Running CGI-bin on localhost

**itchy** · 06-14-2006, 02:00 AM

Hi all,

I have a client attending a tradeshow and they want to be able to have a email sign-up so that interested parties can submit their email addresses on a laptop and at a later date, the client can contact their email with the info.

I was planning to use a regular powerlist to capture this information, however they will not have internet access to utilize my server, or a cgi-bin.

Is there a possibility to run this off their own hard drive, or can someone suggest a better way to capture email addresses in an offline capacity without having a word or excel document open - they're on a limited budget trying to appear very professional.

I appreciate all suggestions!! Thanks again guys

**chrishirst** · 06-14-2006, 05:46 AM

you could set up a web server on the laptop;

use an MS Access form, Visual Basic application, VBA scripting in Excel, Access or Word.

or there are "old fashioned" methods like filling in a form with a pen

(it's usually much quicker)

**itchy** · 06-18-2006, 09:20 PM

ha ! THANKS CHRIS, was hoping for something a lil more high tech than pen and paper. It always seems to impress the common folk ;-)

**chrishirst** · 06-19-2006, 03:35 AM

They may be surprised;

One company that I work with on occasions, gets a better response at trade fairs to their paper contact forms than their PC based one.
This is a specialist electronics company who attract a tech savvy audience as well. For many people at trade fairs, time is limited so they will go for the quickest option, or what they perceive to be the guickest.

**itchy** · 06-19-2006, 07:30 PM

good remark Chris - I would see this as the easiest for all concerned, but you know bullheaded people, only see as far as their front nose and what it's snorting to be good and true.

Thanks again, I have a Joomla virtual server, I may install a script on that.

**scottfree** · 06-23-2006, 10:51 AM

Sorry, a bit late but the best thing is to download XAMMP from www.apachefriends.org and get the PERL addon aswell. When installed, you will have apache server, mysql database, perl and some other services. This will then run on the localhost or http://127.0.0.1. You can then simulate almost everything on your local machine or laptop.
Check it out, it's what a lot of developers use as a test environment.
Good Luck.