Be The Web - Be_Random - Installation

Be_Random - Installation

Installation should begin, first, by downloading the Be_Random files to a local computer. Then unzipping/uncompressing them if necessary.

Step 1

The first step is to open be_random.cgi and be_random_admin.cgi using a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) and change the first line of both files. The first line should be #! followed by the path to Perl 5 on your server.

If you don't know the path to Perl 5 on your server, check your web host's support pages or contact your web host.

Here are some possibilities:

#!/usr/local/bin/perl (use this one if hosting with Be The Web)
#!/usr/bin/perl
#!/bin/perl

Step 2

Now, you should upload Be_Random files to your server.

Where you choose to put the files on your site depends somewhat on the web server. Many servers will allow you to put cgi files in any directory. Others will require that you use a special directory called cgi-bin. If there's a cgi-bin directory on your web server, you generally can't go wrong in using it. If you're running other CGI scripts, you may also choose to try cgi-bin/berandom/ to avoid cluttering the cgi-bin directory. We also recommend, if the web server allows, to place the Admin files in a separate directory from the be_random.cgi file.

Once you've chosen a directory, FTP all Be_Random files to this directory IN ASCII MODE (not binary mode or auto-detect). Your FTP program should have ASCII mode as an option; if not, download WS_FTP LE (free).

Recommended Setup

Simple Setup

/cgi-bin/
   be_random.cgi
   be_random.cfg *
/cgi-bin/beadmin/
   be_random_admin.cgi
   be_random_article.pl
   be_random_category.pl
   be_random_settings.pl
   be_random_help.pl
   be_random.cfg *
/berandom/
   random.txt *
   randomarchive.txt *
   randomnumber.txt *

/cgi-bin/
   be_random.cgi
   be_random_admin.cgi
   be_random_article.pl
   be_random_category.pl
   be_random_settings.pl
   be_random_help.pl
   be_random.cfg *
   random.txt *
   randomarchive.txt *
   randomnumber.txt *

* Created by Admin program

Step 3

The next step is to CHMOD the files and directories. CHMOD is the Unix command that tells your server what a file is for and who can access it. You should be able to CHMOD from your FTP client; if not, IPSwitch's WS_FTP LE can do this.

First, CHMOD your Be_Random Files directory(s) 777. (On a few servers, this may cause problems; if problems occur, try 755.)
Next you must CHMOD some of the Be_Random files:

be_random.cgi CHMOD 755 (or 777 if problems occur)
be_random_admin.cgi CHMOD 755 (or 777 if problems occur)

Step 4

Now access be_random_admin.cgi via your web browser. Typically this should be:

http://www.MyWebsite.com/cgi-bin/beadmin/be_random_admin.cgi

It should display the Be_Random Administration page,