Scripts for Educators Presents:

MakeBook v2.0

Collaborative Story or Journal Writing

Contents:

Program Summary
System Requirements
Files Required

Program Summary

MakeBook v2.0 takes input from students or other users, and adds it to an HTML file in the order you specify. You can try the demo version here. The user types in his/her name, email address, and some text. The program then adds the text to the ongoing story file and allows the user to immediately view his/her entry.

New in v2.0 are options to let you choose whether to show the date of each submission, whether to show the names and/or email addresses of contributors and whether to email you each submission so that you may check the contributions for propriety. You may also choose whether new entries should be placed at the beginning of the file or at the end. This could also be used as a guestbook, though it was originally intended for use as a program to let people contribute to an ongoing story line.

It performs a cursory check to make sure they have entered something resembling an email address, and then sends you the mail if you choose the option to send email.

If you're interested, Version 1.0 of this program is still available.


System Requirements:

The machine where your script will be run should be a Unix server with Perl 5.000 or higher. (If you have an NT server, you still should be able to run this but with some different modifications. Email me if you have questions -- I hope to put up different instructions for different platforms soon.) It shouldn't matter whether the web server is Netscape or NCSA, and it shouldn't matter what browser the user has as long as it supports forms.

You must be able to execute cgi programs on your web server. If you're not sure whether you have permission to do this, or are not sure how to configure the files, please ask your system administrator. (Usually "root@your.machine.name." For example, if your email address is 'bob@mysite.com' then you can often reach your system administrator at 'root@mysite.com'. AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy users should look for "technical support" or "member services.")


Required Files

You should have received the following files with your distribution. You may download the package for Unix in a gzipped tar file. NOTE: if you have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and you want to download this, try holding down the "shift" key while you click on the link. This should give you the option to download the file.

Unix: Type "gunzip makebook_2.0.tar.gz" then type "tar -xvf makebook_2.0.tar" to uncompress and expand the package. Please be sure to read the README.makebook file!!!

The following files are required. (Please ask your system administrator if you have sendmail available):

sendmail
makebook.cgi:
the actual program that processes the data from the form, writes the bookfile, and submits the email.
makebook.html:
the HTML form where the users enter their messages.
bookfile.html
The file that contains the entries submitted by the users. (Yours should be blank when you start out.)
README.makebook
contains information on how to get started using the program.
index.html
This file.


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This page copyright © 1996, Kristina L. Pfaff-Harris. All rights reserved.