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 implement custom scripts?

Our servers have the capability to run CGI scripts based on Perl, Unix SH, KSH, CSH, and C/C++ languages. Perl is a 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/C++ code must be compiled prior to use.^*

^*Unfortunately we cannot compile any C programs on servers on your behalf.
If the program was compiled for our server settings op-sys IRIX V6.2 using http- Apache V1.2 then it probably will not run, or not run correctly.

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.

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 10 specific mail forwarding options for email addresses which are to forward to an address other than the default.

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. (A PPP internet account is required.)

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.

How do I create and use 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. However, a special page has been added for those of you who are familar with imagemapping and would like to skip ahead to the sample HTML code snipets.

How can I include TrueSpeech® real-time audio in my home page?

Support for TrueSpeech® real-time audio is available for use in your web pages for all accounts. This allows your users to listen to audio clips on your page after downloading a TrueSpeech audio file. Click here for instructions for creating and playing real-time audio. Click here to download a free copy of the TrueSpeech player for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, or Mac.

How can I include RealAudio® files in my home page?

Note: RealAudio® is only available for some customers.

In order to create and listen to RealAudio files, you will need to download and install the following programs:

RealAudio Player:
http://www.realaudio.com/products/player/index.html

RealAudio Encoder:
http://www.realaudio.com/products/encoder/realaudio/index.html

You can download shareware versions of the player and the encoder from RealAudio web site as well. RealAudio offers a full version of their software which affords better quality playback and may include other features. This software package is not necessary to create RealAudio files on your page.

Important
Do NOT use underscore ("_") characters when naming RA files as they will not be interpreted correctly by the .ram file.

1) CREATING A RealAudio® Config File

You need to create a text file with a ".ram" extension. This text file contains a URL to the realaudio file in the following format:

pnm://<yourdomain>/~<userid>/audiofilename.ra

Note the "pnm:" prefix. Substitute your domain name and userid above. There must be a tilde (~) before the userid. This file can reside in the root directory of your account. The audio file name must have a ".ra" extension.

Once the .ram text file is created, save it and upload it to your web site in ASCII transfer mode. We suggest using the same file naming convention. (eg. "test.ram" will launch the "test.ra" file)

2) CREATING THE HTML CODE

The HTML document does NOT reference the .ra file itself; it must call the .ram file which, in turn, launches the RealAudio file as represented below.

<a href="http://(yourdomain.com)/(textfile.ram)">Listen to Audio</a>

Important
If you reference the .ra file directly from your HTML code, the audio file may play, but you will not benefit from the streaming audio effect.

EMBEDDING A REALAUDIO FILE

You will also have the option of embedding a RealAudio file so that the .ra file will begin playing as soon as the html page loads. This way, the web visitor will not have to click on a link to hear your sound file.

To do this, make a copy of your .ram file and resave it as a .rpm file and
upload to the same directory as the .ram .

Then, reference the new .rpm within the page's html like this:

<EMBED SRC="yourfile.rpm" WIDTH=250 HEIGHT=35 CONTROLS=ControlPanel AUTOSTART=TRUE>

More features and tricks for putting RealAudio files on your page is available at http://www.realaudio.com/products/ra2.0/features/plugin.html

How can I set up an autoresponder for our account?

An autoreponder 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.

How do I implement secure transactions?

Plan 2 Virtual domain accounts support SSL (Secure socket layer) secure transactions. This method allows for secure, encrypted communication between the user's web browser and your web site. SSL requires that a secure host have a "certificate" signed by a company called Verisign. You can use our server's certificate as part of your plan #2 features or obtain your own if you do not want to have to use our host name in your URL.

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.

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 Account Settings under your 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 inhibit access to specific files and directories using the File Manager.

Once Newsite enables ANON FTP files can be accessed anonymously via FTP client or by using the following URL format:

• ftp://ftp.your_domain.com/<FILENAME>

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