Using CGI scripts to add automation to your web site may seem a little daunting, but once you have incorporated a few into your web site, they become easier.
The best way to start is to add a simpler script. A great site for cgi scripts is cgi-resources.com. You can find mostly free and some fee scripts for mail forms, classified ads, web site management, homepage communities, banner rotation, time and date, polls, password protection, MLM, mailing lists, shopping carts, running your own affiliate program, your own site search engine, and hundreds more.
Some of these scripts are fee based, but you can save a lot of money using a lesser costing script and setting it up yourself than buying expensive software and having some company set it for you. Some of the more expensive scripts may have more features than you need, and you can always upgrade to a Pro version if you need it.
The main reason the average web site owner does not use these scripts is that for the most part they think that they need a degree in computer sciences to set them up. No so! Anyone can use these, and once you have set up a CGI script you will be using them all the time on your site. You will need access to your own server, and even some free service providers are allowing users to upload CGI scripts or provide them.
The best thing to do with scripts is to play with them. Download some scripts you may be interested in, put them on your server and get them set up. Once you have done a few, you can set up almost any CGI script available.
The easiest way scripts can be set up is when they include a "config" or "setup" file. Once the files are uploaded to your server you would access the setup or config file, input some information and the script basically sets itself up.
Another set up method is when the script includes a "variable" file. This file normally has all of the information needed to run the script.
The most common type of scripts may have one or a number of files that need to be configed to work.
Normally the script comes with a "readme" or "setup" file that is in text ot HTML. Open this up and follow the directions. Some script writers have excellent instructions while others assume that the person setting up the script knows more than they do. If you are completely puzzled, try to find another script that will do the same job.
If you choose to use cgi scripts, you will begin to see how much easier your site maintenance becomes and how much more interactive your web site becomes.
In the next article find out how to config a basic cgi script for use on your site.
Read more articles by this author, about this and other subjects, here.
About The Author
Bob Power has been an Internet entrepreneur for longer than he would like to remember. He is currently on a voyage of learning, thanks to his readers, who have asked him to answer questions about topics they want more information on. You can see some of the surprising, and at times exciting results, and variety of topics and paths this has taken him on, or to contact Bob Power please click here.
These articles may be reproduced exactly as shown above. No revisions or changes are permitted.
The concept of web designing based on the nature and... Read More
If there's one thing that I've learnt so far, it's... Read More
Marketing is not an easy skill to acquire.It requires patience... Read More
It seems more and more webmasters are using CSS for... Read More
As the Internet blooms at an alarming rate, so as... Read More
To create your own great banner, you only need five... Read More
Creating an appealing, functional, and effective Web site is much... Read More
Making a poorly designed website is one of the easiest... Read More
Sooner or later every small or medium business owner realizes... Read More
Easy That's how you'd like life to be, right? Especially... Read More
The most important person that you need to please when... Read More
Your website design may be affecting your sales in ways... Read More
If you need a web designer, but have no clue... Read More
Most web designers and web design companies will try to... Read More
Favorite icon appears to the left of your link in... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words.And it still is... Read More
Website design is a very competitive area and there is... Read More
Thinking about designing your own website? Think again about adding... Read More
The internet is filled with sites and they are good... Read More
In my last article entitled, Maximizing The True Value Of... Read More
I always have people asking me if I know of... Read More
Hire a designer or a programmer for your website is... Read More
Colors have long been known to have psychological affects on... Read More
This article may come as a surprise to you.Especially since... Read More
There is nothing wrong with making your own website if... Read More
Do you know why the majority of people use the... Read More
You're almost set. The content of your website, e-book, or... Read More
STEP 1:Do your homeworkPlan and think about your content. Think... Read More
Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.... Read More
Every action has a beginning phase where you launch your... Read More
The Psychology of ColorAre you using the best colors for... Read More
Before I discovered the concept of Web site templates, I... Read More
Creating a web site takes thought, planning and execution. Unfortunately,... Read More
Designing a website is hard job, and requires you to... Read More
You may not believe it, but people still judge things... Read More
These days, it seems that everyone has a website. Unfortunately,... Read More
The Internet is a relatively new medium. What works for... Read More
A client asked me, at what point do you change... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
Does website design make a difference in how long people... Read More
About two years ago, I had a go at commercial... Read More
Just because you are a small business with an even... Read More
Web sites that feature products ? especially furniture or other... Read More
When I surf the Net, I often see web sites... Read More
To create professional websites is not an easy task by... Read More
Creating an appealing, functional, and effective Web site is much... Read More
There is nothing wrong with making your own website if... Read More
A Double Ad Tracker is an Ad-Tracker that points to... Read More
If you'd like to create/maintain a website, having some HTML... Read More
Your home page is the most important page of your... Read More
Creating a web site takes thought, planning and execution. Unfortunately,... Read More
Ever browse across a website that took ten million years... Read More
When designing elements for your webpage, you will often be... Read More
1. Don't load your web site with a lot of... Read More
You've come up with a great product. You've got the... Read More
All websites have a homepage. It is the most important... Read More
Ecommerce is just exploding right now on the Net. More... Read More
You can create a website that attracts customers, not repels... Read More
Your website design may be affecting your sales in ways... Read More
1. Repackage your web site content in to different products... Read More
I've written about META tags in the past, and I... Read More
We've all surfed the web and seen some awful web... Read More
What's happening to good web site design? Somehow we creative... Read More
To build a website, there are four methods to choose... Read More
Public domain gives you a head start creating ebooks, ecourses,... Read More
I'm not a professional web site designer and openly admit... Read More
Web Design |