Instant Cgi/Perl

by Sol, Selena

• ISBN13: 9780072133875
• ISBN10: 0072133872
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-01
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media

Summary

The ultimate collection of ready-to-run code and expert techniques for CGI/Perl developers! This sourcebook explains how to configure, customize, run, and debug CGI/Perl applications. Plus, the bonus CD-ROM contains all the code from the book--ready to use.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Understanding the Applications	1	(439)
Introduction	3	(20)
How Should You Read this Book?	4	(2)
Structure of the Book as a Whole	4	(1)
Reading this Book by Example	5	(1)
Why Was this Book Written?	6	(17)
The Very Beginning	6	(1)
The First Web Application: WebBBS	6	(3)
The Birth of the Selena Sol Script Archive	9	(1)
Applying Classical Rigor to the Applications	9	(4)
Instant Web Scripts with CGI/Perl	13	(2)
Limitations of the Model	15	(2)
Object-Oriented Design Was the Answer!	17	(1)
The extropia Application Development Toolkit (ADT)	18	(1)
Instant CGI/Perl	19	(4)
The Basics of Installation	23	(76)
The 12-Step Checklist	24	(1)
Prepare Your Site	24	(4)
Obtain the Installation File	28	(2)
Advanced Source Code Access with Sourceforge	28	(2)
Unpack the Application Archive File	30	(10)
Unpacking on UNIX	31	(3)
Unpacking on Windows and Mac	34	(1)
What You've Got When You Unpack	35	(5)
Assign File Permissions	40	(4)
Permissions for extropia Applications	42	(2)
Modify the Perl Path Line	44	(3)
Perl Version Backward Compatibility	46	(1)
Configure the Application	47	(1)
Modify Application Look and Feel	48	(1)
Run the Application	49	(1)
Debug the Application	50	(19)
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Broken CGI Application	50	(2)
The Virtue of Nothingness	52	(1)
CGI Debugging is a State of Mind	53	(1)
The Scientific Methods and the Nitty Gritty of Debugging	53	(6)
What the Application Sees	59	(2)
Advanced Error Hunting	61	(8)
Review the Security	69	(29)
What is the Worst that Can Happen?	70	(1)
Security and Web Servers	71	(1)
CGI Applications	71	(1)
Reviewing Applications	72	(1)
Writing Safe CGI Applications	73	(1)
Stopping Snoopers	74	(3)
Writable Directories	77	(1)
User Input	78	(1)
Cross Site Scripting Problem	79	(1)
Taint Mode	80	(14)
Security and eXtropia Applications	94	(2)
Moving the Datafiles Directory	96	(2)
Testing and Registration	98	(1)
In Summary	98	(1)
Configuring eXtropia Applications with the Application Executable	99	(66)
What is an Application Executable?	100	(1)
What Is an ADT Component?	100	(2)
Configuring an Entire Application	102	(1)
Understanding the Application Executable Preamble	102	(6)
Execute Perl	103	(1)
Import Supporting Perl Modules	104	(1)
Define the Library Path for eXtropia Modules	105	(1)
Remove Libraries for mod-perl Compliance	106	(1)
Import eXtropia Modules	107	(1)
Instantiate Helper Objects	107	(1)
Standardize Incoming Form Data	108	(1)
How to Modify and Test Configuration Options	108	(6)
Spotting Configuration Errors	109	(3)
How to Modify List-Based Configuration Parameters	112	(1)
Understanding Reference-Based Configuration Parameters	113	(1)
The Standard Configuration Options for eXtropia Applications	114	(49)
Session and Session Manager Configuration	115	(3)
Authentication Configuration	118	(4)
Authentication Manager Configuration	122	(7)
Data Handler Manager Configuration	129	(5)
Datasource Configuration	134	(7)
Logging Configuration	141	(2)
Mail Configuration	143	(5)
Encryption Configuration	148	(1)
