CGI Programming using Perl

Course Length: 3 days, $89 per book

This course bridges the gap between using HTML to create static Web pages and using Perl CGI scripts to create dynamic Web pages. The course emphasizes using the Perl 5 CGI library routines to process HTML forms by providing extensive working examples and by students writing applications to illustrate the concepts presented. This course is not intended to be a substitute for a Perl programming course.

Audience: Web site developers wanting to create interactive Web pages.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with HTML forms. Programming experience is required. Basic UNIX skills and the ability to use vi or a basic text editor are also required.

Browsers and Servers

WEB Browsers and Servers
URLS
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Common Gateway Interface

What is CGI?
Why use CGI applications?
Environment Variables
Managing CGI Files

Control Input to CGI Applications

ISINDEX, GET, and POST
GET Method
POST Method

Perl CGI Module

CGI.pm Module
Perl Subroutines
Perl Objects
Perl Methods
Commonly Used Methods

Forms

Form Objects
Static Forms
Dynamic Forms

CGI/Browser Interaction

Animation Description
Server Push
Client Pull

Serverside Includes

Serverside Includes: Why?
The exec Command
Example

Accessing Databases

Browser Database Access
Static Flat-File Database
perl DBM Interface
Third Party RDBMS application

Stateful CGI Applications

Stateful vs. Stateless
Why Use Stateful CGI Applications?
Stateful Access with a Cookie

Advanced HTML Interface Tools

Image Maps
Tables
Multiple Form Interaction
Frames
GD Library

Appendix: Overview of Internet Security

Security Issues
Platform Differences
Cryptography
Encryption Keys
Controlling User Access
"Trusted Server"
Developing an e-mail interface