Drag `n' Drop CGI: Enhance Your Web Site Without Programming (Paperback)

~ (Author), Chris Baron (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Weil and Baron offer the reader the fast-food approach to getting set up in electronic commerce. The CD-ROM contains prebuilt code in Perl, Java, and JavaScript and even a working version of NetObjects Fusion, a site management tool for graphic designers. The code ranges from counters and scrolling text to managing graphics and gaining remote access with Perl and JavaScript to a Perl-based online secure store. Recommended for technically confident users who want something to help with instant gratification. Gassaway presents a step-by-step approach to site design and management with NetObjects Fusion, the primary design tool used in the "24 Hours in Cyberspace" project, so you know it can handle large-scale projects. Via case studies, she walks nondesigners through the steps of using this powerful site management system. These two books work well together; a nice package for both understanding and doing the design and management of a visually compelling web site.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

"Weil and Baron actually deliver on the book's subtitle. This book solved over a dozen problems I had been having with our Web site that no other source could adequately resolve." -- Greg Ewing, Webmaster and Manager, Electronic Publishing, Western Digital Corporation.

"This book definitely succeeds in reaching a general audience with moderate computer skills. The style of writing and the presentation make the examples easy to deploy." -- Jim Buyens, author of Building Net Sites with Windows NT and Running Microsoft FrontPage 97

Everything you need to add advanced Perl CGI and JavaScript functions to your Web site-no programming or UNIX experience required! You'll find the scripts and all the tools you need on the included CD-ROM.

Step-by-step instructions to configure and install a wide range of useful, industrial-strength, full-featured JavaScript and Perl scripts including: a complete on-line store-with on-line, secure credit card transactions; a Web site search engine; a universal HTML form processing script; a floating Web site directory panel; a programmable image display script; a scrolling browser message; and a visitor counter.

The authors walk you through the steps of the script installation process, explaining how and why they work. Reading this book, you will learn not only how to customize and use the scripts, but also how to work with other scripts you find on the Internet. In addition, what you discover about the Internet, HTTP, CGI, and both client-side and server-side scripts will help you enhance your pages more easily.

All the necessary "tricks of the trade" are also presented, such as questions to ask your Internet Service Provider-even the business reasons for and uses of each script.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley (C) (September 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201419661
• ISBN-13: 978-0201419665
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,440,154 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!!, May 5, 1999

By A Customer

I am a technical writer and webmaster and it's my job to help people in our department with web pages and cgi scripts. Many of them have asked for a recommendation on what book would be helpful. I reviewed this book for that purpose and was amazed at how poorly written it is!! They are obviously NOT writers and honestly must have thrown this together over a weekend. Unless you already know what they're talking about,this will make matters worse. And if you already know what they're talking about, you don't need it. So far, my favorite intro book is "Perl and CGI for the World Wide Web" by Elizabeth Castro. Several on our staff are now using it and finding it very helpful, straightforward, not too much detail...etc.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book that delivers what it promises., August 21, 1999

By A Customer

Drag and Drop CGI? Sounds too good to be true? Well, it IS true! An excellent book that delivers what its subtitle promises. If you're looking to enhance your website with form validation, form processing, search engines, visitor counters and even an online store (amongst other goodies) then this is the book for you.

The book assumes moderate computer skills on the part of the reader but is in no way overly technical. In addition, the authors provide step by step support through each script, how each script works and how you might implement each script in the 'real-world'.

What makes Drag and Drop CGI particularly commendable is that it delivers on its promise: nine fully-operational, fully-tested, robust, commercial-quality scripts (including the aforementioned on-line store) that solve real-world problems and not just 'demos', 'teasers' or 'examples' masquerading as fully functional code. For this reason alone, it's worth making room on your bookshelf for this book.

Other features of the book worthy of note include: numerous, accessible introductions to technical concepts; a chapter to help you clarify your site's design, purpose and target audience; and introductory guides to Perl and UNIX for those readers who wish to advance to the 'next level'.

All this, written in a clear, humorous and supportive style. Not bad... Not bad at all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars User Friendly Intro to "Using" CGI on your Web Site, April 1, 1999

By A Customer

"Drag 'N' Drop CGI" by Bob Weil and Chris Baron is probably the best and most practical intro book to CGI I have read. After providing a brief uncomplicated understanding of the purpose of cgi, the authors literally hold your hand as you install your first CGI script using ftp and Telnet. The authors provide you with a questionnaire you can give to your ISP requesting all the info you need to install a script. I know in the theoretical world this info should be on the site or provided by the Tech when you sign on, but I went through a lot of difficulty trying to install my first script. Newbies who do not know any better may think they are doing something wrong. (I did not realize my ISP did not provide the "complete" info needed as I struggled to install a script) With the book in my hand, it was reassuring to test my skills and cautiously tinker with a few of the scripts provided on CD. Bottom line: While I had "perused" at least five other CGI/Perl books and browsed half a dozen CGI sites, I understood and accomplished more -- faster with the aide of this book. Highly Recommend