How To Use CGI To Automate Your Website

By: Shelley Lowery

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A Free Tutorial about CGI ( Common Gateway Interface ) For New Website Designers

How to Use CGI

From Bob Pardue - In this free CGI design tutorial Shelley teaches how to automate a website. Many new web designers don't understand these forms and scripts so you'll be miles ahead when you learn them.

The Automation Ability of CGI Scripts

Are you taking advantage of the powerful automation technology available on the Internet? Common Gateway Interface, better known as CGI, is one of the most widely used server applications on the Internet. This software resides on your server and automatically performs specified functions on your web site.

If you've been on the Internet for a while, you've probably seen many examples of CGI use and didn't even realize it. Search Engines, Directories and Forums all use CGI scripts. Scripts can run everything from a form on your web site to an affiliate program. They can give you the power to completely automate your web site.

If you have a subscription box on your web site, then you're already using a program to process the information. That's a good start however, there are many additional ways you can use this powerful technology.

Here are some great scripts to get you started.

The Master Series:

http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/t.cgi?l=wm

Master Form

This form will enable you to have the results emailed to you or to a specified address. It can write your information to a database file and even enable you to have a personalized thank you page. In addition, you can even have multi-page forms with no limit on the number of pages.

Master Feedback

Allow your visitors to provide you with feedback. Master Feedback enables you to add your own information fields with radio buttons, checkboxes, dropdown lists and text fields. The great thing about using Master Feedback is that it helps you spam-proof your site by not requiring your email address anywhere on your page.

Master Recommend

Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising. Master Recommend will enable your visitors to recommend your web site to a friend. This great script is multi-lingual, which means that the emails sent can be written in any language.

Master Subscriber Pro

Enable your visitors to subscribe to multiple ezines by checking the boxes beside the publication they wish to subscribe. They'll only need to enter their email address one time and won't be forced to leave your web site.

The great thing about this script is that it is compatible with ezines hosted with Egroups, Topica, etc., or any ezine that uses an email address for subscriptions.

Master Syndicator CGI Script

If you write articles, Master Syndicator will enable you to syndicate your content.

You simply copy and paste your article into a form and click on submit. Your article will instantly be ready for syndication. To display your content, webmasters will need to place two small lines of JavaScript within their web page where they'd like the article to display. Each time you update your article, every web site using your code will automatically be updated.

WebBBS

http://awsd.com/scripts/webbbs/index.shtml

This great script will enable you to set up your own forum. Unlike most bulletin board scripts, WebBBS stores messages as simple text files and creates HTML pages as needed.

This great script supports automatic quoting of message text and email notification of those who want to be informed of new posts.

WebAdverts

http://awsd.com/scripts/webadverts/index.shtml

Set up a rotating banner system on your web site and track response rates. WebAdverts will enable you to not only set up a rotating banner system, but if you'd like, you can set up your own banner exchange. Banners can be displayed on your pages using SSI tags, IFRAME tags, or standard IMG tags.

The great thing about this script is that you can include banners on CGI-generated pages. In addition, you can filter the banners by allowing certain banners to appear only on certain pages. This script is a little complicated, but well worth it.

Links

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

If you've ever wanted to set up a directory, this great script will make it simple. It is modeled after Yahoo and inspired by The CGI Resource Index. It can be completely customized to match the look and feel of your web site.

POD

http://grohol.com/downloads/pod/dmoz/

The Personal Open Directory script will enable you to pull the contents of the Open Directory Project into your own web pages. It is completely customizable and will enable your visitors to have access to this great directory without leaving your web site.

Learn more about CGI:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cgi.htm

Locate CGI Scripts:

http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/

If you're not utilizing the full benefits that CGI has to offer, you're missing the boat. Not only will it save you a great deal of time, but it will also process your information around the clock. Scripts can assist you in making your web site an interactive community and bring your site to life.

I hope you enjoyed this free tutorial about CGI scripts and Perl programming. Get the Complete Tutorial for Web Design from Shelley here and learn how to design a website for beginners.

Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed beginner web design series, Web Design Mastery -- an in-depth guide to professional web design that is rapidly becoming known as the "Bible" for professional web design.