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COMPANY
INFORMATION
Q: What is WebGenie Software?
A: WebGenie Software is a company helps you to implement Electronic Commerce at
an affordable cost. WebGenie software tools let you create online shopping cart, banner
advertisements, slideshows, guest-books, dropdown menus,
referral programs, site search and much more... WebGenie headquarters is located in Adelaide, South Australia. Have a look at our Corporate Profile for more information.
Q: How can I contact WebGenie Software?
A: If you want email support, please refer to the WebGenie eMailbox. More conventional methods of communication are available, however, and they are:
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E-mail:
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Phone: |
+61 8 8339 1206 (9:00-5:00, GMT+9:30hrs)
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Fax:
| +61 8 8339 1206
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Mail:
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WebGenie Software Pty. Ltd.
PO Box 527,
Hindmarsh, SA 5007
AUSTRALIA
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PRODUCT INFORMATION
Q: On what platform does my WebGenie Software product run?
A: The entire WebGenie Software product range is designed to run on Windows
95 and NT.
We currently do not support other
platforms, but products like CGI*StarPro produce CGI scripts for both NT and Unix web servers.
Q: How do I install my WebGenie Software product?
A: Each WebGenie Software product is released as a self-extracting archive. Run this file to take you through the install process.
Q: Can I evalute the product before buying?
A: Every WebGenie Software product has an evaluation period of 30 days to allow you the time to try it out. Over this period, the product is fully functional.
Q: How do I register, and how much does it cost?
A: You can order your registration code via email, mail, fax or phone using our automated order forms. Payments can be made via check, money order or credit card. For more information and pricing details go to our Order Page.
Q: How do I upgrade my registered product?
A: Minor version upgrades are free of charge. Simply download the latest
version and install it. The registration code will automatically be transfered.
Major version upgrades are not free but they are significantly cheaper than
purchasing the full product. You will have to order a new
registration code.
Q: Can you let me know of product upgrades?
A: Yes, we would love to keep you informed of the latest happenings at WebGenie! Check out our What's New page and subscribe to the WebGenie Mailing List.
UPLOADING
FILES TO WEB SERVERS
Once you have completed your HTML form and generated your CGI script, you will have to upload them to your web server using a file transfer program (FTP). Generally speaking, web servers have a special directory for CGI scripts. Scripts not placed in this directory may not work, so check with your web master for the correct location. Furthermore, the file permissions of CGI scripts must be correctly set to permit the web server to execute them. If the CGI script will create files (like
Guestbook*Star) then the directory in which the script resides will also require the correct permissions be set.
Q: Where can I get ftp?
A: Windows 95 and NT come default with a DOS ftp client aptly named 'ftp'. If you prefer a Windows ftp client, try WS_FTP or CuteFTP.
Q: Where can I get telnet?
A: Windows 95 and NT come default with a DOS telnet client aptly named 'telnet'.
Q: How do I upload my files?
A: A sample ftp session looks like this:
ftp
open _www.your.site.com_ (start the ftp
session)
username: _your_username_
password: _your_password_
asc
(set upload method to ascii mode)
cd _html_directory_
(change directory to where your html files are placed)
put _html_filename_
(copy the html file to the web server)
cd _CGI_directory_
(change directory to where your CGI scripts are placed)
put _CGI_filename_
(copy the CGI script to the web server)
bye
(exit the ftp session)
Q: How do I change file and/or directory permissions?
A: There are two ways this can be achieved - via ftp or telnet. Only some ftp clients have the ability to change file and directory permissions. If your ftp client cannot, you will have to use telnet. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with telnet, or do not have telnet access, then please ask your web master to do the job for you.
Ftp:
ftp
open _www.your.site.com_ (start the ftp
session)
name: _your_username_
password: _your_password_
asc
(set upload method to ascii mode)
cd _CGI_directory_
(change directory to where your CGI scripts are placed)
site chmod 777
.
