>
    <tr><td colspan=99 style="padding:4px;background-color:#000000;color:#FFFFFF">Contact Information</td></tr>
        <tr><td>First Name *</td><td><input type='text' name='Contact0FirstName' value=''></td></tr>
        <tr><td>Last Name *</td><td><input type='text' name='Contact0LastName' value=''></td></tr>
        <tr><td>Email *</td><td><input type='text' name='Contact0Email' value=''></td></tr>
    <tr><td colspan=99 style="padding:4px;background-color:#000000;color:#FFFFFF">Miscellaneous</td></tr>
        <tr><td>Check all that apply:</td><td>
            <input type="checkbox" name="Checkbox0" value="359"> Discover your Investment Return<br>
            <input type="checkbox" name="Checkbox1" value="361"> Attend a Free Class<br>
            <input type="checkbox" name="Checkbox2" value="363"> Schedule a Free Site Visit<br>
        </td></tr>    <tr><td colspan=2><input name="Submit" class="button np inf-button" type="submit" id="Submit" value="Submit" /></td></tr>
</table>
</form>
I think I will set up an html page and play with the colspan and padding and see if I can get some of the extra space out of it.  But I don't understand why it won't stay where I put it. For example there was a large blank space in the column the form was placed in. (About 3 inches)  I could use it to place a small logo or site search box.  If I put the logo on the top, the form jumps down hanging off the bottom of the page, leaving a 5 inch gap.  If I put the logo underneath the form,  the form pushes up the menu bar, leaving a huge gap between it and the logo.  I have tried using clear spacer gifs to force it to stay in the table boundaries and it just pushes everything out of alignment. Doesn't seem to matter if I align it top, or bottom.  It just goes where it wants.
With the entire page (except menu bar) being an image now it sort off stays where I want it to be.  So I figure this will work for now and I can piddle with the home page over the next few weeks and try and figure out a better solution.  But the home page is loading slowly since it is a large .jpg file.  The resolution is high because it is the home page and I wanted it to look decent (first impressions and all).
Since I have had this difficulty with .php forms before I think there must be something basic about the files I don't understand, like there is hidden code or space requirements.  If this is true I would like to know the "secret" so that in the future I can have a better plan.
Thanks for all the help.  I have found the forum community to be my saviors over the years.