CONFIGURATION INTRODUCTION
The configure.pl file is the only .PL file you should need to change (unless you use paths different than our examples). Here, you will identify the correct path for your scripts and for the administrator module. It also allows you to set your colors, font, titles, messages and footer text. Below is a detailed description of what each parameter does and examples of its entry.
- General Format Rules (Examples are in color and centered below their topic)
- Lines beginning with a # symbol are for your information only. And, in many cases, they provide you with an example of how the line might read.
#CONTACT YOUR IT DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN THIS PATH.#$mailprog = '/bin/formmail';
- Lines beginning with anything other than a # symbol command the program to take action, include text, or use a specific file directory structure.
$mailprog = '/bin/sendmail';
- Lines beginning with anything other than a # symbol require careful editing, or an error may occur when you try to run the program. Change only the information within the starting and ending code symbols: starting =' and ending '.
$mailprog = 'change-this-text-only';
- Introduction To Paths/Server
- Paths to your files may vary depending on their use in the script and the type of server you are installing the scripts on. If you're not sure, install perldiver.pl in your cgi-bin area or contact your systems administrator to determine your path.
Relative paths ("relative" to the file being served), look something like this:
htdocs/registrar/lock.file
Absolute paths refer to the server root:
/www/htdocs/registrar/lock.file
Windows servers typically use double slashes and a path such as this:
d:\\www\\cgi-bin\\registrar\\registrar.pl
Return to Top
PART 1: IDENTIFY YOUR PATHS
After installing Registrar, you need to tell RegistraR where your scripts, graphics, data and HTML files can be found. Once you've identified each of these paths, open the configure.pl files and search for the code words in bold below and replace the sample paths with your correct paths.
CAUTION: Be careful to edit only the paths and not the surrounding Perl code.
- Data (events.dat and registry.dat) = datapath
$datapath='/www/htdocs/registrar/';
- Location of RegistraR HTML files and cgi-bin scripts = URL and CGI_URL
$URL = 'http://mydomain.com/registrar';
$CGI_URL = 'http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/registrar';
- Email software = mailprog
$mailprog = '/bin/sendmail';
- URL background graphics = background
$background='/registrar/bg.gif';
- URL of Help and Admin graphics = adminbuttons
$adminbuttons='/r-images/';
- Lock file (prevents two users from accessing the database at the same time) = lockfile
$lockfile='/www/htdocs/registrar/lock.file';
Return to Top
PART 2: LOCK FILE, EMAIL, & ADMIN PASSWORD CONFIGURATIONS
If you have never worked with Perl before and are having problems customizing your program, the next sections are for you. If you have already made some of these changes and are getting error messages when you try to run the program, read the Troubleshooting module for help.
CAUTION: Avoid using any apostrophes in your text messages or titles. Doing so will cause an error.
Return to Top
PART 3: APPEARANCE & MESSAGE OPTIONS
If you have already made some of these changes and are getting error messages when you try to run the program, read the Troubleshooting module for help.
CAUTION: Avoid using any apostrophes in your text messages or titles. Doing so will cause an error.
- What color do you want for your page background? Replace "#FFFFFF" with your color text or color code. (Examples include #ff0000, #00ff00, and #0000ff which are red, green, and blue, respectively, or use words like
"red", "white", "blue", "green", "gray", "silver", "orange", etc.)
$bgcolor = '#FFFFFF';
- Change your stylesheet options. These setting determine colors, fonts, styles, etc. Change only the data between the colon and the semicolon. If you want, you may expand any definition with additional properties, but you should NEVER delete a definiton. Keyword search: "cascading style sheets"
- What do you want your text to say in the registration title bar? Replace "Registration Form" with your text.
$pagetitle='Registration Form';
- What do you want your text to say in the administrator's module title bar? Replace "Administration Module" with your text.
$admintitle='Administration Module';
- What message do you want to include in your footer? Replace "Call 555-122-2222 if you need assistance." with your text. You may include HTML links and other HTML codes as desired.
$footer='Call 555-122-2222 if you need assistance.';
- What text do you want to appear if an event is FREE? Replace "FREE" with your text (you may include HTML code).
$FEE = 'FREE';
- What text do you want to appear when an event is FULL? Replace "FULL!" with your text (you may include HTML code).
$full_text = 'FULL!';
- What message do you want to appear on the registration form? You may want to provide information regarding payment options/instructions or general registration information. Replace "Message Block 1" with your message. You may include HTML links and other HTML codes as desired.
$payoptions='Message Block 1';
- What message do you want to appear on the confirmation letter regarding your payment options? Replace "Message Block 2" with your message. You may include HTML links and other HTML codes, as desired.
$paymentoptions='Message Block 2';
- Do you want to include any additional text on the confirmation letter? You may want to provide driving directions to your facility, links to hotels, etc, or other information that is not appropriate for a footer. Replace "Message Block 3" with your message. You may include HTML links and other HTML codes, as desired.
$confirmopt1='Message Block 3';
- Customize the Event Titles You may change the individual titles by changing each event's definition. For instance, you might change 'Instructor' to 'Facilitator'.
Return to Top