[thelist] CGI script and CHMOD

[Sharon F. Malone]

On Friday, January 25, 2002 3:08 AM Mia wrote:
(in part)

> If you're on a Unix or Linux system that already has the program called
> 'sendmail' installed, you should change this line to the path to sendmail
> on your system.  You can use the 'which sendmail' command at the prompt to
> find out the path.

Hi, Mia -
Yes, helped enormously. Read the info on the links you provided which helped my understanding a lot.

Have no idea if the 'sendmail' program is installed or not. I am on an Apache/1.3.20 Linux server. But I wanted to use this same script for a client who is on a Windows2K server (after I get this figured out).

Puzzled about where I would "change this line to the path ..." and where would I be (DOS prompt?) to find out the path re the following " ... use the 'which sendmail' command at the prompt ...". Would I be in my FTP program (don't think so) or just where would I type in 'which sendmail'? At least, this way I could find out if my host has the program installed. They didn't even have a cgi-bin directory set up. I went ahead and did that, and now I can only get back into cgi-bin but can't get into the subdirectories that I also set up (like 'usr' etc.).  Permission denied. A 'CWD' message keeps popping up (whatever that means).

I'm trying to do a fast 'self-educate' stint here since my host is in the middle of moving their data center and there is NO tech support available at all, either by email or phone. I emailed them about this 3 days ago and they had shut off their autoresponders. Soooooooooooooooo. To The List I went, the good old List!!!!!

> > Questions:

> > 2. I'm stumped about the $sendmail location which reads
> > "/usr/sbin/sendmail". Does that mean I have to create a directory or
> > subdirectory called /usr/sbin/sendmail and, if so, where do I place it
>
> In this section, you're modifying the script with the details of your
> server's setup, so you change the lines to match your system, not your
> system to match the lines :)

    I see. OK. Will have to wait to find out that info from my host. Afraid I already went ahead and created the usr and sbin subdirs at the beginning of this. Now, I can't get back into them to delete them.
>
> In your script, the words with $ in front are variables that you customise
> for your site.  So, $sendmail should be set to the location of the
> sendmail application on your system, $sitetitle should be set to the name
> of your site, etc.

    Already got it! (At least, I got something!). Thanks.

> > script to my cgi-bin and chmod it to 755.  I haven't the foggiest idea
> > what they're talking about. What is "chmod?" How and what do I do to
> > accomplish this? And what does 755 mean?
>
> 'Chmod' is a command that changes the access permissions of a file.  On a
> Unix/Linux system, type 'man chmod' to find out more, but a google search
> will probably provide more user-friendly information.  Basically, each
> number represents the permissions each user or group of users has for that
> file.

    Got it. In FTP I right-clicked (I think) on the pertinent .cgi file which brings up the CHMOD choice in the menu. I then changed the permissions, per one of the links' info you sent me, according to 0755 specifications.
>
> These might help:
> http://support.discusware.com/center/resources/howto/chmod.html (How to
> change permissions using WS_FTP, Cute FTP, and other programs)
> http://www.iboost.com/build/backend/735.htm (Beginners CGI Installation
> Guide)

    They helped alot.

Best,
Sharon
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Sharon F. Malone
"web design and Internet writing services"
http://www.24caratdesign.com
sfmalo at 24caratdesign.com