CGI Frequently Asked Questions ( With Answers )


Q: How do I access my CGI scripts?
A: In an HTML FORM, you would use the following HTML tags:
   <FORM METHOD=[get or post] ACTION="/[your user name]-cgi-bin/[scriptname]">
    
   To call on a CGI program as a link, you would use the following tags:
   <A HREF="/[your user name]-cgi-bin/[scriptname]">

   Replace [your user name] with your login name (ie: "kevinr").

Q: My PERL script doesn't work!
A: To beta-test your script, use "perl -c [scriptname]".  PERL will output some    
   errors.  It's not the _exact_ errors, but it will give you an idea of where the
   problems might be.  

   Some of the most common errors are forgetting the ";" at the end of a function,
   forgetting the "&" at the beginning of a custom function, or forgetting to put
   two newlines ("\n") after a content-type.  The correct string to output if you 
   want to use HTML tags is 

   print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";

   This _must_ preceede any HTML tags!!

Q: My PERL Script still doesn't work!!!
A: If you are using a non-Unix machine, chances are you machine uses different     
   "end-of-line" strings.  Upload your CGI script to SmartNet, then use "pico" to 
   edit the file.  Pico will remove any foreign "end-of-life" characters and 
   replace them with something Unix/Linux will understand.

Q: My PERL script STILL doesn't work!!!!!!
A: Email our WebMaster and explain the problem you are having.
   He will need your username and which server (Smarty, Smarty2, or Navigator) 
   your CGI scripts are on.

Q: How do I use ImageMaps in my pages?
A: You will actually need three different files:
     - A MAP file, used to tell the ImageMap program where to take the user after 
       they click on different parts of the picture.
     - A Picture, in JPEG or GIF format.  
     - An HTML file that calls on the ImageMap program as follows:

     "<A HREF="/cgi-bin/imagemap/~[your user name]/[your map file]"> 
      <IMG SRC="[ the picture ]" ISMAP BORDER=0></A>"

      More information on ImageMaps is available through our web site at this 
      address:  

      http://www.smart.net/help/how-to/imagemap.html

Q: How do I install the public guestbook script?
A: Enter "guestbook" at any Unix prompt. 

Q: How do I install the SmartCounter on my pages?
A: Enter "counter" at any Unix prompt.  For full details on the different options
   the counter has, visit 

   http://web.smart.net/help/how-to/counter.html

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