View Configuration	149	(5)
Filter Confinguration	154	(2)
Action Handler Configuration	156	(7)
Putting it All Together	163	(2)
Controlling Application Workflow with Action Handlers	165	(36)
Action Handler Basics	166	(9)
Understanding the Action Handler Preamble	167	(1)
Subscribing to @Action_Handle_Action_Parms with the_rearrangeAsHash()Method	168	(2)
Defining the Logic of an Action	170	(5)
Understanding the Default Action Handlers	175	(18)
Understanding CheckForLogicalConfigurationErrorsAction	176	(4)
Understanding DisplaySessionTimeoutErrorAction	180	(2)
Understanding DownloadFileAction	182	(1)
Understanding DisplayAddFormAction	182	(2)
Understanding DisplayAddRecordConfirmationAction	184	(3)
Understanding ProcessAddRequestAction	187	(3)
Understanding Modify and Delete Action Handlers	190	(1)
Understanding the Custom Search Action Handlers	191	(2)
Understanding Extropia::App	193	(3)
The loadViewAndDisplay( )Method	193	(1)
The handleIncomingData( )Method	194	(1)
The getDataHandlerErrors( )Method	195	(1)
The setNextViewToDisplay( )Method	195	(1)
The setAdditionalViewDisplayParams( ) Methods	195	(1)
The sendMail() Method	196	(1)
The getDate() Method	196	(1)
The getCurrentTime() Method	196	(1)
Understanding Extropia::App::DBApp	196	(5)
The loadData() Method	197	(1)
The addRecord() Method	198	(1)
The modifyRecord() Method	198	(1)
The deleteRecord() Method	199	(2)
Defining Application Look and Feel with Views	201	(66)
Basic View Introduction	202	(3)
Defining the Package Name	203	(1)
Importing Supporting Modules	203	(1)
Declaring View Inheritance	203	(1)
Defining the display( ) Method	203	(2)
Views and Style	205	(4)
Embedding Applications with the Embed Filter	209	(1)
Views Within Other Views	210	(2)
Error Messages	212	(1)
Sticky Forms	213	(3)
Maintaining Application State	216	(2)
Adding Your Own Custom View Display Parameters	218	(2)
Walking Through Record Sets	220	(2)
Understanding the Standard Views	222	(45)
The Default extropia Views	222	(1)
Understanding ApplicationSubMenuView	223	(4)
Understanding ErrorDisplayView	227	(2)
Understanding InputWidgetDisplayView	229	(5)
Understanding PageTopView	234	(3)
Understanding PageBottomView	237	(1)
Understanding SessionTimeoutView	237	(2)
Understanding AddRecordView	239	(3)
Understanding AddRecordConfirmationView	242	(3)
Understanding AddAcknowledgementView	245	(2)
Understanding AddEventEmailView	247	(1)
Understanding BasicDataView	248	(7)
Understanding the Delete-Specific Views	255	(1)
Understanding DetailsView	256	(6)
Understanding HiddenAdminFieldsView and URLAdminFieldsView	262	(3)
Understanding the Modification Views	265	(1)
Understanding the Search-Related Views	265	(2)
Advanced Application Configuration	267	(52)
Getting the Basic Screen	268	(6)
Understanding the Application Executable	268	(3)
Understanding SubmitAnswerView	271	(3)
Adding a Datasource and Extra Fields	274	(8)
Understanding Changes to the Application Executable	274	(3)
Using a Relational Database	277	(5)
Adding Action Handlers for Performing an Addition to the Datasource	282	(4)
Understanding Changes to the Application Executable	283	(3)
Adding Confirmation and Acknowledgments	286	(6)
Understanding Changes to the Application Executable	286	(4)
Understanding the Changes to SubmitAnswerView	290	(2)
Data Handling and Data Handling Errors	292	(7)
Understanding Changes to the Application Executable	292	(4)
Understanding the Changes to SubmitAnswerView	296	(3)
Sending Mail from the Application	299	(5)
Understanding the Changes to SubmitAnswerView	300	(4)
