GUESTBOOK SCRIPT http://guestbook.bigwebmaster.com/ =============WARNING================= DO NOT CONTACT US FOR SUPPORT WITHOUT READING BELOW WHERE IT SAYS "INSTALLATION HELP" =============INTRODUCTION============ For full documentation, demos, downloads, and more see http://guestbook.bigwebmaster.com/ This is the free version of our guestbook which includes everything that the full version includes. The only difference is that the full version does not require a link back to our site. For a full list of features, visit our site. This guestbook uses templates so that the guestbook's appearance can be completely customized. If you have created your own templates we would love to be able to distribute them for others to use. Please contact us if you would like to make your templates available for download. Thanks! ===================REQUIREMENTS================== - Latest version of PERL installed on your server - Are able to change permission to files - Unix server recommended with Apache - GD Graphics Library with PERL module (only needed if you are using security image feature) ======FILES INCLUDED & PERMISSION SETTINGS======= 644 .htaccess 755 addguest.cgi 755 viewguest.cgi 755 admin/admin.cgi 777 admin/variables.cgi 644 admin/data/.htaccess 733 admin/data/adminlog.txt 777 admin/data/gbpassword.txt 777 admin/data/guestbook.txt 777 admin/data/id.txt 777 admin/data/verify.txt 644 docs/CHANGES.txt 644 docs/FUTURE.txt 644 docs/README.txt 644 global/admin.jpg 644 globlal/animleft.gif 644 globlal/animright.gif 644 globlal/black.gif 644 globlal/blank.gif 644 globlal/error.jpg 644 globlal/leftdim.gif 644 globlal/leftoff.gif 644 globlal/rightdim.gif 644 globlal/rightoff.gif 644 globlal/verdana.ttf 644 template/entrytemplate.tem 644 template/failure.tem 644 template/signup.tem 644 template/success.tem 644 template/template.tem 644 template/images/backTop.gif 644 template/images/bgFooter.gif 644 template/images/city.gif 644 template/images/comments.gif 644 template/images/country.gif 644 template/images/divider.gif 644 template/images/email.gif 644 template/images/homepage.gif 644 template/images/name.gif 644 template/images/ratingofsite.gif 644 template/images/referredby.gif 644 template/images/spacer.gif 644 template/images/state.gif 644 template/images/top.gif 644 template/verify/blank.gif ===================INSTALLATION================== This installation page will walk you through the installation process for the Guestbook. There are basically three areas to this script. There is the admin.cgi interface which allows you to manage the entries. There is the addguest.cgi script which allows your visitors to leave their thoughts on your site, and lastly there is the viewguest.cgi script which allows other visitors to see the comments that have been left by others. You will need a program which can decompress zip files. I recommend WINZIP ( http://www.winzip.com/ ). After opening the zip file make sure the files listed above are all included in the package. Once you are sure they are all there make a directory on your server called "gb" and upload every single file from the guestbook zip file into this directory. If you are using Winzip please make sure you check the box that says "Use folder names" so that the directory structure is maintained. After uploading every file you will need to change file permissions to a few files (chmod). 755 admin/admin.cgi 777 admin/variables.cgi 755 addguest.cgi 755 viewguest.cgi 733 admin/data/adminlog.txt 777 admin/data/gbpassword.txt 777 admin/data/guestbook.txt 777 admin/data/id.txt 777 admin/data/verify.txt You will also need to change the file permission on a directory to make it writeable: 777 verify/ The rest of the files will likely be set to the correct permissions. Consult our table above if you have any problems getting the guestbook script to work. Please make sure you upload gbpassword.txt in ASCII mode. If you are unsure how do to this visit http://www.ozzu.com/ and post your question for further assistance. At this point everything should be set to work. We have produced template files which are already in working order for you and you are welcome to use those. If you wish to customize your own template files, please read the manual which you can find on the menu to the left. The last thing you should do is load your web browser and goto: http://www.yoursite.com/gb/admin/admin.cgi where yoursite.com is actually your site. If you see a login screen then you are all set. The default password is admin. One of the first things you should do is enter the script and change the password to something else. You should now be all setup and ready to use the guestbook. For more information on how to use this guestbook script please consult the guestbook manual which you can find on the menu to the left. Good luck!!! ===============INSTALLATION HELP================ Read this section thoroughly! If you are having problems installing the script you can visit http://www.ozzu.com/ and possibly find the help you need for free. This webmaster community allows you to post questions and find answers. If you would rather get your support from us we offer paid support. For paid support you will need to purchase the guestbook script. DO NOT CONTACT US UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR OUR SUPPORT! WE WILL NOT HELP YOU UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. WE CHARGE A ONE TIME FEE OF $25.00 USD FOR INSTALLATION HELP. THIS FEE MUST BE PREPAID. If you contact us and ask questions with regards to installation of this guestbook script, we will respond by copying and pasting this installation help section. We do not have the time for free support by email. Sorry. =======Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)========= Q: My host only