Installing CGI script to your Web site is not as difficult as you think. You just need to know something about HTML coding and LINUX / UNIX server's configuration. Don't worry! We will show you how to obtain the necessary data from your Web host. The following instructions will show you step by step how to install the CGI script to your Web site:
STEP 1: DESIGN WEBSITE TEMPLATE
The easiest way to design a corporate website is to use a picture of your business as the background and mark out the various portions with HTML coding. You can't go wrong this way. It will project the right image and branding for your portal. Alternatively, you can purchase a designer website template from Template Monster. You can definitely find a suitable one for around $50.
If you already have a Web site, you can skip to the next step.
STEP 2: SET UP TEMPLATE.HTML
Most CGI Perl script requires you to create a Web template, aptly named as template.html. The template is essentially a copy of your Web site. It retains the repetitive elements such as masthead, sidebar and navigation buttons found on every page on your Web site. However, its contents have been removed and the blank area marked off with <!--start markup--> or any markup code specified in the readme.txt that comes with the CGI Perl script.
When the CGI script is executed, it will make a copy of template.html, retrieve data from relevant databases and insert them into the copied page in the blank area marked off by <!--start markup-->. Doing so allows the CGI Perl script to create pages that blend in seamlessly with the rest of your Web site.
The finished Web page is then presented on the visitor's browser. Essentially, the Web document is saved temporarily in the "Temporary Internet Files" folder on the visitor's computer. It is not saved on your Web server. Web pages created in this manner are commonly referred to as "files created on the fly" and they are similar to pages created by ASP (Active Server Pages).
STEP 3: SET PARAMETERS FOR THE CGI SCRIPT
You must save the template in the same HTML folder specified in the CGI Perl script. All CGI Perl scripts require the Perl compiler and Linux / Unix Sendmail utility to work properly. Please ask your Web host to verify the answers to the following questions.
Can you set the CGI script to file permission 755? Some Web hosts impose restriction on setting this file permission for security reasons.
Does your Web host impose any restriction on file creation by a CGI script?
Does it support Perl and Sendmail? What are the paths to access Perl compiler and sendmail utility?
What are the paths to your CGI-BIN and HTML document folder?
You need the above data to set the paths and urls to HTML and CGI-BIN folders respectively as well as the paths to Perl compiler and Sendmail utility on the software download form. Our automated system will generate a copy of the CGI Perl script with your parameters and send it to you as an email attachment. You may want to refer to an article posted on Perl Tutorial Board to understand the difference between setting the PATH and URL to your Web site.
STEP 4: UPLOAD, SET FILE PERMISSION AND EXECUTE SCRIPT
You are now ready to upload the template and CGI script to the designated HTML folder and CGI-BIN respectively. Both template and CGI Perl script must be saved in ASCII mode.
By default, the template is saved in a permission correct for public viewing. However, you must set the file permission of the CGI script manually to 755 or -rwxr-xr-x. It will not work when the script's file permission is set otherwise. You may refer to an article posted on Perl Tutorial Board to learn more about setting file permission.
Most CGI scripts can be executed with a simple coded hyperlink using the HTTP GET command. You will be required to insert the coded link into the sidebar of your template.html accordingly. Full instructions are provided in a ReadMe.txt file that comes with your CGI script.
Your Interactive Web application is now ready! Isn't it easy! If you have some basic understandings of HTML coding, you should have no problem installing Web applications to your Web site.
Learning HTML is relatively easy and attending a 1-day short HTML course should be sufficient for most purposes. If you prefer self-learning, you may buy the book, HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS by Elizabeth Castro. This acclaimed best-selling visual guide has been updated to cover all the new HTML tags for HTML 4. Written in clear, concise language, this book is definitely the dream guide to learning HTML for beginners. No prior knowledge of HTML is required to understand this book.
STEP 5: SCRIPT INSTALLATION SERVICE
While we provide full documentation on how to install the applications yourself, many customers have requested for our installation service. We will now install and customize the script to blend in with the look and feel of your Web site free of charge. You must be prepared to give us access to your server via FTP. You can request for this service when you place your order online. Alternatively, you can attempt to install the script yourself. If you fail, you can always return to request for our free installation service.
STEP 6: SCRIPT MODIFICATION SERVICE
We can modify our existing Web applications to suit your purpose. Additional manhours required to add the new festures to the script will be charged at the same rate of $10 per hour for custom-built Web applications. We will estimate the number of manhours required to complete the job and prepare an online quotation. Work will begin as soon as payment is made online.
Please note that DIY Portal's CGI scripts will not work on Windows server because they do not support Sendmail utility. Unlike Linux/Unix servers which are pre-installed with Sendmail utility, Windows servers can work with a variety of email programs. It is just not practical to develop a standardized script to work on Windows servers.
However, we can modify our scripts to work with the specific email program installed on your Windows server, provided that you give us the documentation on how to use your server's email program to send emails from Perl scripts. You can get the documentation on email protocol from your Web host. We charge only $20 for such modification work.
The easiest way to design a corporate website is to use a picture of your business as the background and mark out the various portions with HTML coding. You can't go wrong this way. It will project the right image and branding for your portal. Alternatively, you can purchase a designer website template from 
Most CGI Perl script requires you to create a Web template, aptly named as template.html. The template is essentially a copy of your Web site. It retains the repetitive elements such as masthead, sidebar and navigation buttons found on every page on your Web site. However, its contents have been removed and the blank area marked off with <!--start markup--> or any markup code specified in the readme.txt that comes with the CGI Perl script.
You are now ready to upload the template and CGI script to the designated HTML folder and CGI-BIN respectively. Both template and CGI Perl script must be saved in ASCII mode.