Session and Authentication	304	(8)
Advanced Setup Issues	312	(7)
Loading Setup Files	312	(2)
Enhancing eXtropia Application Performance	314	(5)
Simple Form Processing	319	(36)
Form-Processing Functionality	321	(4)
Logging From Submissions	321	(2)
Authentication	323	(1)
Data Handling	323	(1)
Confirmations and Acknowledgements	324	(1)
Comment Forms	325	(16)
The Application Executable	327	(3)
Custom Action Handlers	330	(5)
Custom Views	335	(6)
Download and Jump Forms	341	(4)
The Application Executable	342	(2)
Custom Action Handlers	344	(1)
Custom Views	344	(1)
Tell-a-Friend Forms	345	(4)
The Application Executable	346	(3)
Custom Action Handlers	349	(1)
Custom Views	349	(1)
Online Survey Form	349	(6)
The Application Executable	351	(2)
Custom Action Handlers	353	(1)
Custom Views	353	(2)
Database Frontends	355	(40)
Database Functionality	356	(4)
Searching, Sorting, and Viewing Data	356	(2)
Adding, Modifying, and Deleting Data with the Administrative Interface	358	(2)
Guestbook	360	(13)
Viewing Guestbook Entries	362	(1)
Adding Guestbook Entries	362	(2)
The Application Executable	364	(3)
Custom Views	367	(6)
Address Book	373	(5)
The Application Executable	375	(3)
Custom Action Handlers	378	(1)
Custom Views	378	(1)
Document Manager	378	(4)
The Application Executable	380	(1)
Custom Action Handlers	381	(1)
Custom Views	382	(1)
News Publisher	382	(9)
Understanding the News Client	383	(1)
The Application Executable	383	(2)
Custom Action Handlers	385	(1)
Custom Views	385	(6)
Understanding the News Manager Administrator	391	(4)
The Application Executable	391	(2)
Custom Action Handlers	393	(1)
Custom Views	393	(2)
Process-Management Applications	395	(44)
Project Tracker	396	(4)
The Application Executable	396	(4)
Custom Views	400	(1)
Custom Action Handlers	400	(1)
Mailing List Manager	400	(27)
List Additions	402	(1)
List Deletions	403	(2)
Sending Mail to the Entire List	405	(1)
The Application Executable	406	(3)
Custom Views	409	(10)
Custom Action Handlers	419	(8)
Bug Tracker	427	(12)
The Application Executable	427	(3)
Custom Views	430	(6)
Custom Actions	436	(3)
Part 2 Understanding the Application Development Toolkit	439	(530)
Application Toolkit Architecture	441	(98)
Flexibility	442	(1)
Flexibility in Code Reuse	443	(2)
Flexibility in the Application Development Toolkit	445	(1)
Engineering Web Applications	445	(3)
Application Architecture	448	(10)
Make Use of Existing Code	448	(1)
Code Must Run on All Perl Environments	449	(1)
Take Advantage of Perl Acceleration	450	(1)
Provide Security	451	(1)
Gracefully Handle Errors	452	(1)
Provide a Modular Application Design	453	(5)
eXtropia Objects	458	(4)
References and Data Structures	462	(9)
References 101	463	(1)
Cookies	463	(1)
What Cookies Have to Do with Perl	464	(2)
Using References	466	(4)
Representing Data Structures Using References	470	(1)
References Summary	471	(1)
Object-Oriented Programming	471	(27)
Procedural Programming	473	(1)
Limitations of Procedural Programming	474	(2)
Object-Oriented Programming Is Born	476	(1)
Objects	477	(1)
More Object-Oriented Abstraction	478	(1)
Encapsulation	479	(1)
Application Programming Interface (API)	480	(2)
Inheritance	482	(1)
Polymorphism	483	(2)
Writing Objects in Perl	485	(2)
Creating an Object	487	(11)
Interfaces and Drivers	498	(5)
Interface/Driver Template	503	(16)
Coding Conventions	503	(6)
How to Write an Interface and Driver	509	(2)
Interface Template	511	(3)
Driver Template	514	(5)
Using Extropia::Base	519	(10)
Accepting Named and Positional Parameters	522	(3)
