MeetingPlace Documentation
*Description
*Features
*Installation
*Running
*This is a script to run a completely automated site like armeniansconnect.com. The script encompasses all aspects of this particular meeting place site. The script has full administrational controls as well as allowing users to upload pics and share messages via each users private message board. It allows for editing of user information at any time by users. It has 3 type of operation, one is a non member area, which allows for limited viewing of people info, the second is a free membership option that allows full access but can optionaly pop up a new window that asks the member to "donate". The third is (if donation mode is set by the admin) a "members who have donated" option where the members no longer see the annoying popup. This system currently uses PayPal for all donations, however I can script new modules as needed for any buyer.
The index.cgi is the script that is called by new visitors to the site. This should have been placed in
the root html directory and your webserver set properly to recognize index.cgi as the sites starting page.
Don't worry if this was not done, simply go back and make sure it is correct, then continue.
If your admin or you do not know how to set your webserver to see index.cgi as a starting page, refer to
the troubleshooting section at the bottom of this page. I have been kind enough to detail it for you.
Once index.cgi is properly running, thats all you need to worry about on the visitors end. The rest
will handle itself easily. For the Admin area, simply point your browser to admin.cgi, login and follow
the online help that is built into the script by clicking the little [?] symbol on the left side top of
the admin panel at any page.
Next before opening the site, you will want to modify the html the script generates to look the way
you want it to look. This script uses simple HTML templates. The html code is NOT hardcoded into
the script like so many newbie programmers do to avoid extra work.
Changing these templates is as easy as opening them in any html editor you use and modifying the look.
The one thing to be sure of while doing this is to make sure the proper tokens stay in the html somewhere.
Definition: Token (%token%): These are little tags that tell the script WHERE to place output in the
template. These define where all script output goes in your html. So make sure of your design and usage
of the tokens please.
The only templates you need to concern yourself with are the ones that are located in the
$scriptdir/templates folder. Do not edit the admin templates in $scriptdir/templates/admin.
TEMPLATE TOKENS (usable tokens per page)
----------------------------------------
Please refer to the documentation in the script archive for this area.
TROUBLESHOOTING
-------------------------
Problem: I installed everything perfectly, but the script either does not run or
it spits out the actual script code.
Solution: Some webserver admins fail to set the proper handlers for CGI scripts.
Generally you can work around this by making (or adding to an existing) a .htaccess
file in the scripts directory and adding these 2 lines:
AddHandler cgi-script .cgi
AddHandler cgi-script .pl
If this does not work you should contact your server administrator and ask him to
enable CGI use in that directory.
Problem: My webserver refuses to see index.cgi as a starting page.
Solution: You can add a single line to an .htaccess file in the scripts directory
that will force the webserver to see index.cgi as the starting page if the admin has
it setup somewhat standard.
Below is the line to add to .htaccess
DirectoryIndex index.cgi
Problem: I can not figure out these templates.
Solution: This script uses plain old HTML templates. If you can not use an html editor
like frontpage ot dreamweaver and do not understand HTML code at all, then my best suggestion
would be to hire a designer.
PerlCoders has a list of preffered vendors (designers included) which we can make available
to you if needed.
Problem: How do I upload the files????
Solution: Using an FTP Client like CuteFTP found at http://www.cuteftp.com
Problem: How do I get server paths???
Solution: Using a telnet client like CRT available free at http://www.vandyke.com.
Telnet into your server and use the following commands:
To locate sendmail on your server: which sendmail
To find out the path to the directory you are in: pwd
To find the path to perl: which perl
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