Guestbook FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Guestbook CGI script.

Quick Links

  1. How do I set up the guestbook?
  2. How do I customize the appearance?
  3. How do I prevent spam entries?
  4. How do I delete entries?

Q1: How do I set up the guestbook?

Follow these steps to set up the Guestbook:

  1. Upload files:
    • guestbook.pl to /cgi-bin/
    • guestbook.html to /guestbook/
    • addguest.html to /guestbook/
  2. Create data file: 
    touch guestbook.txt
chmod 666 guestbook.txt
  3. Set script permissions: 
    chmod 755 guestbook.pl
  4. Configure paths in guestbook.pl

Q2: How do I customize the appearance?

Customize the guestbook appearance by modifying these variables:

$title = "My Guestbook";
$bgcolor = "#FFFFFF";
$text_color = "#000000";
$link_color = "#0000FF";
$entry_separator = "<hr>";

For more control:

  • Edit HTML templates: Modify guestbook.html for layout
  • Add CSS: Include a stylesheet link in the template
  • Modify entry format: Edit the print statements in the script

Q3: How do I prevent spam entries?

Several techniques help prevent spam:

  1. Use banned word filters: 
    @banned = ("viagra", "casino", "spam");
  2. Block suspicious IPs: 
    @blocked_ips = ("192.168.1.1");
  3. Add a simple math question: Human verification
  4. Require valid email format
  5. Enable moderation: Review entries before publishing
Tip: Combine multiple techniques for best protection.

Q4: How do I delete entries?

Methods to delete guestbook entries:

  1. Edit the data file directly:
    • Download guestbook.txt via FTP
    • Open in a text editor
    • Find and delete the unwanted entry
    • Upload the modified file
  2. Use the admin interface (if included): 
    http://yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl?admin=1
Important: Always backup the data file before editing manually.
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