Assigning Defaults	525	(1)
Loading a Driver	526	(1)
Working with Complex Data Structures	526	(1)
Working with Errors	527	(2)
Handling Errors	529	(7)
Summary	536	(3)
Designing User Interfaces with Views and Filters	539	(28)
Views Inherit from Other Views	541	(1)
Views Can Contain Other Views	542	(1)
Views Return Data	543	(1)
Views Can be Filtered	544	(1)
Views Can Be Cached	545	(3)
Using Views and Filters	548	(8)
Views	548	(3)
Filters	551	(3)
The_loadViewAndDisplay () Convenience Method	554	(2)
How to Write a View	556	(5)
Creating a View Module	557	(2)
Sample View Code Walkthrough	559	(1)
Creating a View Module Summary	560	(1)
How to Write a Filter Driver	561	(1)
Implementing a Filter	561	(1)
Understanding the View Module	562	(5)
View Architecture	564	(1)
View Methods Walkthrough	565	(2)
Processing Incoming Data with DataHandler	567	(70)
Validation	569	(1)
Untainting	570	(1)
Data Transformation	570	(1)
Using Data Handler Managers	571	(42)
Using Data Handler Manager Summary	577	(5)
Creating a Data Handler Manager	582	(1)
Validation of Data	582	(10)
Untainting Data	592	(13)
Transforming Data	605	(7)
Putting All the Handlers Together	612	(1)
Using Data Handlers	613	(2)
How to Write a Data Handler Manager	615	(3)
Implementing a Data Handler Manager	616	(2)
How to Write a Data Handler Driver	618	(12)
Implementing a Data Handler Driver	618	(12)
Base Data Handler Manager Architecture	630	(3)
Base Data Handler Architecture	633	(4)
Locking Resources with Extropia::Lock	637	(24)
Why Not Use flock ()?	638	(1)
Locking Resources Versus Files	638	(4)
Using Locks	642	(14)
Creating a Lock	645	(1)
Lock Driver Definitions	646	(8)
Locking and Unlocking Resources	654	(1)
Dealing with Lock Errors	655	(1)
Clean up After Locking a Resource	656	(1)
How to Write a Lock Driver	656	(3)
Implementing a Lock	657	(2)
Base Lock Architecture	659	(2)
Protecting Data with Extropia::Encrypt	661	(32)
Encryption 101	663	(9)
Traditional Two-Way Encryption	665	(3)
Symmetric Encryption	668	(1)
Asymmetric Encryption	669	(1)
Signing Data	669	(1)
One-Way Encryption	670	(2)
Using the Encrypt Modules	672	(18)
Creating an Encryptor	677	(1)
Encrypt Driver Definitions	678	(7)
Encrypting Data	685	(1)
Comparing Encrypted Data	685	(2)
Configuring PGP Encryption	687	(3)
How to Write an Encrypt Driver	690	(3)
Implementing an Encrypt Driver	691	(2)
Generating Keys with KeyGenerator	693	(18)
Key Generation Strategies	694	(4)
POSIX	694	(1)
Random	694	(2)
Counter	696	(1)
Process	697	(1)
Composite	697	(1)
Summary	698	(1)
Using KeyGenerator	698	(11)
Key Generator Drivers	699	(3)
Creating a Key Generator	702	(1)
Key Generator Driver Definitions	703	(5)
Generating a Key	708	(1)
How to Write a Key Generator Driver	709	(2)
Implementing a Key Generator	709	(2)
Generating Unique Files with UniqueFile	711	(10)
Generating Unique Filenames	713	(3)
Filenames that Are Transient	713	(1)
Filenames that Are Not Easily Guessed	714	(1)
Filenames that Contain a Counter-Based ID	714	(1)
Filenames that Contain Application Information	715	(1)
Using Extropia::UniqueFile to Handle These Situations	715	(1)
Using Unique Files	716	(5)
Creating a Unique File	717	(2)
Removing a Unique File	719	(1)
Other Unique File Operations	719	(1)
Finding a Temporary Directory	719	(1)
Summary	720	(1)
Sending Email from Applications Using Extropia::Mail	721	(14)
Using Mail	722	(10)
Creating a Mailer	723	(1)
Mail Driver Definitions	723	(3)
Sending Mail	726	(3)
Installing Drivers	729	(3)
How to Write a Mail Driver	732	(3)
Implementing a Mailer	732	(3)
