CGI Scripting - Filemail



The filemail.cgi program will take user input from a HTML form and append it to a file in your home directory. To use it include the following HTML line in your web page:

You'll also need various boxes for the user to type information into. The easiest to use is a simple text box e.g.:



In the above, NAME must be a unique name for that field (no spaces), value is the default value in the box, and SIZE is the width of the text field.

Another type of field is the TEXTAREA field, this gives your user a multi-line text box for them to type information in e.g.:


<TEXTAREA NAME="youraddress" ROWS="3" COLS="35"> </TEXTAREA>

In the above ROWS the vertical line size of the textarea field and COLS is the width across in characters.

To end your form you need the following two pieces of information:



VALUE is the text that appears within the button.

..and also to end the form.
There are several field-names that have special meanings that you can use (those marked with a * are mandatory).

* email
If your text field has the NAME "email" then it will be parsed by the CGI to see if it is a valid e-mail address before the information is sent to you and will prompt the user if the address is invalid. This is *not* the e-mail address the information will be sent too but can by used on your form if a user is entering an e-mail address.

* file
This field is optional but it is recommended that you use it - if it is not present the data will be output to a file called filemail.dat in your home directory, otherwise it will be in your home directory with the name as above. You *MUST* create this file beforehand by uploading either an empty file or a small file containg some text and set the permissions on it to 664. If you have any problems please e-mail [email protected]. e.g.



Response
This field is optional and allows you to give a different response once the information has been successfully submitted for example, to tailor it to your own unique message. To use it use the following HTML code:



Goto
Alternatively you can specify a page that the CGI will show once the information has been submitted. To use it use the following HTML code:



Blank
If the user enters nothing in the form then a different page can be shown using the following:


Here is an example of the HTML needed to create a fully functioning form:

<FORM ACTION="/cgi-bin/filemail.cgi" METHOD=POST>
<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="file" VALUE="addresses.dat">


Enter your name
Enter your address