Please Help! CGI related

**Anovice** · 06-20-2003, 06:20 AM

I am developing my first e-commerce site (I am an unemployed netword admin. trying to make a living). I have problems with cgi form when I get to the part of "Recommend this site", my cgi code is sort like this:

<FORM Method=POST ACTION=".../..../cgi-bin">
.....
.......
.......

<input type="submit" onclick=" " value="SUBMIT" name="submit_btn">
<input type="reset" onclick=" " value="CLEAR" name="clear_btn">
.....
........
.........
</FORM>

Well, my stupid questions are:
What is the "cgi-bin" and how do I create it?
When I click the "Submit" button, where will all the entered info. go?
Do I need to create any additional form, page or whatever as to report the information?
At last, if I want to send all this info. to my email, what should the code be? <FORM Method=Post Action="???????">

I do appreciate for taking the time just to read this. Thanks.

**Omega** · 06-20-2003, 10:58 AM

The CGI-Bin is the folder where all of the cgi scripts are located. There should already be one set up in the root directory on your server. Remember to FTP all files in ASCII mode, then CHMOD them to 755/777 as needed.

You may be able to find open source to do this for you, it's not an unusual thing...

**Anovice** · 06-20-2003, 12:09 PM

Thanks for giving me a hint. However, I am hosting the site from my notebook (I don't have a server yet). Do I need a server to have this CGI-BIN. Sorry to bother you again.

**Omega** · 06-20-2003, 12:14 PM

It's okay. Once you install a server (I use IndigoPerl it will set it up for you. You won't be able to run the scripts on your notebook without a personal server. IndigoPerl is great, but there's a small app called TinyWeb.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

**Anovice** · 06-21-2003, 10:52 AM

Hey Omega,
Ok, I have downloaded the personal server IndigoPerl that you have told me. I have also written some codes in HTML and CGI scripts using Frontpage. I understand that I need to post the scripts into the cgi-bin (am I right) in order for it to work.
How do I do it?
How do I get my web to work with this server?
How do I transfer the files from Frontpage into CGI?

I have recently found a "checkout" (shoppping cart) in Javascripts but I don't know how to load it ? Should I load it into my HTML (because I try and it didn't work) or what?

Honestly, If you're getting sick of my stupid questions, let me know.

**Omega** · 06-23-2003, 09:19 AM

Don't worry about it... That's what I'm here for

Yes, the CGI/Perl scripts need to be in the CGI-BIN, which you can find at C:\indigoperl\apache\cgi-bin. You then need to make sure the path to perl at the top of the files are all #!perl. All the HTML and other files will go in the htdocs file C:\indigoperl\apache\htdocs.

Once you have all the files in place, make sure the server is running (there will be a little icon in the task bar) and type the URL http://localhost/cgi-bin/filename.cgi - IF everything is correct in your coding, it should work for you.

You should be able to put the Javascript right into your html document, usually part will go between the <head> tags, and part will go between the <body> tags. Usually they are cut and paste, so without seeing the script I wouldn't be able to help you much. Do you have a URL where you got the script from?

**petecande** · 09-05-2003, 08:17 PM

Hi, Omega,

I've tried tinyweb, but it's impossible for me to run perl scripts. I'm on windows 98, I've already installed activeperl and the perl bin directory is into the path, the .pl files are handled by the perl interpreter, and I've created a cgi-bin folder into the root directory, but I can't do it. do you know any way to do it?

Thank you very much

Quote:

Originally posted by Omega
It's okay. Once you install a server (I use IndigoPerl it will set it up for you. You won't be able to run the scripts on your notebook without a personal server. IndigoPerl is great, but there's a small app called TinyWeb.

Let me know if you have any more questions!