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The following documented is provided to present my experiencs implementing Scripts on Eskimo North's internet provider service. Many of these tips can be applied to other UNIX based internet provider services. Some of these tips took considerable time in figuring out how it worked. I would like to hear from those who find this information useful and provide this information with the hope that you will share your own knowledge and useful tips you may discover here on Eskimo systems or any other Internet provider. Please feel free to write Albert Franz at albert@netmation.com with comments.

Step #1 - Run Existing Script
If you haven't found it already Erik Thauvin of Eskimo has made some excellent information available on running scripts. A handful of scripts have been made available on Eskimo which you can easily try out. For those who have no patience reading you can easily put a web page counter in any web document by adding the following line and substituting your Eskimo "LoginName" in the following line.

<img src="http:/cgi.eskimo.com/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?dd=C|ft=4|pad=0|frgb=ffd700&df=LoginName.dat">

Feel free to readup on what all the options do. Another popular script on Eskimo is "mailback" for capturing web page user input. All of the existing Eskimo scripts can be found at /usr/public/www/cgi-bin/.

Step #2 - Create Development Environment
For security reason you simply can't create a script and put it in the Eskimo public library thus you have to create whats called a Development Environment. Eskimo provides a document to set this up; however I would recommend you use the automated scripts mentioned at the end of Eskimo's document, as follows.

cd ~
/usr/public/www/makeCGIdirs
csh or tcsh users also need to type "rehash"

Though I believe the process is complete be sure that all files and directories have 755 permissions. Enter "chmod 755 *.*" for all the newly created directories. Not sure if that is necessary though since they may already be properly set but it can't hurt.

Step #3 - Develop or Modify Scripts
You can easily modify an existing Eskimo script in any ascii editor on your own PC. If you obtain a script from someone else you may need to change the first line of the script to properly identify the location of the Perl program on the Eskimo North system. The taintperl software used is version 4.0.1.8 and Perl 5 used is 5.003. Taintperl as a lower overhead thus will most likly be used for any scripts not requiring Perl 5. The following are examples to declare the use in your CGI scripts: "usr/local/bin/tainperl", "user/local/bin/perl5 -T". When you want to try and run it upload the script and put it in the directory, "~/dev-html/cgi-bin/" which exists in your home directory. Be sure to convert it to a Unix file format if you are using a non-Unix PC. This can easily be done after you upload it by entering from the dev-html/cgi-bin directory: "dos2unix "

Step #4 - Test Script with Port Number
This is the step that stumped me for a while. There really is very little written about it and I had trouble finding people who knew how to do this. Then go back to your home directory "cd ~" and enter the command "runhttpd <#>" where # is a port number from 10000 to 20000. Your script is now available to be accessed in your web pages until you terminate this session by entering "killhttpd". It is very important to note that possibly your script and web page HTML code which accesses the script needs to be modified inorder to properly execute under this port number. When you are finished testing you then must re-modify these changes prior to submitting the script to Eskimo North. The line in your web page HTML code should look something like this where "#" is the identical number you entered above as a port number when starting the httpd session. Also very important to notice that this code accesses "eskimo.com" and not "www.eskimo.com". Your script will not execute unless this HTML matches exactly, ask me I know (smile!). And "scriptname" is the file name of the script you are developing after it was properly converted to UNIX file format if orginally edited on a PC platform.

<form method="POST" action="http://eskimo.com:#/cgi-bin/scriptname">

Step #5 - Submit to Eskimo
Once you have developed and tested your script simply drop Erik Thauvin a note. From my experience, Erik will place it in the Eskimo public directory within 24 hours, assuming it meets the Eskimo Guidelines. Prior to submitting, be sure to change your web pages HTML so you no longer access the script by Port Number. Also you must now change the location of the script to the Eskimo North script directory, which means the location must now show "www.eskimo.com" instead of "eskimo.com". Are we confused yet? It is now accessible the same way you accessed other scripts in Step #1.

Step #6 - Where to Find Additional Scripts
The Netmation Web Site contains 100's of lists of Web Sites by Category and Topics, to display an example of such a list here is an index of 100's of sites related to CGI Scripting. Gary Hawkins here on Eskimo was very helpful in helping me through the areas where I stumbled along the way. Gary has implemented a Search script which you may be interested in taking a look at. Please drop us an E-mail should you successfully implement some neat features and like to share it with others.