Script tutorials

[ecchi]

PHP is not a language I know much about (I use Perl as it runs faster, so I never really learnt more than the most basic PHP) however WRT "permissions":

Originally Posted by tadpole

Set permissions on your ROOT(public_html) directory to "0777"

Umm, are you sure you need this script. I'd never set any folder to 777, this is basically telling your server "let any asshole do anything they like in this folder". A great gift for hackers!

Originally Posted by tadpole

I do not have a public_html file, so I made one.

I don't use the same host as you. However for every host I have used (it took 4 before I found the one I now use) you don't need to do this. Simply change the permissions on the directory.

This varies as to what FTP client you use (I'll say further down why I'm assuming it won't be Core FTP). On the FTP clients I have used you select the directory folder, then select "change permissions" either from a menu, from a button on the software window, or by right clicking on the directory name - if you don't have the instruction file for your FTP client, simply try all these and look for an option that says "change permissions" or "set permissions" or similar.

Once you have found this you may be lucky and your FTP client may simply allow you to set it to 777, but it may be called something else. It may say "allow all", or you may have to set three different things, which will be labelled; owner, group, and other to 7 (which is basically what 777 means "owner=7, group=7, other=7), or, if you are really unlucky, each of owner, group, and other may have an option of "read, write, and execute for each of owner, group, and other, all 9 of which you will have to set to "allow" or "yes" or "OK" or whatever terminology your FTP client uses. Sorry I am not being very clear on this part, but it depends on which FTP client you use. So if you cannot see how to set permissions to 777, you will have to read the help file on your FTP client, to see how that program expects you to do it.

Originally Posted by tadpole

Go Daddy

Whoa, change hosting. For a start, do a search on this board (or any board) for GoDaddy top see why they are shit. Secondly, unless they have changed policy, if you do anything vaguely adult and they find out, they will close down your site and lock you out of your own domain.

Originally Posted by tadpole

when I checked my FTP for info on setting permissions, it had "comming soon" written under it.

Then it is no good, change it. If it cannot change permissions then choosing it to run a website is like choosing a fork to eat soup. It is the wrong tool for the job, you cannot do what you need to do with it.

Originally Posted by tadpole

they just say the file is viewable to the public.

This basically means that surfers can "see" the page but cannot "use" it. Which basically means "any script will NOT work"

Sorry I'm being more negative than helpful, but if I am reading your post correctly your problem is not that you do not understand how to use scripts, but that you don't have the right tools to use them. So any attempt you make will fail. This is not only bad because it means the site won't work, but because it will confuse you when you do the right thing and everything fails, you will probably assume the fault is with your knowledge and give up. So the first two things you need to do are:

1) Get a FTP client (FTP software) that can change permissions.
2) Get a proper host, NOT GoDaddy.

[ecchi]

Addenda to my last post:

I just downloaded the free version of the script to try it for you. I did not get very far (see point 2 for the reason) but trying it did tell me three things:

1) Don't worry too much about my comment "I'd never set any folder to 777" because this appears to be only while you set it up, afterwards it tells you to reset directory permissions to a more common (and safer) setting. However, for God's sake don't forget to reset it when they say so, if you leave it at 777 the site will probably still work, but your domain will be open for hackers!.

2) When you get a new FTP client (FTP software), don't just check it allows you to change permissions, make sure it allows you to do this to DIRECTORIES (FOLDERS). I'm using my old XP box at the moment, which only has a very old free FTP client on it, and trying to run your script I found out that it only allows me to change permissions on files and not on directories (folders), that will be no good to you. You need one that allows you to change the permissions on directories (folders).

3) When you do finally get the permissions thing worked out, I think you are home and dry. I could not create a site, because I cannot change permissions on directories on this computer, and I don't have time to fire up my Vista box at the moment, but I got as far as starting the set up, and it looks like a really easy script to use, probably great for beginners.

[tadpole]

Thanks very much for your reply.

