Delphi CGI Component Package, Version 1.0 ----------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION This package consists of two Delphi components: * TCGI, the core component, allows Delphi applications to interact with information servers (primarily World Wide Web servers), processing input and generating output on the fly. * TCGIDlg, a dialog box component which aids in understanding and debugging CGI applications. This release has been tested with Win-httpd 1.4 (for Windows 3.1) and WebSite (for Windows 95 & NT). Win-httpd is available as shareware (see http://www.city.net/win-httpd). WebSite is available from O'Reilly and Associates (see http://website.ora.com for features and ordering information). Currently planned enhancements/add-ons include: * Execution templates, for greater flexibility in server support. * An HTML component, which will link to the CGI component and assist in outputting HTML tags, tables, and other markup. INSTALLATION To install, unzip the ZIP file using the -d option (to preserve directory structure). Start Delphi, choose Options|Install Components..., click Browse, and select CGIREG.DCU. The CGI and CGIDlg components will be added to the Samples pallette. To install the context-sensitive help, move the CGI.HLP file to your \DELPHI\BIN directory, and the CGI.KWF file to \DELPHI\HELP. Run Delphi's HelpInst utility. Choose File|Open. Select \DELPHI\BIN\DELPHI.HDX. Click the + icon, and select \DELPHI\HELP\CGI.KWF. Then choose File|Save, and exit. The CGI context-sensitive help is now integrated with the Delphi help system. USE Just place the CGI component on the main form of your application. When the application is run by the information server (or as a standalone app with the correct command line parameters), the CGI component will automatically load all of the relevant data and open the output file for your results. See the help file for details. For a complete description of how CGI applications interact with Web servers, including a description of the command line, please refer to the Windows CGI 1.2 interface specification (available at http://website.ora.com/wsdocs/32demo/windows-cgi.html). DEMOS This ZIP file contains two demo programs, both of which are based on Bob Denny's CGI demo for Visual Basic. The only difference between them is that one of them uses a form, while the other saves almost 70K by going formless. Formless programming in Delphi is a little trickier, but not too bad. They won't run without the proper command line and .ini file, so you must either set them up to be executed by a Web server, or create an .ini file manually and fake the parameters. This should be pretty easy to figure out from the CGI spec. Admittedly, this makes it more difficult for people who aren't running Web servers to write and test CGI apps, but Win-httpd is readily available and makes the process much easier. REGISTRATION Good news! It's free! However, if you appreciate the effort, you might reward me by sending me a postcard. It's just a nice reminder that people are paying attention, and it helps prove to my boss that I'm not a complete waste of salary and benefits. Plus, it's a cool way to see the world while I'm chained to my desk. Send 'em to: Cool CGI Component Michael B. Klein c/o Washington Publishing Company 806 W. Diamond Ave., Suite 400 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me: CompuServe: 74323,3555 Internet: mbk@baldrick.com Thanks for your interest, and enjoy!