CGI

Q: Where is my cgi-bin?
A: /yourdomain-www/cgi-bin/

PATHS

Q: What is my path to perl?
A: /usr/bin/perl
(first line should read exactly #!/usr/bin/perl )

Complete vs Relative URL and Path 
Q: Can you give me an example of a complete relative URL and a complete path?

A: 

1. Complete URL: http://www.domain.com/file.htm

2. Relative URL: /cgi-bin/myprogram.cgi (that would mean that it needs to look for a cgi-bin folder off of the same folder that the index.html file is in)
3. Complete path: /home/username/domain-www/filename.html
4. Relative path: /filename.html That will look in the same folder you are in for that filename. If you do ../folder/filename.html then it will go up a folder first before looking for that new folder and filename.

What is the URL and Path of my domain?
A: The URL that corresponds with your cgi-bin directory is this:
http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin
And the PATH is this:
/home/username/mydomain-www/cgi-bin

Can you explain what a path is?
Especially when your working with cgi, you will have to know a path.

/home/yourusername/yourdomainname-www/directoryname/filename

the path is how the SERVER reads files. or we could do it
like your windows machine..
you have a C Drive and in your C drive you have folders (directories) so if you were to manually type out how to get to your netscape you would be typing..

C:\programfiles\netscape\communicator\netscape.exe <--- this is a windows path.

/home <--- is like the C Drive
/your username <--- says what folder the files are all under
/yourdomainname <--- is like the subfolder everything else sits in
/cgi-bin <--- Special directory for certain types of programs.
/directoryname is your file your looking for.
this is a unix/linux path

SENDMAIL

Q: What is the sendmail path?
A: /usr/sbin/sendmail

Do I need the -t at the end of sendmail? 
A: Yes, that's part of the script, use: /usr/sbin/sendmail -t if that is what the script is asking for :).

Q: Which version of Perl do you have installed?
A: We use Perl version 5.x with all of the standard CPAN modules installed.

Using sendmail vs SMTP
Q: I am trying to put up a postcard cgi script. It isn't working and I think the problem may be in the sendmail coding. They give you a choice between SMTP_server or Send_mail and I am trying to use sendmail. Is this right? Do I have to somehow use my AOL account instead? What works with this server?

A: You are correct, the sendmail is what you want to be using (not the SMTP), and it doesn't need to access your aol account to do so. That is with the exception of having your aol address if it sends you an e-mail for anything, but that's it.

The sendmail path you'll want to use is "/usr/sbin/sendmail". Some scripts use an optional "-t" switch at the end of the path. If the script has the "-t" switch by default, but the path to sendmail is different, be sure to keep the "-t" switch at the end of the path like this "/usr/sbin/sendmail -t".

ERRORS

CGI Trouble Shooting:

1. Make sure that your CGI scripts were uploaded in ASCII mode when you uploaded them.  If a script is uploaded in BINARY mode, it will corrupt it and it will not work
2. Do your scripts have the correct permissions?  Most scripts (the files ending in .pl or .cgi) need to have a permission of 755 or rwxr-xr-x
   You can change permissions in your File Manager if you like, by clicking on the link out beside the file name that looks like this: rwxrwxrwx and choosing
   Owner: rwx
   Group: r x
   World: r x
   That is what makes your script so that it will run
3. Make sure that where it asks for a "Path", you are not putting the URL  A path will never have the "http://" in it.  A path looks like this:
   /domain-www/cgi-bin or possibly /home/username/domain-www/cgi-bin/script.pl
    if the first one doesn't work.
4. Be very careful when editing a script. Generally, it is best to just leave it alone unless you have scripting experience :) But if you do change it, proof-read all of your periods, commands and quotes. The script won't work, unless everything is there. :). I highly recommend making yourself a back-up copy of your script before you start changing anything.

Q: I am trying to get cgi to work on my website according to the help files. I need a directory call usr/bin/perl 

A: All cgi files use that directory, and it's already there on your server. You just can't see it because nothing in it will ever need added or changed by you. You only need to use that name on the script where it mentions, you do not need that script in that directory. What you'll want is the cgi program in your cgi-bin directory, then at the top of each .cgi webpage you'll want to replace something that looks almost exactly like the following line with "#!/usr/bin/perl". 

