You bought your own domain and now have a cgi-bin, or you are lucky enough to have a host who will give you access to hers. You want to install cgi programs like megabook and greymatter, but you don't know where to begin. Well, here's a tutorial for installing your first cgi program.

The difference between cgi and html is that the first is interactive. You can have visitors comment or submit information with cgi. First of all, you MUST have a cgi-bin. Look in your server to see if there is a directory labelled cgi-bin. If there is, you can now utilize it.

You will need to know how to ftp also. Open your ftp program and log into your site with the information supplied to you.

Navigate to your cgi-bin. You will be able to recognize it because it is a separate directory with this label on it.

Here is a zip file containing your first cgi program to install. Unzip it and find the file called "helloworld.cgi". This is the file you will be installing in your cgi-bin.

Now locate the "helloworld.cgi" file which you just unzipped, and with your ftp program still open, navigate to where you saved it on your computer until it is showing on the LEFT side of your ftp program.

On your ftp, if you are using WS_FTP, at the bottom of the right hand side you will find 3 buttons. Check the one that says ASCII. If you are using Cute FTP, go to the Tansfer section of the top menu, then to Transfer Type, and select ASCII.

Now ftp your helloworld.pl file from the LEFT side (your computer side) into the cgi-bin on the RIGHT (your internet directory).

After that is done, RIGHT click on the name helloworld.pl in the cgi-bin. A menu will pop up. Click on the choice that says CHMOD. In the box that says numeric value, put in 755. That's the permissions number you need to run this program. Some cgi programs have other permissions, but this one is 755. Always check the directions for each program to get the right permissions. Here's what 755 looks like:

All cgi-bin programs need to be uploaded in ASCII mode, and they have different permissions. You need to know what it is with each one.

Now, you are ready to execute what you just did. Open your browser and type in your site name, followed by /cgi-bin/helloworld.cgi

Go to that address. You'll get a message if you did it correctly. Now you're all set to install that megabook!