Apple APPLESHARE IP 5.0.2 Important Information Manual

Important Information About AppleShare 5.0.2

AppleShare 5.0.2 has two improvements not mentioned elsewhere in the documentation:

mIt is fully compatible with Mac OS 8.

mIt supports WebStar-compatibleplug-ins.

Note: Several sections in this document instruct you to restart the Web server so that settings changes can take effect. To save time, read this entire document and make all changes before you restart the server.

Using WebStar plug-ins

Plug-insadd speed and functionality to your Web server. They act like CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts but are faster and more efficient. You can useplug-insto

mrecord the number of visitors to your Web pages

mprocess forms

maccess databases such as customer lists or product catalogs

mconduct on-screenchats

mcheck passwords

mlet users search for information on your Web site

You can purchase plug-insfrom software vendors or download them from the Internet.

Installing plug-ins

nTo install a plug-in,follow the instructions that came with theplug-insoftware.

If no directions came with the software, drag the plug-into thePlug-Insfolder inside the current Web folder, chosen in the Web & File Sharing Settings window.

Setting aside memory for plug-ins

The documentation that came with your plug-inmay tell you how much memory theplug-inneeds to load and to work properly. (All theplug-insin thePlug-Insfolder load when your Web server starts.)

Important Do not adjust the memory set aside for plug-insby using the server’s Information dialog box. Instead follow the instructions in this section.

1Open the Web & File Admin program.

2Choose Web & File Server Settings from the Server menu.

The Web & File Server Settings window appears.

3Choose Web Plug-Insfrom thepop-upmenu.

<<Picture “W eb Plug-insSettings PICT”>>

4Increase the number in the box labeled Maximum Plug-inMemory Usage by the amount of memory that yourplug-inrequires.

To increase this number, click the up arrow.

The total in the box should be at least as large as the sum of required memory for all plug-insin thePlug-Insfolder, plus any specialplug-insthat reside elsewhere. (See “ SpecialPlug-inSettings,” l ater in this document.)

5Click Save.

Before you save changes, you may want to read the next section and make changes to other settings.

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6To make your changes take effect, restart the server.

If the server is running, choose Stop Web & File Server from the Server menu. Then choose Start Web & File Server from the Server menu.

Changing other plug-insettings

To change other plug-insettings, follow these instructions:

1Open the Web & File Admin program.

2Choose Web & File Server Settings from the Server menu.

The Web & File Server Settings window appears.

3Choose Web Plug-Insfrom thepop-upmenu.

<<Picture “W ebPlug-insSettings PICT”>>

4To enable plug-ins,click to put an X in the box labeled EnablePlug-ins.

5To allow plug-insto maintain a log of their actions, click to put an X in the box labeled EnablePlug-inLogging.

6To select special plug-insto handle preprocessing, postprocessing, orerror-handlingtasks, click the appropriate button and locate theplug-inyou want to use.

See the next section for details.

7Click Save.

8To make your changes take effect, restart the server.

If the server is running, choose Stop Web & File Server from the Server menu. Then choose Start Web & File Server from the Server menu.

Special plug-insettings

AppleShare IP lets you activate specific plug-insto handle preprocessing, postprocessing, anderror-handlingtasks.

Preprocessor plug-ins examine requests for information before your Web server acts on them. For example, theplug-inmight display a password dialog box to make sure that a user who is trying to connect to your site is authorized to do so.

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Postprocessor plug-ins manipulate information after your Web server has been used, for example to file information about what internal links the most recent visitor activated.

Error plug-ins process information about problems such as “f ile not found” errors. This kind ofplug-inmight record the error in a log and send a message to the user suggesting what to do.

To activate a specific preprocessor, postprocessor, or error plug-in,follow these instructions:

1Open the Web & File Admin program, if it’s not already open.

2Choose Web & File Server Settings from the Server menu.

The Web & File Server Settings window appears.

3Choose Web Plug-Insfrom thepop-upmenu.

4Click the button next to the kind of plug-inyou want to activate.

5Locate the plug-inyou want to activate, then click OK.

6If you wish, repeat steps 4 and 5 to activate other plug-ins.

You can activate one of each special type.

7To make your changes take effect, restart the server.

If the server is running, choose Stop Web & File Server from the Server menu. Then choose Start Web & File Server from the Server menu.

Seeing the plug-inlog file

Plug-inscan maintain information about what happens when they execute. This information varies fromplug-intoplug-in,but it’s all stored in the same text file.

nTo see the log information, double-clickthe file named“Plug-InMessages” in the HTTP Logs folder.

The HTTP Logs folder is in the AppleShare IP Preferences folder within the System Folder’s Preferences folder.

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