Use CGI to Automate Your Web Site
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
Why Bother With Caucuses?
Contests in Iowa and Nevada have been plagued by embarrassing snafus. As Minnesota and Colorado head to their caucuses Tuesday, we look at why some states still bother with this primitive but uniquely American way of picking a president.
China's Heir Apparent Rekindles Early Ties To Iowa
China's Vice President Xi Jinping is coming to America. Next week, he'll meet with President Obama at the White House. He'll lead a trade delegation to California. And he'll also make a stop in Muscatine, Iowa. Xi visited the town (population 22,886) in the 1980s, as part of an agricultural mission.
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.
About the Author
Shelley Lowery is the Webmistress of Web-Source.net.
Your Guide to Professional Web Site Design & Development.
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