Hello folks.
I'm pretty much a newbie at this, so try to bear with me. I mostly use HTML editors to design my webpages, not handcoding. I've never had any programming or coding classes of any kind.
Here's my problem! I "designed" a webpage for a club of sorts. The page was hosted on one of the member's webspace. Since it was webspace he used to host other clients' sites he could not give me direct ftp or telnet access to the page. He created his own cgi scripting so that I could have a form connected to a database that would update the roster based on what I entered in. The webpage has 2 or 3 instances of cgi scripting. So far this has worked okay because he did all the updating, but here's my problem. He's been busy and has been slow to do updates recently and both of us would rather the page be under my control. So I've looked into some webspace, etc.. and found some affordable alternatives. I'm also looking to change the page significantly as far as content/design. However, I know virtually nothing about CGI scripting. I know I have to find a server with a cgi-bin, but other than that, I'm not sure how to setup the scripts so they work properly.
As I said before.. I have had no experience in CGI or any other programming/coding so I'm very overwhelmed at the moment. I know once the site is in place, the CGI scripts won't require much in the way of "maintenence", the updates to the page are mostly just text.
If anyone could provide me some answers on what I will need, how to install a CGI script, or any other simple easy to understand instructions I would be grateful.
Thanks in advance,
GinaGina,
I believe most servers support CGI programs, though they may charge you a small fee to make sure the scripts are safe. Can you post a url to the page so we can see what you'd be working on?
Also, to do simple updates you may not need his CGI scripts at all. Most servers support FTP, so you could directly edit the page, instead of routing it through a form via CGI..It's really not that difficult.
If you do a search for the script you want (until you get hooked and start writing your own) the files *generally* come in three types.
These are .htm .pl and .cgi (and graphics of course).
Generally the .htm files go above the cgi-bin and the perl and cgi files go in the cgi-bin.
You will have to modify a few lines of code to tell the script where it is on the net -- your IP will tell you the *absolute* path. This is different to the URL.
e.g.
URL = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bla*bla*.com">http://www.bla*bla*.com</a><!-- m -->
Absolute = /www/docs/blahblah.com/cgi-bin
Then you have to set the permissions of the cgi and perl files
eg data files 777 (full access to data)
script files 755 (read and execute) for end user
The read.me file with the script will *allways* tell you what permissions to set.
That's pretty much it.
I know this is a very brief description but it's just to explain that it's not voodoo!
I was just as mystified at first - but there are LOADS of very good tutorials on the web.
Good luck.You'll probably use PERL for your CGI, so here are a few recommended books for reference:
Advanced Perl Programming
by Wall
Paperback
Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated, Aug 1997
ISBN: 1565922204
Cheapest Price: $22.15
Merchant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.textbooksatcost.com/storeII/store.cgi?isbn=1565922204">http://www.textbooksatcost.com/storeII/ ... 1565922204</a><!-- m -->
----------
Perl Cookbook
by Nathan Torkington, Potter
Paperback
Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated, Aug 1998
ISBN: 1565922433
Cheapest Price: $39.95
Merchant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-1565922433-0No">http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?i ... 922433-0No</a><!-- m --> disrespect - but if she's learning then advanced perl may be a bit much.
I'd go with Learning perl by Randal Schwartz from O'Reilly at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.comThanks">www.amazon.comThanks</a><!-- w --> so far guys let me give you some more info!
I can't give you access to show you exactly what I'm talking about unfortunately cause much of it is on the admin/members only side of the current webpage.
However.. the scripts currently used are a WebBBS script for some message boards, a Webmail system for sending email to other members, and the admin roster database section, which I'll explain in detail some more.
There are three different rosters with different type info/organisation in various portions of the page. If you logon to the admin section there is a form that I can update the member's info and once entered in, it updates all those rosters at once. It makes admin on the site VERY easy when I go in to add a new member, etc.
These are the existing scripts..
Now, the page will eventually require an online ordering system, a web-based Calendar for events, and yet ANOTHER roster with different info. I don't feel comfortable enough to write the coding for these myself and am not even sure if Perl/CGI is the way to go for those.
Argh. I really wish I had someone besides the man currently who is holding the page for us to help me with this. So far you guys have been great and yes, what you said really helped so far.
