First Time CGI setup errors

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

Hi, I am new to CGI and would appreciate the help as this has me stumped!

• I am trying to run a Perl (.pl) script on abyss version V1.2.2.2

• The script mentioned is the 'nms guestbook' from Matt's Script Archive.

• I have the script in the Abyss cgi-bin directory.

• I have the 3 guestbook html files in a sub directory of 'htdocs' called 'guestbook'.

• I have changed the 4 urls in the guestbook.pl file so it reflects my server address and file structure - see below

[i]$guestbookurl = 'http://220.50.112.20/guestbook/guestbook.html';
$guestbookreal = '/guestbook/guestbook.html';
$guestlog = '/guestbook/guestlog.html';
$cgiurl = 'http://220.50.112.20/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl';[/i]

• Line 1 of the guestbbok.pl file reads as folows: #!/usr/bin/perl -w

• I have changed the urls in the 'addguest.html' file so they reflect the location and file structure ofmy server.

• I have installed Perl (not sure if it is correctly installed). The version I am using is 'ActivePerl-5.6.1.638'.

• I have setup the server as follows:
CGI INTERPRETERS
(Interpreter)C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe (Assc. Ext.)pl cgi
(Interpreter)/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl (Assc. Ext.)pl

CGI PATHS
(path)/*.pl
(path)/*.cgi
(path)/guestbook.pl

• I havent touched the mime types

• The error appears when I go to this page:
http://220.50.112.20/guestbook/addguest.html
I enter in some details and then it comes back with an error message:
'Application Error'
'An error has occured in the program'
The log file says the following:
open /guestbook/guestbook.html.lck: No such file or directory at guestbook.pl line 592.

I have looked at line 592 but i dont understand that part of the code.

Does anyone have any idea where I may be doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help in advance

Joe

Axis · - Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 336

Hi Joe--

Firstly, I don't think you need the second CGI Interpreter you list:
(Interpreter)/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl (Assc. Ext.)pl

the above is not an interpreter but an path to a perl script. It looks like you have the "other" CGI Interpreter set up fine...that is:
(Interpreter)C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe (Assc. Ext.)pl cg

One problem may be the source code for your "addguest.html" which points to ' http://220.50.112.20/cgi-bin/guestbook.cgi ' instead of guesbook.pl

Please try the two above suggestions and let us know how it goes!
That is: delete the CGI Interpreter "(Interpreter)/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl (Assc. Ext.)pl"

and change the source code for addguest.html to " http://220.50.112.20/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl "

Regards,
Axis

Axis · - Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 336

Hi again Joseph--

You could also change the settings in guestbook.cgi to reflect the correct extention instead of changing the source code of the addguest.html

You could try looking at this screenshot if it helps any:
http://sixa.no-ip.info/images/serverparameters.jpg
http://sixa.no-ip.info/images/cgiparameters.jpg

if that helps at all...

Also, looking further, you should try getting:
http://220.50.112.20/cgi-bin/hello.pl working to make sure perl is working before going on the the guestbook.

Don't give up...you're close!

Regards,
Axis

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for your help Axis.

From your first reply.

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:29 am Post subject:

Also, delete the line "(path)/guestbook.pl" under CGI paths. Abyss looks for directories, not files.
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joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I have deleted that reference in the cgi paths section. Still no luck.

I have a screenshot of my server CGI config page located at the following url:

http://220.50.112.20/cgisetup.gif

Thanks
Joe

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:51 am Post subject:

Are you able to run other CGI scripts?
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joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

No, I havent got it to work with any scripts so far.

I have tried the guestbook, a simple hello.pl file ( from a post in this forum) and a form.

I have had no luck so far. I have followed all the readme files and server setup so I'm a little stumped.

I am running XP pro, MS Internet Sharing and Zone Alarm Pro. Could Zone Alarm be causing a problem?

Thanks
Joe

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:00 am Post subject:

Just try disabling it to be sure.
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Axis · - Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 336

Hello again Joe--

Why I ask about the hello.pl is that it is returning a 500 error also. So that makes me wonder if everything with your perl installation and abyss configuration is right. (Forgive me for snooping your cgi-bin but I am just trying to help :-)

The application error from guestbook.pl is "open /guestbook/guestlog.html.lck: No such file or directory at guestbook.pl line 592"

You could open the guestbook.pl in notepad or your favorite editor and do a "goto" to find line 592 and check what is there.

Are you able to execute hello.pl?

also you should, I believe, remove the trailing slash from /cgi-bin/ to /cgi-bin in cgi-paths. I have my setting for "Resolve interpreter using the script's #! line" to "yes" but I am not sure if I need to do that...but I have perl working so all is good.

Keep at it...you are closer... :-)

Regards,
Axis

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:14 am Post subject:

I would not suggest setting the "Resolve interpreter using script's #! line" to "yes." Too many people mess that up, and it can go wrong very easily. Just make sure you have Perl set up correctly (from your screen shot, it looked right), and all the directories pointing in the right place.
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joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I have checked my cgilog and after its all set up as mentioed above, this is the error I am getting:

Too late for "-T" option at guestbook.pl line 1.
String found where operator expected at hellotest.pl line 3, near "echo "Hello World...""
(Do you need to predeclare echo?)
syntax error at hellotest.pl line 3, near "echo "Hello World...""
Execution of hellotest.pl aborted due to compilation errors.

Any help appreciated this has really got me stumped.

Thanks
Joe

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I should mention that last post with the cgi log error messge in it was what I got from trying to run the simple hellotest.pl script

When I try to runthe guestbook as it gives me the 500 error.

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

More info on the problem.

When I remove the -vT from line1 of my guestbook.pl script I get the following message.
( this is my original message)

Application Error
An error has occurred in the program

open /guestbook/guestbook.html.lck: No such file or directory at guestbook.pl line 592.

Joe

Axis · - Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 336

Hi again Joe--

I pm'd you a simple hello.pl script to try. That will allow you to see if perl works on your abyss installation.

I commented that I had trouble with the NMS Guestbook, even when installed on an Apache Server...thought it might have been just me.

Are you using Windows 95-98 for your OS? If so this comment from Aprelium might be useful.

"Skidmark,
The only problem that Win95-98-ME has with some Perl scripts is related to the use of the flock() instruction. If your script uses this instruction, you may have some trouble" from:
http://www.aprelium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4011&highlight=file+locking+flock

and further:
"flock instruction is available on UNIX systems only (This is a Perl limitation, not related to the web server.) On Windows systems, it has no meaning and should be ignored. Are you sure you downloaded a Windows compatible package of YaBB?" :
http://www.aprelium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695&highlight=flock

I take this to mean that some scripts dependent on the flock command will not work well with windows. This may be part of the problem with your error:

"my $lock = IO::File->new(">>$filename.lck") or die
"open $filename.lck: $!";
flock $lock, LOCK_EX or die "flock $filename: $!";"

since this is calling a flock or file locking command.

If you get the hello.pl working I sent you, then I would try the MSA version of guestbook.

Regards,
Axis

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I'm using XP Pro.

aprelium · - Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Posts: 6800

joseph_shields,

Please send to support@aprelium.com the original package of the script you're using (or an URL where we can find it) and your abyss.conf file. We'll check it and will see what's wrong.
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Aprelium - http://www.aprelium.com

joseph_shields · - Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

I managed to get the guestbook script working.

In the guestbook.pl file, I needed to put in the local filesystem address for two of the guestbook.html files. I previously had them in as the internet url!

only took me a week to figure out!

Thanks Axis and everyone else for all your help.

Joe