Wake Up Your Site With PERL Scripts - November 2000
By Jim Norris

Your web site is looking good, attracting some visitors and someone (maybe you) in your organization is taming HTML. Now it is time to look at ways to make your site more interactive for your visitors and automate regular tasks to keep your site up to date and running smoothly. The answer to many of these upgrades is the use of PERL scripts. Many of these scripts will add functionality to your site that is not otherwise possible.

   Don't cringe in fear at the thought of learning PERL. Yes, it is a programming language but many scripts are written ready to run with a few minor adjustments. Sure there will be some initial hair-pulling but after some practice, like anything else, it starts to make sense. If you are not up to the task, your provider should be able to help or any decent web developer or programmer. University or College computer students can be a great choice. Even you can delegate the setup, it is you that has to decide what your site needs or what will make it more exciting, so you have to do some research. A few possibilities are discussion forums, automatic link pages, Chat areas. Classified ads, file management, guestbooks, mail utilities, postcards, shopping carts, traffic measurement, search utilities and more.

   The best place to start is Script Search (www.scriptsearch.com). This site contains over 5,000 scripts and you can search by keyword or browse by category. Browsing is a great way to find scripts that perform functions you've never thought of. Scripts are also featured in all of the other web oriented programming languages. Many of the scripts are free and paid ones vary from $25.00 to $400.00. After you have read the description you can click on a link that takes you to the script author's web site where you can download the files, read help files and get other useful information. A lot of the authors will also install their scripts and make modifications for a small fee.

   To install the script, you will need FTP software to upload the files. You will need to find out the location of the PERL program on your server and in which directory to install the script. Some servers require PERL scripts to run from specific directories while others permit the scripts to run anywhere. Most scripts include configuration instructions within the script and you work through it using a text editor filling in the blanks and making the necessary changes. Many include a readme file for further help. One thing that is crucial is file permissions on relevant directories and files. This is generally laid out in the instructions.

   Once you think it is perfect, upload the script to correct directory and try it out. They rarely work perfectly the first time and unfortunately there are few clear error messages; it just doesn't work. Like any programming language, PERL is unforgiving and a misplaced comma, period or slash will bring your script to its knees. A little bit of patience and a few more tries will bring results. When your first script works, you will be hooked and ready to try something more difficult.

   A great book to read is PERL For Dummies, available at most online and traditional bookstores. To learn more online visit www.perl.com or search for "Perl" at Yahoo (yahoo.com)

You will definitely endure some frustration wrestling with PERL scripts, but it will be worth it once a few are working and your site has become more exciting and is attracting more visitors.

Resources

• ProMusicFind.com has recently acquired Music1Search, a huge database of inventories of record and CD dealers and collectors. The ProMusicFind database now contains over 6 million items including musical instruments, sheet music, videos, books, CDs, DVDs and other music-related merchandise. Drop by at www.promusicfind.com
• Vancouver's iNoize.com has launched a new system that allows users to share their music without infringing on the copyrights of record companies or their artists. Users download a small file and create playlists of favourite songs that they can play back at any time. The music is streamed in real time, using a secure, encrypted framework which eliminates the need to copy files. For more information, contact Craig Hamilton at or visit www.inoize.com.
• A.C.T. Enterprises designs and manufactures hanging hardware for the entertainment industry. At their web site at www.act-ent-inc.org, you will find company news, products, order information, their catalog available as PDF files and links to other interesting sites.
• FindSounds.com is a new search engine for finding sound effects and sample sounds on the Web. You can search by key words, file format, number of channels, resolution, sample rate and file size. Check it out at www.findsounds.com.
• dbx has created a dedicated web site for their DriveRack loudspeaker management system. The site features PDF files of applications guides and manuals and downloadable DriveWare PC GUI and firmware operating software. Also included are sample application setups for DriveRack products, warranty registration and a UserGroup discussion forum.
• Peate Musical, Canadian distributor of a wide variety of musical instruments and accessories, have announced their website at www.peate.com. Featured are a complete catalogue of their products, company profile, order information, a list of dealers and a password-protected dealer area.
• Music Books Plus has greatly expanded their catalogue and now features online over 4,000 books, videos and CD-ROMs on music, recording, audio, songwriting, MIDI, multimedia and the Internet. You can join the electronic newsletter or request a printed catalogue online at www.musicbooksplus.com.
• Norris-Whitney Communications operates The Music & Audio Connection, the international on-line resource for music enthusiasts, musicians, music and audio professionals. Included are classified ads, products for sale, company showcases, discussion forums, associations, music education, music & audio resources, career information and file libraries. New additions are the Calendar Plus personal information systems and Music News, updated daily. Updates to the site are available by electronic newsletter. Visit at musicandaudio.com. For more information, e-mail to [email protected], Fax (905) 641-1648 or call (905) 641-3471.