Module development and code questions

Hello,
I'm looking for some advice on something I need to do.
I need to have a form that the user will fill out and that will help me in constructing a file for the user to download.
I'm a Drupal newbie and I need to know basically if I need to create a new module for this (using of course the forms API) or if somehow I can use the webform module as it is.
Thanks for your answer,

I have asked this question. Thanks for the guys replying my post. But the example is for a node type. Can I use it in my non-node type module? I have tried for a whole day but failed...

If it is impossible, how can I upload some files in a form in my module?

Hi all!
I have just started making my web site, I have installed the Volonteer_Timeslots module.

I want to change the time format for the timeslots but I dont know how to do this. I have everything configured in 24h format but I cant get the time slots in 24h format. They are always displayed in 2.00pm format...

A little help would be most welcome ;-)
Thx

Is it possible to call a function of another module that actually is a filter to apply the filtering on the content of my module? How?

ex:

$text = externalfilterfunction($text);

i noticed that, when installing one of those 3 modules (i dunno which) the 'files' folder is created in the root directory, right?

Seems like when created, the ownership of that folder is assigned to a number xxx.

then, a group is created, a group of the same name as the user of the Cpanel, the user that logs in as root (which is me).

That means that, and i've experienced it, even if i give to the group 'me' the same permissions as the owner-number, i'm not permitted to delete or move any files within that folder.

Is that supposed to be?

i am in the midst of developing my very first module. when performing a database query (with hook_insert, hook_update, hook_ delete, hook_load, etc.) via db_query i have noticed several funny values like %d and %s. after a little digging, i learned these are called %-modifiers. that said, i have no idea what they stand for or do.

can anyone shed some light on this for me and let me know how to use them? thanks a bunch!