Unleashing the Power of CGI: A Comprehensive Guide

Jan 2

20:19

2024

Michael Southon

The term CGI, or Common Gateway Interface, used to be a daunting concept for many. However, like many things in life, it's not as intimidating as it initially appears. If you have a CGI directory on your website and know how to FTP files, you can have a CGI script up and running in less than 20 minutes. This article will delve into the details of five free CGI scripts and provide a basic guide on how to configure and install them.

Understanding CGI

CGI is not a programming language, but a standard that enables interaction between visitors and your website. CGI scripts can be written in various languages, with Perl (Practical Extraction and Reporting Language) being the most common.

Five Free CGI Scripts to Enhance Your Website

Here are five free CGI scripts that can enhance your website's functionality:

Newsletter Mailer: This script allows you to send out your newsletter from your server.
Download Tracker: This script tracks the number of times your free E-Book is downloaded.
Banner Rotator: This script rotates banners on your website.
Auto Responder Creator: This script allows you to create your own auto responders.
Website Recommender: This script enables visitors to recommend your website to friends.

At the end of this article, you'll find details on where to download these free scripts.

Basic Guidelines for Configuring and Installing CGI Scripts

Unzipping and Reading Instructions

CGI programs usually come in a zip file. Unzip the file and open the README file for configuration instructions.

Configuring the Program File

Open the program file using a text editor such as NOTEPAD. Most CGI programs require you to configure the following four items:

Path to Perl: This is where the Perl program resides on your server. If you're unsure, check your web host's online manual or FAQs.
Path to Sendmail: Most CGI programs notify you when your visitors have completed a particular action. For this, the program needs to know where the 'sendmail' program resides on your server.
Absolute Path to Your CGI Directory: The absolute path tells the CGI program exactly where to find the file(s) it needs to open. The easiest way to find out your absolute path is to ask your web host.
Your Email Address: This is the address that the CGI program will use to notify you when an action has been completed.

Uploading and Setting File Permissions

Upload the program files to your cgi-bin using ASCII mode. Never use BINARY mode, as this will disrupt the line-breaks in the script. Set the file permissions using CHMOD. The README file will usually tell you the permissions that you need to set for each file.

Calling the Script

Once you've configured the script, uploaded it, and set the permissions, it's time to try it out! You do this by 'calling the script' using a URL in an HTML document.