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Use CGI to Automate
Your Web Site
by Shelley
Lowery
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.
There are scripts online that can automate all of
the following:
* Make your product available for download
* Take the customers order
* Approve it right online
* Send your customer a password
* Send you a confirmation of the order
You can sell your products around the clock and
never lift a finger.
SuperScripts - http://www.superscripts.com/
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:
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
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.
The Master Series scripts can be found here:
http://hop.clickbank.net/hop.cgi?wsnet/willmaster
WebBBS
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.
http://awsd.com/scripts/webbbs/index.shtml
WebAdverts
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.
http://awsd.com/scripts/webadverts/index.shtml
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.
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/scripts/links/
POD
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.
http://grohol.com/downloads/pod/dmoz/
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.
Copyright © 2000 All rights reserved
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the Webmistress of
Web-Source.net.
Your Guide to Professional Web Site Design &
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