Thanks again!
GinaGina,
I think eventually your going to need to learn some of the background coding. A good place to start would be here... (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.volcanic-design.com/volc_links.htm">http://www.volcanic-design.com/volc_links.htm</a><!-- m -->)
There are tutorials, explanations, and general info on lots of things web related. I'd sart with HTML if I were you.Originally posted by Gina
Now, the page will eventually require an online ordering system, a web-based Calendar for events, and yet ANOTHER roster with different info. I don't feel comfortable enough to write the coding for these myself and am not even sure if Perl/CGI is the way to go for those.
I can help you with this...fairly simple:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.arpanet.com/PerlShop/PerlShop.html">http://www.arpanet.com/PerlShop/PerlShop.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vcart.com/">http://www.vcart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.minivend.com/minivend/">http://www.minivend.com/minivend/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dansie.net/cart.html">http://www.dansie.net/cart.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webgenie.com/http://www.cartserver.com/americart/">http://www.webgenie.com/http://www.cart ... americart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://kickasp.com/">http://kickasp.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cartit.com/">http://www.cartit.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.coolcart.com/">http://www.coolcart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.pdgsoft.com/">http://www.pdgsoft.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.americart.com/">http://www.americart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cart32.com/">http://www.cart32.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.realsoft.com/">http://www.realsoft.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.goldpaint.com/">http://www.goldpaint.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.quikstore.com/">http://www.quikstore.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webtools2010.com/shoppingcart.htm">http://www.webtools2010.com/shoppingcart.htm</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webisland.com/cart/">http://www.webisland.com/cart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.irata.com/products.html">http://www.irata.com/products.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.intheq.com/">http://www.intheq.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.itransact.com/redicart/">http://www.itransact.com/redicart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rent-a-cart.com/">http://www.rent-a-cart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.stevespages.f2s.com/">http://www.stevespages.f2s.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.uburst.com/uShop/">http://www.uburst.com/uShop/</a><!-- m -->
-----
Most are PERL-based, while some are Java-based. Some are free, some are not.
I'm pretty much a newbie at this, so try to bear with me. I mostly use HTML editors to design my webpages, not handcoding. I've never had any programming or coding classes of any kind.
Here's my problem! I "designed" a webpage for a club of sorts. The page was hosted on one of the member's webspace. Since it was webspace he used to host other clients' sites he could not give me direct ftp or telnet access to the page. He created his own cgi scripting so that I could have a form connected to a database that would update the roster based on what I entered in. The webpage has 2 or 3 instances of cgi scripting. So far this has worked okay because he did all the updating, but here's my problem. He's been busy and has been slow to do updates recently and both of us would rather the page be under my control. So I've looked into some webspace, etc.. and found some affordable alternatives. I'm also looking to change the page significantly as far as content/design. However, I know virtually nothing about CGI scripting. I know I have to find a server with a cgi-bin, but other than that, I'm not sure how to setup the scripts so they work properly.
As I said before.. I have had no experience in CGI or any other programming/coding so I'm very overwhelmed at the moment. I know once the site is in place, the CGI scripts won't require much in the way of "maintenence", the updates to the page are mostly just text.
If anyone could provide me some answers on what I will need, how to install a CGI script, or any other simple easy to understand instructions I would be grateful.
Thanks in advance,
GinaGina,
I believe most servers support CGI programs, though they may charge you a small fee to make sure the scripts are safe. Can you post a url to the page so we can see what you'd be working on?
Also, to do simple updates you may not need his CGI scripts at all. Most servers support FTP, so you could directly edit the page, instead of routing it through a form via CGI..It's really not that difficult.
If you do a search for the script you want (until you get hooked and start writing your own) the files *generally* come in three types.
These are .htm .pl and .cgi (and graphics of course).
Generally the .htm files go above the cgi-bin and the perl and cgi files go in the cgi-bin.
You will have to modify a few lines of code to tell the script where it is on the net -- your IP will tell you the *absolute* path. This is different to the URL.
e.g.
