Install Your Own CGI Script

Common parameters to modify

When installing your own CGI scripts, you will, most likely, need to modify some of the script's parameters. In most scripts the parameters to modify will be located at the top of the actual script file after any instructions or headers (most are clearly marked and have concise instructions in the comments for modifying the parameter, rule of thumb, though, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS before modifying a script!)

Common paths to programs

Most CGI scripts need to know the location of files to run properly (sometimes they even need to know where they are located themselves!). Here are some common paths and tips about paths for CGI scripts:

1. Absolute path refers to something's location on the server itself. Standard absolute paths are:

'/www/htdocs/' (path to your web files)
'/www/cgi-bin/' (path to your cgi-bin, where scripts are usually located)

Most times an absolute path will be asked for when the script needs to find the directory of certain files (READ THE DOCUMENTATION TO BE SURE!)

2. URL path refers to something's location via the WWW. Standard URL paths are:

'http://www.example.com/' (path to your web site/files)
'http://www.example.com/cgi-bin/' (path to your cgi-bin via the web)

Most times an absolute path will be asked for to handle HTML directions and coding

3. A commonly requested path (also required for Perl scripts) is the path to Perl, it is:

'/usr/bin/perl' -or- '/bin/perl'

4. Another commonly requested path is the path to the sendmail program (for mail interfaces), it is:

'/bin/sendmail'

5. Lastly, a commonly request path is to the date program (for date and time tracking), it is:

'/bin/date'

If a path is requested and not covered in the documentation for the script, feel free to e-mail: TechSupport@sxws.com and we will do the best we can to help you track down the path for your script.

(Be sure to READ the DOCUMENTATION FIRST!)

Tips for CGI Installations

1. Read the documentation for the script you are trying to install!
   
   
2. If you don't find any documentation WITH the script, check inside the script ITSELF, some scripts have the instructions written in with the coding.
   
   
3. If you can't find any help, contact the author of the script (most scripts have the author's information in the header of the script)
   
   
4. Make sure you have properly set any permissions for the file (most scripts require CHMOD 755, or read-execute permission to properly execute on the server)
   
   
5. Make sure you have properly set all paths and parameters!
   
   
6. Make sure (if it's a Perl script) you transferred it as an ASCII file (Perl scripts are text files [ASCII] not binary files like some compiled CGI scripts!)

CGI Script resources

For a valuable resource on CGI scripts (from Counters to Guestbooks, etc.) check out The CGI Resource Index at: http://www.cgi-resources.com