Using CGI Scripts

To find CGI scripts for your website, you can visit The CGI Resource Index and search PERL scripts.  There are three steps to get a CGI script (text file with .cgi or .pl extension) to function properly on your web page:

1. Find a CGI script of your choice ("free" scripts for message boards, guestbooks, and more).
2. Download on your computer and "unzip" script file.
3. Open and edit the script ("readme" or instructions file) in a text editor (Notepad for example - NOT AN HTML EDITOR). This gives you specific instructions on what files need editing to get the script to function properly.  It is just a matter of opening the script file and filling in (defining) the (variables) where the program says to, i.e. usually, at the beginning of the script.

As an example, it may state "change the below to the path of your CGI-BIN"...in that case, put in whatever your CGI-BIN's path is. Most scripts already have an "illustrated" path...you will see the general formatting (watch for the / (backslash).   Once you have filled in the variables in the script, then you are ready to upload the files to your cgi-bin, using your control panel or FTP program.

Many scripts tell you where to upload and give the permission settings (may also instruct you to create a new folder on your server).  Make sure you follow the instructions.  If permissions are set wrong...the script will not function properly.  (See more on setting permissions below).

Path Example:

Home Directory: /home/yourusername/public_html/
Path to Perl5:  /usr/bin/perl
Path to CGI-BIN Directory:  /home/username/public_html/cgi-bin
File Access Permissions (UNIX/Linux Servers)

Definitions:

CHMOD: A term for a server operation to either set or change the mode of a file's access permissions.

ASCII: Represents a document that is plain text without special formatting characters.  When you upload plain text-based files (.cgi, .pl, .pm, .txt, .xml, .php, .shtml, .css, .js, .html and .htm) to a web-server, they must be sent in ASCII mode.

Binary: The other mode of transmission used by a web server (.au, .aiff, .bin, .doc, .exe, .gif, .gz, .jpg, .jpeg, .mpg, .mpeg, .mov, .pdf, .png, .ps, .qt, .tar, .tiff, .tif, .wav and .zip). If you can't read the contents of a file using "Notepad" or "Wordpad", it is most likely a "binary" file.

PHP Programs: Can use either mode (ASCII or Binary) for execution…ASCII is preferred.

Script File Permissions

Permissions are necessary to run or execute the commands properly within a script.  They instruct a server on how to handle certain files.  Most permissions will only allow you to read a file (default).  There are three "groups" that you control who has access to a file; these groups are as follows:

User - the person who owns the domain account; administrator
Group - other registered users on the server; non-administrative
Other - the public or Internet users accessing your web pages

Each group has "three permission settings" available (this allows you to control their access...do you want them to read, write, and/or execute the uploaded file. The three types of permissions for files are: read, write and execute...in that order.  If a permission is listed, it is considered to be turned on.

"Read" permission - allows the file's contents to be viewed
"Write" permission - allows the file's contents to be altered (overwriting, changing, adding, and deleting existing text)
"Execute" permissions allow the file to be run as a program

Well, we covered CGI scripts and file permissions...read the next topic titled "RSS Feed And Formats".

Next Topic:  RSS Feed And Formats

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