DCForumLite

[Armchairpilot]

I just got DCforum lite and to my suprise it requires Unix to change file permissions. No big deal (so I thought) since I'm running OS X. I read the instructions, and I can't figure out all of this UNIX stuff. Here is what I'm having problems with:

/cgi-bin directory

|---/dcforum (755)

|---dcboard.cgi (755)

|---dcadmin.cgi (755)

|---dcforum.htmlt (644)

|---dcforum.setup (644)

|----/private_forums (777)

|----index.html

|---User_info (777)

|---index.html (to hide directory)

|---Lib (755)

|---all *.pl files (644)



/htdocs directory

|----/dcforum (777)

|---/admin.html

|---/Images (755)

|----index.html

|----All gif files
It says "/cgi-bin directory" at the top; What in the worl does this mean? I'm a complete dummy when it comes to command line stuff. Hopfully if I can get some help with the first line I can figure out the rest.

[moyashi]

you using this on your OSX box? or a hosted server?

if OSX ....

/user/moyashi/sites/cgi-bin <<<<

if hosted

/home/moyashi/public_html/cgi-bin <<<<

I hope that this helps

[Armchairpilot]

I'm hosting it on my OS X machine, not an online server. I tried entering that but when I do it comes up with "command not found". I'm assuming that they assume that I know something that I don't. Thanks for trying, though.

[moyashi]

Hi,

hmmm ... I installed ikonboad on my computer to tyy it out. it wasn't that much of a problem .... I'm on regular Ox

Do you hve other scripts running?
also, watch out for the preset settings ... they're not totally automatic.

Also, I noticed that some files need special attention like changing from dos to unix endings and such.

[mervTormel]

armchairpilot,

what is it that you're trying to accomplish? if you describe that, perhaps we can help and the unix stuff will sink in during the process of your activity.

that notation /cgi-bin means a directory, akin to a folder in OS9

bin is usually a notation indicating binary executables, but don't get hung up on that.

where did that listing come from? some DCforum utility?

[Armchairpilot]

Sorry if I wasn't too clear. I'm trying to set up DC Forum lite on my computer for a website that I run off of it. The instructions for DC forum lite are vague at best. I have no knowlage of any unix code whatsoever and what I posted above was more or less all of the instructions I recieved on how to install it. I thought that all I had to do was type that code into the terminal and I would be set, but that obviously did not work. I just wanted to know what I was missing from those lines of code.

[mervTormel]

sorry, it's still not clear. what i see in your original post looks like a hierarchy of directories and files.

that's not code, but perhaps a map of where to put things. if the product has such horrible installation docs to you, perhaps it's best to look elsewhere for a solution, as when you get into the bowels of the product, and the docs can't be understood, you'll rue the day.

let us know if there's any other specific help we can provide. perhaps i shall go peruse dcForumLite, but at the first sign of japanese stereo instructions, i fold faster than Superman on laundry day :D

[griffman]

I think they're trying to tell you what to set the permissions for on each of those directories. For example, assuming you're in the cgi-bin directory, 'chmod 755 dcforum' would set execute permissions on the dcforum subdirectory.

However, you should try to gain at least a bit of knowledge of UNIX permissions before proceeding - they're quite important in something like this :-). A year or so ago, I wrote an intro to UNIX permissions (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20001231152532966) on the macosxhints site; it might help you understand what they're asking you to do.

-rob.

[moyashi]

mervtormel .... try reading Japanese stereo instructions in Japanese :D ... makes things even worse!

----------------------------------
armchairpilot,

Originally posted by Armchairpilot
Sorry if I wasn't too clear. I'm trying to set up DC Forum lite on my computer for a website that I run off of it. The instructions for DC forum lite are vague at best. I have no knowlage of any unix code whatsoever and what I posted above was more or less all of the instructions I recieved on how to install it. I thought that all I had to do was type that code into the terminal and I would be set, but that obviously did not work. I just wanted to know what I was missing from those lines of code.

wooo ... ok griffman is right ... read his doc ....

have you ever installed scripts to your site? If so great ... just think that OSX is like your site ... and you'll be set.

IF not ... ummm ... lot's to work on ... to get things going.

check list:
have to have web-sharing on
need to edit you httpd.conf file
understand permissions ... well enough to install scripts (also realize you can accidentedly open doors for hackers to your system)
either set permissions through a ftp program accessing OSX or through command line
and such....

lot's to do, but isn't really that over whelming if you take things a step at a time.

I suggest trying to install the script to a site on the web. My dial-up IP offers webspace ... I did all my work there first to gain experience and a feel for unix ... hehe ... your IP might even help you with some of the harder to find configurations.

DC forum isn't bad ... but, my favorites are gossamer-threads.com's forum, phpBB2, ikonboard ... vB is great too ... but I still like freebie types ...

wish you all the luck on your quest!

[W3iRd0]

Okay, here goes...

Part 1:
/cgi-bin directory is found at: /Library/WebServer
Its a folder which apache looks at as scripted (All files residing in it are considered to be scripts).

The files/folders that are supposed to go there are listed between "/cgi-bin directory" and "/htdocs directory", for each and every one of these you have to type into the terminal:
chmod xxx filename/foldername
but before you do that, you have to make sure you are in the same directory as the files (i.e. "/Library/WebServer/cgi-bin", type:
cd /Library/WebServer/cgi-bin
into the Terminal to get there.

Part 2:
Create a folder named htdocs in the folder "/Library/WebServer/Documents" or your Sites folder, all the files listed after /htdocs directory should go there, and again you use chmod xxx on each of them (beginning with:
cd /Library/WebServer/Documents/htdocs
or
cd /Users/[yourusername]/Sites/htdocs
)

Hopefully this helps somewhat.