allows me to run cgi scripts in the cgi-bin. How do I make your script work? A: Our guestbook script includes a .htaccess file in the base directory with the following contents: Options +ExecCGI +FollowSymLinks AddHandler cgi-script .cgi This .htaccess file residing there may allow you to override your hosts settings so that you can use scripts outside of your cgi-bin. This is probably only supported if your website is running on an Apache server (majority of sites are using Apache). Please try the regular installation first (and make sure you upload the .htaccess file that is included) and if you are not able to get the script to execute/work, then proceed to the following steps below which will allow you to use our guestbook script by installing in your cgi-bin dierctory: Upload all files except .jpg and .gif files to your cgi-bin in a directory called gb. Keep the directory structures maintained as they are in the zip file. Upload .gif and .jpg files to the other gb directory you created (not inside cgi-bin), and also keep directory structure maintained. After doing this you should have the following directories on your server which contain files: /cgi-bin/gb (contains .htaccess, viewguest.cgi, addguest.cgi) /cgi-bin/gb/admin (contains admin.cgi, variables.cgi) /cgi-bin/gb/admin/data (contains .htaccess, adminlog.txt, gbpassword.txt, guestbook.txt, id.txt, verify.txt) /cgi-bin/gb/docs (contains CHANGES.txt, FUTURE.txt, README.txt) /cgi-bin/gb/template (contains entrytemplate.tem, failure.tem, signup.tem, success.tem, template.tem) /gb (empty) /gb/global (contains all the images from global directory) /gb/template (empty) /gb/template/images (contains all the images for template) /gb/verify (contains blank.gif) Next open up /cgi-bin/gb/admin/admin.cgi in notepad or another text editor and find the line towards the top that says: $imagehtmlpath = "../global/"; Change this line to: $imagehtmlpath = "/gb/global/"; Next open up /cgi-bin/gb/viewguest.cgi and /cgi-bin/gb/addguest.cgi in notepad or another text editor and find the line that says: $imagehtmlpath = "global/"; Change this line to: $imagehtmlpath = "/gb/global/"; Next you will need to open up the template files located in the template directory in notepad: /cgi-bin/gb/template/entrytemplate.tem /cgi-bin/gb/template/failure.tem /cgi-bin/gb/template/signup.tem /cgi-bin/gb/template/success.tem /cgi-bin/gb/template/template.tem and edit the templates so that the image paths use absolute paths instead of relative paths. For example if in signup.tem you have a line such as" you would need to change it to: This will force it to use the gb directory that you made outside of the cgi-bin where images are permitted. After you go through and patch up your templates everything should work. You should now be able to access your guestbook at the following locations: Admin Area - http://www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/gb/admin/admin.cgi View Guestbook Area - http://www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/gb/viewguest.cgi Sign Guestbook Area - http://www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/gb/addguest.cgi Q: I want to use your script, but I do not like the links back to http://guestbook.bigwebmaster.com/ and http://www.bigwebmaster.com/ How can I remove those? A: You are not authorized to remove those unless you purchase the full version of our script. The full version does not include those links. We charge $50.00 USD for the full version. The amount we charge for our script may change without notice. Contact us first. Q: I am trying to login to the admin area with the password "admin", but it doesn't seem to work. Am I doing something wrong? A: Please make sure you upload gbpassword.txt in ASCII mode (Opposite of binary mode). Also please be sure that you have the caps lock off, as the password is case sensitive. After you try this if you are still unable to access your admin are with the password admin it may be possible that your server is using a different encryption algorithm. To resolve this problem follow these steps: Download this file here: encrypt.zip Upload encrypt.cgi to your cgi-bin and chmod 755. Then type this location in your browser: http://www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/encrypt.cgi In the box type in the password you would like to use and then hit the encrypt button. You will now need to copy this encrypted password and place it in your /gb/data/gbpassword.txt file by first removing the other encrypted password in that file. After you change gbpassword.txt by updating it with your new encrypted password, upload this file to your server and then try to login to your admin area. Q: My guestbook seems to be working, but the security image is not loading. What is the problem? A: You will need to contact your webhost and make sure they have the GD Graphics library installed on the server. You will also need to make sure they have the GD PERL module installed as well. If for some reason you cannot get them to install the GD Graphics library or the PERL module you can alternatively disable the security image feature in the admin interface in the options area. Simply change the SECURITY CODE to off. By doing this the guestbook script should still work, although you will not have the security image to prevent automated spam. Q: I really want to be able to use the security code feature and my host refuses to install the GD Graphics library. Is there any other way I could possibly get this feature to work? A: No, you will not be able to get the security code feature to work with that host. You will need to find a webhost which has the GD Graphics library installed. We highly recommend: Unflux.net You will be able to use the guestbook script to full capacity there.