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CGI
Microsoft Front Page
CGI
What is CGI?
CGI stands for "Common Gateway Interface," a name for the
computer programs running on the web server that can be invoked
from a www page at the browser.
The "BIN" part alludes to the binary
executables that result from compiled or assembled programs.
It is a bit misleading because cgi's can also be Unix shell
scripts or interpreted languages like Perl.
CGI scripts need to be saved in ASCII
format and uploaded to your server's cgi-bin in ASCII or text
format. This is very important to remember, because they will
not work or result in errors if uploaded in binary.
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Where do I put
CGI scripts?
Put your cgi scripts in the public_html subdirectory named
"cgi-bin". If you have a need to put them elsewhere... you
better email us because there are some security issues which
may prevent you from doing so. We'll try to help though.
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Paths to Date,
Mail, Perl etc.
Here are your paths to the common server resources that CGI
scripts often require:
Date: /bin/date
Sendmail: /usr/lib/sendmail
Perl5: #!/usr/bin/perl
Serverpath: /home/username/domain-www/cgi-bin
Root path: /home/username/ - (puts
you in your the root of your account)
Domain directory: /home/username/public_html
- (puts you in your public_html directory)
Cgi-bin script: /home/username/public_html/cgi-bin/filename
- (puts you in your cgi-bin with the script. The 'filename'
is commonly .pl or .cgi)
NOTE: Do not include domain
extension anywhere you list your domain name
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Setting Permissions
Using Your File Manager
Log into your Control Panel and then click on File Manager.
You will now see a list of directories within the root of
your account. Since all of your html files and subdirectories
are uploaded and created within your public_html directory,
you need to click on the file folder next to the public-html
directory name. The directory will open and in the upper right
hand corner, there will be a list of actions that you can
perform for that directory. Next click on the file icon located
next to the text name of the file that you want to change
permissions for. In the upper right hand corner you will see
a list of actions that you can perform with this file.
Simply click on Change Permissions,
select the appropriate permissions and save.
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Setting Permissions
Using WS_FTP for Windows
WS_FTP accomplishes the same task as above. Just highlight
the file you want to check, and right-click on it. A menu
will pop up, then select CHMOD. Click on the appropriate settings
as needed. (Refer to the Permission Definitions below for
an explanation of settings.)
Permission Definitions
Owner = the files users (you)
Group = the files group
Others = all others
r = read access
x = execute access
w = write access
Numerical Definitions:
r = 4
x = 2
w = 1
'chmod' is a word used for changing
Permissions from within Telnet or your FTP client. Some scripts
will tell you to chmod 775 (for example). When using the numeric
system, the code for permissions is as follows:
4 + 2 + 1 (rwx) = 7
The first number applies to Owner,
the second number applies to Group, and the third number applies
to Others. Therefore the first 7 of the chmod 775 tells Unix
to change the Owner's permissions to rxw (because r=4 + w=2
+ x=1 adds up to 7, this giving the Owner Read, Write, and
Execute Permission).
The second 7 applies to the group,
this giving the Group Read, Write, and Execute Permission,
and the last number 5, refers to Others (4 + 1= 5), giving
Others only Read and Execute Permission.
The permissions for chmod 775 look
like this;
rwx rwx -rx
Permissions are always broken up into
three groups of letters, however if there is a dash, this
dash simply means that Permission wasn't given for that particular
function. For example, in the chmod 775, Permission to Write
was not given to Others.
Remember: the first 3 letters always
apply to Owner, the second 3 apply to Group, and the third
3 apply to Others.
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Common CGI Problems
Below are solutions to some of the more common CGI script
problems.
When I activate my CGI program,
I get back a page that says “Internal server error. The server
encountered an internal error or mis-configuration and was
unable to complete your request.”
This is generally caused by a problem within the script. Check
your script settings again to see that you have entered the
correct server information and have set the correct permissions
for the script. If this information is correct, you'll need
to contact whoever wrote or is distributing the script for
further assistance.
I am being told "File Not Found,"
or "No Such File or Directory."
Upload your Perl or CGI scripts in ASCII mode, not binary
mode.
When I test my Perl script in local
mode (by Telnet), I have the following error: "Literal @domain
now requires a back slash at myscript.pl line 3, within string.
Execution of myscript.pl aborted due to compilation errors."
This is caused by a misinterpretation by Perl. You see, the
"@" sign has a special meaning in Perl. It identifies an array
(a table of elements). Since it cannot find the array named
domain, it generates an error. You should place a back slash
() before the "@" symbol to tell Perl to see it as a regular
symbol, as in an email address.
I am getting the message "POST
not implemented."
You are probably using the wrong reference for cgiemail. Use
the reference /cgi-bin/cgiemail/mail.txt. Another possibility
is that you are pointing to a cgi-bin script that you have
not put in your cgi-bin directory. In general, this message
really means that the web server is not recognizing the cgi-bin
script you are calling as a program. It thinks it is a regular
text file.