How can I correct an Internal Server Error?
The Internal Server error can be the result of a few different things. Below is a list of what it usually is.

1. Your program can't find one of the associated programs called from the one file.
2. Upload all .cgi or .pl files in ASCII mode only (not Binary, and you can't use Auto mode either)
3. Make sure they have the correct permissions. Most cgi scripts require the 755 (or rwxr-xr-x) setting, and files it writes to (.txt files) usually are set at 777 (rwxrwxrwx).
4. Make sure the path to perl is /usr/bin/perl (read exactly "#!/usr/bin/perl") and the path to sendmail is /usr/sbin/sendmail
5. Check to be sure that you have your URL's and your path's set correctly.

TUTORIAL

CGI Tutorial:
http://www.cgi101.com/class

Q: Where can I learn more about Perl?
A: http://www.perl.com

CUSTOM SCRIPT

Do you know where I can get a custom script?

http://www.trxx.co.uk/ .

http://www.gossamer-threads.com .

http://www.waytotheweb.com/webscripts/index.htm

http://www.cgi-resources.com may have one that is already done :).

Q: Where can I get more Perl and/or CGI scripts?

http://www.cgi-resources.com/Programs_and_Scripts

http://www.scriptsearch.com

http://www.cgi.elitehost.com

OTHER INFORMATION

Can I put a cgi-bin folder in a secondary folder?
Normally cgi-bin is just one folder that you put all your cgi scripts in and it is never in a secondary folder. I don't know if that causes a problem or not unless you ever have to use a script with a .pl ending because then it wouldn't work unless it was in
/domainname-www/cgi-bin/ because it has to be "script aliased" to work and that is where the script alias on the system points.

Can I write my own scripts to use on my web page? if so what are the access procedures for cgi-bin?
Yes you can write your own cgi scripts, but that requires the knowledge of a programming language such as PERL, C+, or similar language. An easier method is to take pre-written cgi programs to use to fit your needs. The best resource for them that I use is here: http://www.cgi-resources.com

I can't see my .txt file. 
Q: The http://www.mydomainname.com/cgi-bin/readme.txt doesn't come up.

A: ".txt" files aren't usually accessible via your browser in the cgi-bin directory, but the .pl file is.

Where is the \cgi-sys\ sub-directory in my folder?
Q: I am trying to configure a form using your formmail.pl. Where is the \cgi-sys\ sub-directory in my folder?

A: There actually is a cgi-sys directory of your website, it's just invisible to the file manager and ftp programs because the files within it can not be changed.

How do I upload a cgi file?
To upload cgi files you just upload like you usually do, but make sure you upload in the directory entitled "cgi-bin". Also when doing so please make sure you're uploading in "ASCII" mode only (not Binary).

PERMISSIONS

Please explain what the chmod command means.
The first number of a 'chmod' command applies to the 'owner' of a file.
(ie you via ftp or telnet)

The second number applies to the 'group' that the file belongs to.
(ie your account)

The third number applies to 'other'.
(ie everyone else)

And,

Read=4
Write=2
Execute=1

Therefore when you set a chmod of 755, you are saying:

The owner (you) can read, write, and execute the file. (4+2+1=7)
The group (your account) can read and execute the file. (4+1=5)
Other (everyone else) can read and execute the file. (4+1=5)

Note that 'read' does not mean that visitors to your website can 'read' your script...they can't. It just means they can use it.

Also note that 'write' does not mean your visitors can write to your files. It just means that when they access your script, the script itself is allowed to write to a text file.

How do I set permissions in my file manager?
To set permissions on files and directories all you need to do is to go to your file manager, find the file you're looking for, and click on the link next to it that looks like "rw-r--r--" in the column entitled "Permissions". Once you click on that you can modify the permissions. "rwxr-xr-x" is the same as 755 (which is the general executable permission setting), and "rwxrwxrwx" is 777.

What are the CHMOD #'s vs. letters?
Q: I need to change the CHMOD but the file manager doesn't show the # - can you tell me how they correspond with the letters?

A: CHMOD

777
rwx rwx rwx

644
rw- r-- r

755
rwx r-x r-x

707
rwx --- rwx

666
rw- rw- rw-