I need a script to add a record to a DB on the server. 1

[Pyrrhus]

Can anyone out there help me get started with this please?

I have been screwing around with this problem for ages. It involves getting a long string (approx 1.5K) from my client’s page back to me. I have had several shots at a JS / form / email solutions, but the email input box can’t or won't handle the long string. I’ve had plenty of input from Tek-Tips folk, and I’m grateful for that.

I have to go the CGI route of updating a db file on the server in full record mode. I don’t need to be able to update fields in the db, or query the db, just allow the user to click a button and write a string contained in a JS variable as a new record in the db (the string is comprised of 450 or so 2-byte values separated by commas or whatever, and each value will be a db field). I can then download the db periodically in file mode and update my offline db. It is used for statistical purposes only and there is no need for real-time interaction by either the user or myself.

I don’t know Perl, but I’m happy to come to grips with it. If I had a script as a starting point that would be a huge help.

Hope you can assist.

 

[siberian]

The two modules you require are

CGI.pm
and
DBI.pm

On your server type

man CGI

This will get you a lot of docs and examples of how to use this library to interact with a browser.

Then you can type

man DBI

and get the same for database interaction.

Based on that you can start hammering together some code. Your application is custom enough that a canned script is probably not going to be coming your way anytime soon.

Keep posting!

 

[Pyrrhus]

Thanks, Siberian. Appreciate your response (again).

I'm a real novice at this, working alone. I don't know how to get into my server to type anything.

I don't have a server installed myself. My site is hosted by a crowd called SmartHosting.com (good reliability and response time, but quite hard to get any info or assistance out of). I have access to a "control panel" which includes the following "options":

E-mail Tools
CGI Tools
Error Editors
Security Tools
Data Manager
Search Engines
FTP Tools
System Tools
Reseller Manager
Miscellaneous
Documentation

Any idea where I go to get access to the modules or documentation you refer to. (The documentation referred to on the control panel is very basic.)

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Follow-up to Siberian:

Maybe I need to install my own server for the development, is that what you're saying?

 

[siberian]

Check the Documentation section for info on what perl modules are available to you.

Did they give you database information?

I am not sure your hosting provider is giving you the options you need but investigate it fully before setting up your own server etc.