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MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE 98
Publishing a Website
After you have built your html documents
and are ready to upload them to your site:
1. Open the web you've created on
your PC using FP Explorer.
2. Choose File > Publish
3. If your "Destination Web Server"
doesn't appear in the Publish window (it won't the first time
you publish to our server) CHOOSE "More Webs" and type the
location of the web to publish to. Hit return.
IMPORTANT: Use www.yourdomain.com
as the Destination Web Server to publish to your server. Leave
the "Destination Web Name" BLANK.
4. You will be asked for your USERNAME
and PASSWORD. This is your domain's USERNAME and your FrontPage
PASSWORD (which may be different than your regular telnet/ftp/POP
password). If you're not sure what it is or if you aren't
allowed past this point, you'll need to contact us for a new
FP password.
5. You can watch the progression of
the upload by looking at the bottom left corner of FP Explorer.
Opening an Existing Website
1.Open FP Explorer and choose File
> Open Front Page Web.
2.You can now choose to open a previously
created web on your PC or your web on your server.
3. Highlight the appropriate web or
type in the web address
4. (www.yourdomain.com) and click
OK.
5. Enter your USERNAME and FP PASSWORD
if required.
6. Make modifications and recalculate
links if needed. (See FP help docs for info on recalculating
links)
Troubleshooting Common Problems
with FP98
Getting error - "Root Web Busy"
FTP or telnet to your site and remove the "service.lck" file
in /public_html/_vti_pvt. This usually happens when an FP
session is interrupted before completion.
Server timing out when publishing
large sites
This difficulty arises when the uploading link times out in
the process of copying the web to our server. The only suggestion
Microsoft has offered so far is to break the main web into
a group of sub webs on your PC, then upload these individually.
If this problem persists for you, please contact support.
Getting Error - "Front Page Extensions
not Installed"
We often see this error being reported, even when the extensions
have been installed. If you get this error, please contact
support and we'll make sure the extensions are installed and
repair them if necessary. NOTE: The extensions are easily
corrupted. Please use only FP Explorer to update your web
site on the server, not FTP.
I published my web site but it's
not there!
This will happen when the "Destination Web Name" is filled
in when publishing to your server. This box should be left
blank. If you put any other name in this box it will create
a subdirectory of your root web and copy all of your files
into it. Your site will exist under a subdirectory instead
of at the top level /public_html where it should be.
My counter, bbs, guestbook, etc
isn't working.
These problems are generally due to incorrect permissions
on either the directory, file(s) or cgi script(s) that are
associated with them. Please don't change the permissions
of your files or directories unless you have a specific reason
for doing so and you know what effect it will have on your
site.
My forms won't work through the
Secure Server.
The call to a cgi script using the Secure Server must not
be within a webbot. Use a normal cgi call in your html script
for Secure Server calls.
My search bot doesn't return any
results.
The /public_html directory must be world readable AND you
need to re-calculate links BEFORE publishing (or after editing
directly on the server). If it still doesn't work: FTP to
the server and go to the /public_html/_vti_txt/default.wti
directory. Delete any files that begin with "ALL.". Don't
delete any other files. Then using Windows Explorer, do the
same thing on your PC.- Recalculate links, test locally with
your browser and publish.
FP starts the Web Publishing Wizard
when I try to publish.
Cancel the operation and email support to have the FP extensions
installed/repaired.
Why is my page renamed on the server
when I publish?
The "Default Document" of your web is automatically renamed
by the server to what is required by the configuration of
the server. For example, if you've named the main page "index.html",
it may be renamed "default.html". Just check the links to
your main page to make sure they refer to it the same way.
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MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE
2000
This tutorial will guide you step-by-step through configuring
Microsoft FrontPage to exchange files between your computer
and your web site. In order to follow along with us, you'll
need to have Microsoft FrontPage installed, and you'll need
to be connected to the internet via your Internet Service
Provider
Create a Simple Page
Before you can publish an html file to your web site with
FrontPage, you must either have a page already created, or
create a page. To create a page with FrontPage, follow these
simple steps
- With FrontPage open,
choose File --> New.
- Type in "This is
a simple test"
- From the menu bar,
choose File --> Save As.
- Name the html file.
(If this file is to be your homepage, be sure to name it
index.html) Once you have the file saved to your hard drive,
you are ready to publish the file.
Publish Your Web Page.
- From the menu bar,
choose File --> Publish Web .
- Click on the Options
button (You will see a dialog box.)
- In the text box
below Specify the location to publish your site to: enter
the full URL for your site.
- If this is the first
time you are publishing your site, select Publish all pages...
- Select Include subwebs
- Click the Publish
button.
- Enter your username
and password.
If you have entered all the details
correctly, FrontPage 2000 will then publish your site. You
will see a dialog box with Click here to view your published
web site, when it has finished: Then click the Done button.
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