First timer needs help with CGI information

[yitbos]

Hello everyone,

I’m new to this site and have limited knowledge of web page development but could really use some expert advice on this issue.

I am getting married in a couple of months. With our wedding being moderately small, and on a small budget, we want to have guests RSVP on a website instead of sending back the RSVP card normally included in the invitation. To do this, I am assuming you need a CGI program so they can fill in a couple of boxes and then click submit.

Basically we would like them to have a pull down menu to choose Mr., Mrs., Miss., and Ms. Then they would have a text box to enter their last name and then first name. Next would be a text box to enter the number of people attending. Finally is a pull down menu to say if they will attend the dinner gathering the night before the wedding.

It is not much information, but we would like it to dump into a database so we can sort things alphabetically by name in Excel and hopefully get an email notification every time someone RSVPs.

Is there an easy way to do this? Is there a current script on the internet that I can use? On top of that, what in the world do I do with the script? I’m on comcast.net as my cable modem service provider. I have already set up a personal web page and that works fine, I just need to create the page for the RSVP and then find a way to get the information into a database.

Any help you can give this first timer would be great. I hope I have posted this in the correct location for my type of question

Thanks,

John
rodeman@comcast.net

[cg9com]

I will move this thread into the Perl/CGI section. :)

make sure your ISP has the proper server side capabilities for you, if you dont know i guess you have to ask.
IF they dont, there are other services to help you that are remotely hosted. I have a few ideas on that topic if you get into a tight situation with time or anything.

what you are looking at is an HTML form to fill out, the mailing/handling etc. will be done from the server with a script/application. you can find some at http://www.hotscripts.com/
as far as help with installing, there should be some reading to do on that site, or you can ask here. :thumbsup:

[yitbos]

Well, unfortunately, Comcast does not support Perl or CGI scripts. That completely wipes out my plans with this I guess.

Unless someone knows of a free service that will host a webpage and supports Perl or other CGI scripting?

John

[cg9com]

Well, web1000.com (http://www.web1000.com/) offers free hosting, and has a perl mailer premade for use (read) (http://web1000.com/support/cgi.htm), you just need to set up a form.
I use it now, until i feel like making my own and paying for hosting. :D