URL = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bla*bla*.com">http://www.bla*bla*.com</a><!-- m -->
Absolute = /www/docs/blahblah.com/cgi-bin
Then you have to set the permissions of the cgi and perl files
eg data files 777 (full access to data)
script files 755 (read and execute) for end user
The read.me file with the script will *allways* tell you what permissions to set.
That's pretty much it.
I know this is a very brief description but it's just to explain that it's not voodoo!
I was just as mystified at first - but there are LOADS of very good tutorials on the web.
Good luck.You'll probably use PERL for your CGI, so here are a few recommended books for reference:
Advanced Perl Programming
by Wall
Paperback
Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated, Aug 1997
ISBN: 1565922204
Cheapest Price: $22.15
Merchant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.textbooksatcost.com/storeII/store.cgi?isbn=1565922204">http://www.textbooksatcost.com/storeII/ ... 1565922204</a><!-- m -->
----------
Perl Cookbook
by Nathan Torkington, Potter
Paperback
Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated, Aug 1998
ISBN: 1565922433
Cheapest Price: $39.95
Merchant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-1565922433-0No">http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?i ... 922433-0No</a><!-- m --> disrespect - but if she's learning then advanced perl may be a bit much.
I'd go with Learning perl by Randal Schwartz from O'Reilly at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.comThanks">www.amazon.comThanks</a><!-- w --> so far guys let me give you some more info!
I can't give you access to show you exactly what I'm talking about unfortunately cause much of it is on the admin/members only side of the current webpage.
However.. the scripts currently used are a WebBBS script for some message boards, a Webmail system for sending email to other members, and the admin roster database section, which I'll explain in detail some more.
There are three different rosters with different type info/organisation in various portions of the page. If you logon to the admin section there is a form that I can update the member's info and once entered in, it updates all those rosters at once. It makes admin on the site VERY easy when I go in to add a new member, etc.
These are the existing scripts..
Now, the page will eventually require an online ordering system, a web-based Calendar for events, and yet ANOTHER roster with different info. I don't feel comfortable enough to write the coding for these myself and am not even sure if Perl/CGI is the way to go for those.
Argh. I really wish I had someone besides the man currently who is holding the page for us to help me with this. So far you guys have been great and yes, what you said really helped so far.
Thanks again!
GinaGina,
I think eventually your going to need to learn some of the background coding. A good place to start would be here... (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.volcanic-design.com/volc_links.htm">http://www.volcanic-design.com/volc_links.htm</a><!-- m -->)
There are tutorials, explanations, and general info on lots of things web related. I'd sart with HTML if I were you.Originally posted by Gina
Now, the page will eventually require an online ordering system, a web-based Calendar for events, and yet ANOTHER roster with different info. I don't feel comfortable enough to write the coding for these myself and am not even sure if Perl/CGI is the way to go for those.
I can help you with this...fairly simple:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.arpanet.com/PerlShop/PerlShop.html">http://www.arpanet.com/PerlShop/PerlShop.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vcart.com/">http://www.vcart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.minivend.com/minivend/">http://www.minivend.com/minivend/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dansie.net/cart.html">http://www.dansie.net/cart.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webgenie.com/http://www.cartserver.com/americart/">http://www.webgenie.com/http://www.cart ... americart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://kickasp.com/">http://kickasp.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cartit.com/">http://www.cartit.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.coolcart.com/">http://www.coolcart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.pdgsoft.com/">http://www.pdgsoft.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.americart.com/">http://www.americart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cart32.com/">http://www.cart32.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.realsoft.com/">http://www.realsoft.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.goldpaint.com/">http://www.goldpaint.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.quikstore.com/">http://www.quikstore.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webtools2010.com/shoppingcart.htm">http://www.webtools2010.com/shoppingcart.htm</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.webisland.com/cart/">http://www.webisland.com/cart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.irata.com/products.html">http://www.irata.com/products.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.intheq.com/">http://www.intheq.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.itransact.com/redicart/">http://www.itransact.com/redicart/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rent-a-cart.com/">http://www.rent-a-cart.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.stevespages.f2s.com/">http://www.stevespages.f2s.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.uburst.com/uShop/">http://www.uburst.com/uShop/</a><!-- m -->
-----
Most are PERL-based, while some are Java-based. Some are free, some are not.