Technical Aspects

Where can I find documentation for preinstalled scripts?

We currently have the following ready-to-use scripts available:

   cgiemail    forms-to-email
   imagemap    multi-clickable images
   newcount    "hit" counters

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How do I implement custom scripts?

Our servers have the capability to run CGI scripts based on Perl, Unix SH, KSH, CSH, and C (NOT C++) languages. Perl is our language of choice as it is a world standard and is well suited to CGI. In addition, Perl code does not require manual compilations whereas C code must be compiled* on our web servers prior to use.

If you have a custom CGI script that you need to use, simply upload it to your personal "cgi-local." Here are some helpful tips to follow when installing Perl scripts:

1. Upload to your cgi-local directory to ensure proper file permission settings
2. Upload in ASCII transfer mode (and NOT BINARY mode)
3. The first line of each script must read:   #!/usr/local/bin/perl
4. Use the Perl script checker in your Control Panel
5. Reference the script using /cgi-local (and NOT /cgi-bin)

If a script calls another file within your account, but the script does NOT require a URL, you need to use the system path.

eg.   /u/web/<userid>/...            <- if file resides in root
      /u/web/<userid>/cgi-local/...  <- if file resides in cgi-local

Substitute the path to the file beginning with your userid. Your userid is the directory name of your account.

*** Web Site can run only two C compilations for you. As such, we suggest Perl as an alternative scripting language. A work-around may be available to seasoned C developers -- contact support@mrtech.com for more information. C++ is NOT supported.

Other Resources
comp.lang.perl.misc
comp.infosystems.www.authoring.cgi

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Is the Excite® search engine available for use?

Yes. A web-based interface can be found within your account Control Panel. Please refer specific questions to support@mrtech.com.

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How do I set mail forwarding options?

By default, ALL mail is set up to automatically forward to the email address that was provided when your account was set up. This email address is called the "default" mail forwarding address. This address can be changed in Email Settings within your Control Panel. As such, you do not need to set specific forwarding options for addresses associated with your domain name. (eg. webmaster@yourname.com, sales@yourname.com, etc.)

You can also set up to specific mail forwarding options for email addresses which are to forward to an address other than the default.

Additional mail forwarding fields can be added at a rate of $1 per month.

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How do I set up and access POP mailboxes?

In addition to mail forwarding options, email can be retrieved from POP mailboxes using a program like Eudora. You have access to one master POP account and five additional POPs that appear in your Control Panel within Email Settings. Instruction on setting up POP accounts and configuring your mail program is available. (PPP internet access required)

If you can use a special mail program like Eudora you might be able to specify the desired return address. You will need to use Mikrotec's SMTP server address to send mail (pop.mis.net).

Additional POP mailboxes are available at a rate of $2 per mailbox per month.

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How do I set up email forms?

You can use the Email Form Generator within your Control Panel to create a basic HTML form within the root directory of your account along with a template which defines the format by which the form data will be sent. You can customize the form and template or modify an existing form to work with the preinstalled cgiemail script.

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How do I implement server-side imagemaps?

Imagemaps allow the user to click on predefined sections of a graphic picture on your page and have the server respond as if they clicked on a text hyperlink. A complete tutorial is available including a sample imagemap and helpful tools. You are encouraged to review the entire tutorial.

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How do I implement client-side imagemaps? (recommended)

Client-side imagemaps do not require the presence of a server-side script in order to interpret the coordinates of the "hot" regions of your multi-clickable image. The client-side imagemap is more efficient than the server-side imagemap and it allows the visitor to see the actual URL associated with the mapped regions in the status bar of their web browser.

Download a mapping program to create a map file based on the desired image. The map file will contain the coordinates of each clickable region. We recommend MapEdit (PC), but other imagemapping tools may also be available.

Map out the hotspots using one of these programs and select the map file format "Client-side imagemap" as opposed to NCSA or CERN (for server-side maps) prior to saving the file.

Here is a sample client-side map file created using MapEdit:

<map name="sample">
<area shape="rect" coords="20,27,82,111" href="hotspot1.html">
<area shape="circle" coords="129,113,29" href="hotspot2.html">
<area shape="rect" coords="21,158,170,211" href="mailto:support@mrtech.com">
<area shape="default" nohref>
</map>

Include the map file code within the desired HTML document and reference it like so:

<img src="image.gif" usemap="#sample">

Substitute the name of the desired image above and note the relationship between the HTML tag, <map name="sample"> and the usemap="#sample" attribute above. You can test your new client-side imagemap offline if the links refer to files on your local PC.

More information is available.

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How can I set up an autoresponder for our account?

An autoresponder is an automatic program that will respond to an email message sent to a predefined address in your domain. This is useful for automatically sending out information via email based on a user's emailed request. More information on setting up autoresponders is available.

Additional autoresponders are available at a rate of $2 per addition per month.

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Can I password protect directories?

Yes, you can password protect specific directories within your website. You can begin assigning unique ids and passwords by selecting Edit Access in your Control Panel. As such, visitors will be prompted for id and password to gain access to any web page within such a directory. This does NOT affect FTP access.

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How do I manage anonymous FTP access?

Virtual domain account users can allow anonymous FTP access to visitors wishing to download or upload files to your web site as if you were running your own FTP server. You can enable (and disable) ANON FTP access within Edit Account Information within your account Control Panel.

*** Important ***
Be sure to read the entire documentation regarding anonymous FTP access contained herein beforehand.

By default, all files and directories within your account are set to public read access ON. As such, enabling ANON FTP will allow access to ALL files within your account. In general, you can prohibit anonymous/public access to specific files and directories using the File Manager.

Once you enable ANON FTP in Account Settings within your Control Panel, files can be accessed anonymously via FTP client or by using the following URL format:

• ftp://ftp.yourdomain.com/<FILENAME>

Anonymous visitors wishing to access your site via FTP client (eg. WS_FTP) must use your domain name as the FTP hostname, userid of anonymous and password of guest.

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