Maintaining State with Session and SessionManager	735	(56)
Session 101	736	(7)
Method 1: HTML From Variables	737	(1)
Method 2: The PATH-INFO Environment Variable	738	(1)
Method 3: Cookies	739	(1)
Summary	740	(1)
Sessions	741	(1)
Session Managers	742	(1)
Using Sessions	743	(27)
Creating a Session	749	(2)
Session Driver Definitions	751	(13)
Getting and Setting Attributes	764	(1)
An Alternative View: Using a Session Hash	765	(1)
Session Metadata Management	766	(1)
Data and Lock Policies	767	(3)
Using a Session Manager	770	(10)
Creating a Session Manager	772	(1)
Session Manager Driver Definitions	773	(6)
Creating Sessions	779	(1)
Obtaining a List of Currently Active Sessions	779	(1)
Removing Old Sessions	779	(1)
How to Write a Session Driver	780	(9)
Implementing a Session	780	(9)
How to Write a Session Manager Driver	789	(2)
Implementing a Session Manager	789	(1)
Conclusion	790	(1)
Accessing Data Anywhere with Extropia::DataSource	791	(94)
Data Abstraction	794	(1)
DataSource Terminology	795	(3)
Using DataSource	798	(35)
Creating a Datasource	800	(16)
Using the DataSource Query Language	816	(3)
Adding Data	819	(2)
Deleting Data	821	(2)
Updating Data	823	(2)
Batching Changes	825	(4)
Retrieving Data	829	(4)
Using RecordSets	833	(16)
Retrieving Data	836	(2)
Getting Information About the Whole RecordSet	838	(1)
Other RecordSet Methods	839	(4)
Selecting the Right Type of RecordSet for the Job	843	(4)
Putting It All Together: RecordSets and CGI	847	(2)
Using DataType and Sort Objects	849	(4)
Using DataTypes	850	(2)
Using Sorts	852	(1)
Writing Custom Drivers	853	(24)
Architectural Overview	854	(1)
Writing a DataSource Driver	855	(17)
Writing a RecordSet Driver	872	(1)
Writing a Sort Object	872	(1)
Writing a DataType Object	873	(4)
Understanding DataSource and RecordSet	877	(8)
Adding a Record: Behind the Scenes	878	(1)
Searching: Behind the Scenes	878	(7)
Implementing Web Application Security with Extropia::Auth	885	(64)
Authentication and Authorization	886	(14)
Extropia::Auth Architecture	887	(1)
Auth Management	888	(2)
Auth	890	(1)
Auth Coaching	891	(2)
Auth Scenarios	893	(7)
Using Auth Manager	900	(15)
Creating an Auth Manager	901	(1)
Auth Manager Driver Definitions	902	(10)
Authenticating Users	912	(1)
Authorizing Users	912	(1)
Obtaining User Information	913	(1)
Setting Cached User Information	914	(1)
Refreshing Cached User Information	914	(1)
Logging Out	915	(1)
Using Auth	915	(16)
Creating an Auth Object	916	(1)
Auth Driver Definitions	917	(11)
Authenticating Users	928	(1)
Registering Users	929	(1)
Searching for Users	929	(1)
Authorizing Users	930	(1)
Obtaining User Information	930	(1)
Setting Cached User Information	930	(1)
Refreshing Cached User Information	931	(1)
Using Auth::Cache	931	(8)
Creating an Auth::Cache Object	932	(1)
Auth::Cache Driver Definitions	932	(5)
Obtaining User Information	937	(1)
Setting Cached User Information	937	(1)
Authorizing Users	937	(1)
Managing the Group Cache	937	(1)
Clearing the Cache	938	(1)
How to Write an Auth Manager Driver	939	(2)
Implementing an Auth Manager	939	(2)
How to Write an Auth Driver	941	(5)
Implementing an Auth Driver	941	(5)
How to Write an Auth::Cache Driver	946	(3)
Implementing an Auth::Cache Driver	946	(3)
Logging with Extropia::Log	949	(20)
Using Log	950	(14)
Creating a Log	952	(1)
Log Driver Definitions	953	(10)
Writing to the Log	963	(1)
How to Write a Log Driver	964	(3)
Implementing a Log	964	(1)
Extropia::Log::File Code Walkthrough	965	(2)
Understanding the Base Log Module	967	(2)
Index	969