(change the permissions on the CGI directory)
site chmod 755 _CGI_filename_ (change the permissions on the CGI script)
bye
(exit the ftp session)
Telnet:
telnet
open _www.your.site.com_ (start the telnet
session)
login: _your_username_
password: _your_password_
cd _CGI_directory_
(change directory to where your CGI scripts are placed)
chmod 777
.
(change the permissions on the CGI directory)
chmod 755 _CGI_filename_ (change the
permissions on the CGI script)
logout
(exit the telnet session)
PERL, BLAT and POSTMAIL
Products like CGI*StarPro generate CGI scripts in a language called 'Perl'. So that your web server can execute the scripts, a Perl interpreter must be installed on the system.
Some products also require require a command-line driven email program be installed on your web server. Two of the most populer email programs for NT web servers are Blat and Postmail. Unix systems come default with one or more email programs such as Sendmail or Mail.
Q: Where can I get Perl?
A: You can download Perl from http://www.perl.com/perl.
Q: Where can I get Blat?
A: You can download Blat from http://gepasi.dbs.aber.ac.uk/softw/blat.html.
Q: Where can I get Postmail?
A: You can download Postmail from http://www.software.com/Products/Postmail.
Q: How do I associate a CGI script with Perl?
A: In 'My Computer' or 'Windows Explorer', select View | Options | File
Types | New Type. Specify the description as CGI script and the filename extension
as .pl or .cgi . Click New | Open and specify perl.exe as the command to execute the action.
Q: How do I set the path to Blat or Postmail in the PATH environment variable?
A: Login as the administrator and from the Start menu select Settings | Control Panel. Double click the System icon and on the Environment tab click the PATH variable. Type the path to Blat or Postmail in the Value box and click Set.
Do not edit the autoexec.bat file!
CGI PROBLEMS
CGI programming is very intricate and complicated and most error messages are very confusing. This section aims to help you through the most common types of problems that arise with CGI scripts and web servers.
Q: I get 'malformed header from script'. What's wrong?
A: Have a look at the very first line of your script and check that the path to perl is correct. Ask your web master for the correct path or telnet to the web server and type
'whereis perl'.
Q: I get '500 Internal Server Error'. What's wrong?
A: This is the most general CGI error message you will come across and has a number of causes. Please check the following points:
- Ensure that your script was ftp'ed to the webserver in ascii mode. If not, your script will be transfered with control characters added to it.
- You may have specified a mail program that does not exist or resides in a different directory to the one specified in your CGI script. Edit your CGI script and make sure that the mail program is specified correctly.
- Near the bottom of the cgi script will be a line that reads '$mailreceiver = ...'. Make sure that the '@' in the email address is preceeded by a '\'. ie 'support@webgenie.com' must appear as 'support\@webgenie.com'.
- You may have used characters in you html form input NAME tags that are illegal in a Perl CGI script. Edit your html form and make sure that the first character of the NAME of an INPUT tag is an alphanumeric charater.
Q: I get '501 Not Implemented'. What's wrong?
A: The web server has not been configured to execute CGI scripts. Ask your web master to modify the configuration. Please check if there is a specific location where your CGI script must reside, and if your script requires a special suffix (usually .pl or .CGI).
Q: I get '403 Forbidden'. What's wrong?
A: The file permission on your script and/or the directory where your script resides has not been set correctly and the web server cannot access it. You will have to change the file/directory permissions.
Q: I get '404 Not Found'. What's wrong?
A: The URL in the ACTION field of your html form is incorrect. Modify the URL to correctly locate the CGI script.
PRODUCT ISSUES
Q: I get 'Error sending the input. The registration details of the CGI
to process the form do not check out'. What's wrong?
A: The email address you gave WebGenie when ordering your registration code
for CGI*Star Pro differs from the email address you are using in your form.
Contact our sales staff at sales@webgenie.com
and request the different email address be registered.
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