I will take your advice about the FTP and Go Daddy, whom have never been helpful when it comes to support. I started using them on the advice of a webmaster when I first thought of trying Adult! Thanks for the tip!

I have tried installing the script, and have not got it working, so will make the changes you suggest and try again.


Thanks for your time and knowledge, appreciated.

[tadpole]

Hi ecchi

I have changed my hosting provider, found out how to change permissions on my FTP.

The script I was trying out, I do not need - I was using it to practise with as it is supposed to be simple.

I have a fetish site, and after reading the "something different "(your sig) I want to use your script in perl.

Perl and SSI are enabled on my new hosting. The path to perl is the same as you used. I have triple checked and re done everything and it is not appearing on my page, so a few questions :

1. I have set the executable permissions on the script. Must I also set the permissions on CGI?

2. I made a new page for this script to run on (blush - I use Front Page 2002!) Do I insert the code for call to SSI in the body?

3. When I save the script to a text file, what encoding should I use? I have windows vista and my choices are ANSI, unicode, unicode big endian and UTF-8.

4. In your script, where I put in my own ID code, I take it I put in the full URL with my code in it?

I have checked your reasons as to why the script is not working, and feel my error may be caused by one of the above.

Thanks

[ecchi]

Originally Posted by tadpole

1. I have set the executable permissions on the script. Must I also set the permissions on CGI?

By "CGI" I take it you mean the directory(folder)? If so, it should automatically have been set to allow execution of scripts. However if you have already tried changing it (eg to try the other script), you may have to change it back.

Originally Posted by tadpole

2. Do I insert the code for call to SSI in the body?

Yes, the SSI is basically a command that says "put the stuff here" so put it on the page exactly where you want the blog to appear.

Originally Posted by tadpole

blush - I use Front Page 2002!

That could be your problem. The opening and closing angle brackets define the fact that the text between them is code. So when your server sees them it executes that code and deletes the text. However software like Front Page usually assume you don't want this to happen, so they replace the angle brackets with a special code that simply tells the browser to display an angle bracket and ignore the fact that it contains code. I have not used Front Page, but most programs like that have a setting to include code as code, rather than bugger with it. It may be a menu setting, or it may be a button that allows you to insert a line of code into the text. If anyone else reading this uses Front Page, perhaps they could post a reply telling you exactly what the Front Page commands are to make it do this.

Originally Posted by tadpole

3. When I save the script to a text file, what encoding should I use? I have windows vista and my choices are ANSI, unicode, unicode big endian and UTF-8.

You really want "plain text". I don't think it matters, but I'd go for ANSI.

Originally Posted by tadpole

4. In your script, where I put in my own ID code, I take it I put in the full URL with my code in it?

No, just the ID. For example my ID is ecchi, so I'd use:

$a1id = "ecchi";

[tadpole]

Hi

I have not used Front Page, but most programs like that have a setting to include code as code, rather than bugger with it.

I do have a setting to insert code without it being tampered with by Front Page. Thats what I used


Thanks for your reply. You cleared up a few things for me. I eventually contacted my hosting provider with a screen shot, and got this reply :

It appears that the rule was not listed in the .htaccess file to enable the SSI. We have added the file for you. The URL does resolve to a black page, However, the file that is being referenced does not exist. Please review your scripting of the testing.shtml file.

The rule they added to .htaccess is : addhandler x-httpd-php5-cgi .shtml

When I pull up my testing.shtml page it is blank.


I have read and re read your instructions, and cannot see what I have missed. I will give it a break today, and try again from scratch tomorrow.

[ecchi]

Try uploading the following as your testing.shtml page:

<html><head><title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<!--#include virtual="cgi-bin/readblog.cgi"-->
</body></html>

That should just give you a page with the blog on it.
If you get a message "an error has occurred executing this directive" or similar, the problem is with the script file.
If you get a blank page, take a look at the source code in your browser (on IE, simply select "source" from the "view" menu") and let me know what you get.