WebForum v1.0 is an easy-to-use message forum system that allows users to post messages, read messages from other users, and reply to messages. WebForum v1.0 currently supports an unlimited number of forums from one simple Perl script. It currently only works on Unix systems and should work with any Unix web server. You'll need the ability to execute Perl scripts and a little basic knowledge of Unix will help in the installation process.
Installation:
It is highly recommended that you untar this "webforum.tar"
file on your Unix server. Place the file "webforum.tar" on your
server and, using a telnet program, go to the directory where you placed
the file and type "tar -xvf webforum.tar". Your Unix server will
then seperate the file into the seperate files needed. The reason for this
is because PC's truncate the filenames to eight characters and a maximum
of three extension characters. This will change the filenames of some of
the files in this software and could make installation more difficult if
you don't know what you're doing. If you first untar the files on your Unix
server, you'll atleast have copies of the files in their original filenames
to revert back to incase you run into problems.
Once you have seperated the files, you'll need to edit some variables in the script. Using your favorite text editor, load up the file "webforum.cgi". You'll see the following variables:
| "/var/www/docs/scripts2/webforum/"; $MaxMsgs = 50; $AdminMail = "vmt@airmail.net"; $CGI_URL = "/cgi-bin/scripts/wwwforum.cgi"; $Header = <<'EOT'; <html> <head> <title>Bulletins</title> </head> <body bgcolor=#FFFFFF> <hr> EOT $Footer = <<'EOT'; <hr> <img align=left src="/cgi-bin/logo.pl">© 1996 and Designed by <a href="http://www.virtualcenter.com/vmt">Virtual Marketing Technologies</a>. All Rights Reserved.<br> </body> </html> EOT |
The variable "$BaseDir" needs to point to the full server path to the directory where you will be setting up WebForum. This directory needs to be in a part of your web directory where your html files are located. You'll want to place all your files (excluding your "webforum.cgi" and "webforumadmin.cgi" files) here. This is also the directory where all the messages will be written to. Check with your server administrator if you need help finding out the pathname. Also, make sure this directory has the correct permissions set. You'll want to "chmod 777" this directory so the program can read and write to it.
"$MaxMsgs" is the maximum number of messages allowed in each forum. This allows you to keep your site from getting massively bogged down by thousands of messages over time and helps ease the burden of administering the forums. For example, if "$MaxMsgs" is set to 50 (the default), once 50 messages have been posted and message 51 is posted, message one is deleted. Once message 52 is posted, message 2 is deleted, and so on. This rotates the messages so the newest messages are always displayed first and the oldest messages displayed last and deleted first.
"$AdminMail" needs to be your e-mail address. This is usually only shown if an error occurs so the user knows who to contact to report the error. Note that some Perl versions require a backslash "\" in front of the "@" character to run correctly.
"$CGI_URL" is the URL to the "webforum.cgi" program. This should be the full URL you would type to access the program from a standard web browser. Check with your server administrator if you need help finding out this URL.
The "$Header" and "$Footer" variables are the header graphics and text and footer graphics and text you want displayed on any page that reports an error. Just use standard HTML in the lines between the "EOT" commands.
Once you've changed these variables, place the script in your cgi-bin directory and type "chmod 755 webforum.cgi" to turn it into an executable script.
"webforumadmin.cgi" script. The same variables need to be changed in this script as you did in the last script. However, the "$CGI_URL" needs to point to the webforumadmin.cgi script and NOT the "webforum.cgi" script. Also, place this somewhere where users cannot find it such as in a protected subdirectory of your cgi-bin and rename it something else. This is the program that allows you to delete messages posted and you don't want just anyone having access to this script. Contact your server administrator about protecting certain directories from prying eyes if you don't know how.
Setting Up the Header and Footer Files:
"Scripts". We want
a custom header and footer that will be displayed at the top of every page
and every message in the "Scripts" forum. Simply write your html
for the header (everything you want to show at the top of every page and
every message) and save it as "Scripts.head" and place it in your
webforum directory. Then create your html for the footer (everything you
want to show at the bottom of every page and every message) and save it
as "Scripts.foot" and place it in your webforum directory. Do
this for each forum you want to create but make sure they start with the
name of your forum and ending in ".head" or ".foot".
Make sure they are valid Unix filenames so don't use spaces or weird characters.
Each time a user reads a message or enters that forum, these header and footer files are loaded and displayed for the user. This allows each individual forum to have its own unique look.
Calling Up Specific Forums:
It's a good idea that you create a menu page that
lists the available forums for users to enter. Just create a standard html
page. The URL's to call the forums are "webforum.cgi?forum=forumname
" where forumname is the name of the forum you want the user
to enter. This would be the same name that comes before the ".head"
and ".foot" files. Do one for each available forum.
This is all that's needed to start WebForum message forums. Now users can enter and post messages, reply to messages, and read messages from other users.
Administering WebForum:
"webforumadmin.cgi" is used for.
It works just like "webforum.cgi" but includes a link with the
word "delete" in front of every message. You call the program
just like you do "webforum.cgi" including the "?forum=forumname"
extension. To delete a file, simply click on the word "delete"
in front of the message you wish to delete and the message is automatically
deleted from the forum. All other features of "webforum.cgi" are
available here. You can read messages, reply to messages, and even post
new messages from this program without ever having to leave it.
Getting Technical Support for WebForum:
There may be times that you find problems running
WebForum. We have made every effort to make sure WebForum is bug free. However,
you may find some we overlooked during testing. Please report any bug reports
to "vmt@airmail.net" and
let us know exactly what problems you are finding that appear to be faults
of the program.
If you are having trouble setting up or using WebForum, we have set up a WebForum forum on The Scripts Home that you can use to post messages pertaining to your problem. Other users may have had similar problems and can help you with that.
Virtual Marketing Technologies does not directly provide technical support for this program unless you have purchased a license to use this program so please DO NOT call VMT for help on setting up this program.
WebForum v1.0 is considered shareware. It may be
freely downloaded only from The
Scripts Home the
program by sending in a small shareware fee. If you use WebForum for more
than 30 days please pay the fee or remove the software from your server.
This includes both commercial and non-commercial sites with the exception
of educational institutions, which may use WebForum at no charge as long
as it is not used for commercial purposes and no fees are charged for advertising
or access to the forums.
The following shareware fees apply:
Private, Non-Commercial Sites: |
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Please send checks or money orders (US funds only, please) to Virtual Marketing Technologies, 1510 North Hampton Road, Suite 270, DeSoto, TX 75115. You will receive a registration number that entitles you to e-mail technical support (for private, non-commercial sites) and phone technical support (for commercial sites only). It also provides announcements of upgrades to WebForum and discounts on upgrades to WebForum and other scripts from The Scripts Home. Continued use of this software without payment is a violation of the terms of usage for this product and a violation of U.S. and International Copyright laws and subject to fines and/or imprisonment.
Legal Information:
©1996 by Virtual Marketing Technologies.
All Rights Reserved. You are only allowed to edit the variables in this
program. No other section of this program may be altered in any way without
express written consent of the author. You may not sell, distribute, or
give away this program without the express written permission of Virtual
Marketing Technologies. Virtual Marketing Technologies cannot be held responsible
for any side effects this program may produce including loss of data, loss
of income, or any other negative factor resulting from the use of this program.
No warranties are given, either directly or indirectly, nor should any warranties
be implied.