CGI

[ajpaulus]

Hi

I am using a cgi script for an interactive form. I am not too familiar with cgi, just the basics of basics. In order for the form to be sent to my email, they would have to fill out every field. How do I just change that, so just a few fields are required?

Thanks.

[paulhiles]

Which script are you using for your form processing Audrey? is it the formmail.cgi from Matt's Script Archive?

A link/url would be handy too! ;o)

Paul

[ajpaulus]

That's funny you mentioned that Paul. I originally used his 'free' script, but had a problem with it and emaill him a question, but he never responded to me. I am using another one.

http://wehaveforeclosuresolutions.co...osureform.html

Shall I upload the script somewhere, where you can view it? I don't think you can view it from the cgi bin, right?

[paulhiles]

Where did you get your current script from?
Usually there's some sort of documentation provided with a mailer script (especially for a CGI version).

You're right about not being able to view the cgi-bin, how about posting a link to a plain text version of the script? You can always PM me with the details if you're reluctant to have the script public.

Paul

[paulhiles]

A couple of thoughts while I remember...

1) The file may have been uploaded as a binary file (this can introduce foreign characters into the script). Check to make sure it's been uploaded as an ASCII file.

2) Have you checked the file permissions on the CGI script?
Are they set to "execute"? The file permissions on Perl/CGI scripts should be set to 755. You can alter these permissions using chmod, but if you're unsure, maybe it's best not to play around with these settings! :o|

One great thing about Matt's formmail script is the amount of documentation! :o)

Update: I've tried out the CGI script you emailed me, and I can't get it to work either! So I'm no nearer getting it fixed. Have you tried contacting the support for the hosting company (iPowerweb.com)?

Paul

[ajpaulus]

If I use the Matt script, can you help me with it?

How do I use it with this form?

http://wehaveforeclosuresolutions.co...llersform.html

I tried to use it with this form, and it gave me a server error. I will email you the script.

Thanks

[paulhiles]

Hi Audrey, before we get stuck into "Matt's script", could you just try saving the following code snippet as test.cgi, upload (as ASCII) to the cgi-bin, set file permissions to 755 and test that it displays okay.

#!/usr/local/bin/perl
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print "This server can run CGI scripts!\n";

Paul

[ajpaulus]

I used Ipswitch to upload...how do I make sure it's uploading as ASCII?

[ajpaulus]

This is what is says when I did the test ...

500 server error
I encountered an unrecoverable server error. Please go back and try again.

[ajpaulus]

How do I make sure Ipswitch is uploading as ASCII?

[paulhiles]

In Ipswitch WS_FTP, there is a small radio button (underneath the transfer windows) which should be checked as "ASCII", the other options are "Binary" and "Auto"

[ajpaulus]

Yes, the ASCII button was checked. How come the test didn't work?

[paulhiles]

Originally Posted by ajpaulus

Yes, the ASCII button was checked. How come the test didn't work?

Did you set the file permissions to 755?
CGI scripts needs to be set to "execute"

[ajpaulus]

Okay...it works.

[paulhiles]

Okay... now you need to repeat that procedure with your formmail.cgi script.

Paul

[ajpaulus]

It gave me that error 500 Server message.

[paulhiles]

Same here! :o(
There may be some minor problem with the way the script's been configured. I'll have a look through the readme file and see if there's any debugging tips.
Are there any differences in the setup of your searecovery site and the "foreclosure" site? If you can get CGI scripts to run on one but not the other, there's got to be some difference somewhere! :oS

Paul

[ajpaulus]

Yes, that original script works for this form...
http://www.hrosystems.com/cgi/form_parts.html

The only difference between theses two sites is they have the different mail program...one is vde/bin and the foreclosure is sbin. And I think the HRO is Unix. I hope this helps, because I have no clue.

Audrey

[Easywebdev]

A lot of perl scripts use

use CGI::Carp('fatalsToBrowser');

for debugging purposes but the perl module CGI::Carp may not be installed (a lot of new server setups nowadays do not install it by default).

Take a look at the 2nd/3rd line of the script and if that line of code is there then comment it out by placing a # in front of it and see does that solve your problem.

[ajpaulus]

That code is not there at all. Shall I add it with the # in front of it?