- How much does this program cost?
Nothing! This script is absolutely free for private and for commercial use as long as the copyright notices remain intact!
- I've tested this guestbook program and I like it
very much but I don't want to loose the entries in
my old guestbook. How can I copy the old entries to
FPG?
Entries of FPG are stored in the guestbook file guestbook.datei. You should download, open and edit this file with a text editor. After then, upload this file to the server and chmod 777.
Need a converter for your guestbook entries? Contact me!
- I'd like to use this script but my server
does not support CGI. What to do?
You can register an account at [www.netfirms.com] or [www.spaceports.com]. FPG version 1.13 or higher will automatically kill the advertisting banner codes of Netfirms.
- How to install this guestbook?
Take a look at the [Installation Guide] page!
- How to change the layout of this guestbook?
Take a look at the [Skins] page!
- This guestbook is in English but I'd like it
in...?
FPG currently supports 20 languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Vietnamese, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Russian, Greek, Chinese, Croatian (Hrvatski), Hungarian, Arabian, Lithuanian, Turkish and Italian and you can easily create your own language file. After the installation, you'll find 4 languages in the language bar: English (default), German, French and Vietnamese. In the Control Panel, you can choose one of these 4 to set as default.
If none of the 4 is your language, you have to upload your language file (see question 7) and rename it to "guestbook_own.lang". Now enter the Control Panel and you'll see a new option "Other Language". That's yours! All you have to do now is to set this language as default.
To create a new language file, open an existing language file and translate it into your language, save it as "guestbook_xxx.lang" (xxx = your language) or "guestbook_own.lang". And don't forget to [share it] with us ;-)
- There are only 4 languages available after
the installation (English, Vietnamese, French and
German). How can I add more languages?
After unzipping the downloaded file (guestbook.zip), open the folder "optional_files" and its sub-folder "languages" and you'll see all available languages (about 17 files). Use your FTP program to upload the file you need to the FPG directory (tdpn_v_10_dir) on your server (chmod 777). That's all!
- Can I have your permission to edit the
guestbook.cgi file so that the text on the buttons
are more personalized and specific to my web site?
(the credits part will all stay intact : only the
graphics and button labels changes)
Yes, if you think it is necessary. But before you edit the .cgi file, try to edit these files: guestbook.style, guestbook.lang (you'll find these files in tdpn_v_10_dir after the installation)
- Does this guestbook allow HTML entries?
No! Because HTML entries are not safe! "Smart" visitors can use HTML codes to "hack" your page. FPG 1.17 has a built-in text editor with FPG-Codes (based on UBB codes)
- What is "Vietnamese Typing"? Can I make this
line invisible?
The built-in function "Vietnamese Typing" is for sites in Vietnamese only. You can disable it in the Control Panel of your FPG. Default is "off".
- Can I add Meta Tags, JavaScripts, StyleSheets,
JavaApplets, FlashMovies, Audio... to my guestbook?
Yes! You just have to download/edit/upload/chmod 777 the file guestbook.style in the directory tdpn_v_10_dir on your server.
- How can I edit/delete/reply an entry?
On the View-Page, click on [edit], choose an action and login using your owner-password.
- What must I do if I forget my password and
cannot enter the Control Panel. Does FPG send me
this password to my e-mail address?
Pretty difficult, because the password is encrypted and there is no way to decrypt it. The password stays useless even if you download and open the password file. You must first back up all guestbook files in the folder tdpn_v_10_dir, except the file guestbook.pass. Delete all files and the folder. Open your guestbook with a browser, it will install itself. Upload all backup-files to the folder tdpn_v_10_dir (ASCII-mode, chmod 777). Enter the Control Panel using the default password (tridung) and change it.
- I'm using an older version of FPG and I'd
like to upgrade it. What to do?
It's very easy! You just have to download the newest version, unzip, upload the file guestbook.cgi and chmod 755. It's just like the first installation of FPG but easier! FPG will automatically configure your guestbook and maybe you'll need to reload to see the new features. All of your settings and entries will stay intact! - What is the "closed group" function?
If closed group is activ, your guestbook cannot be viewed by everyone, visitors must enter a password to view or sign guestbook.
- Does the Dirty-Word-Filter works with
phrases?
No! Because words are separated by spaces but a phrase contains spaces.
- I don't like to allow Smileys in my
guestbook, can I turn it off?
Yes, enter the Control Panel, choose the action: "Change FPG codes option, icons and smileys". There you can completely disable Smileys, Text-Editor.
- I cannot
change the URL to the JavaScript for the Text Editor
and Smileys. The guestbook program doesn't accept any URL
and only shows "off".
Where's the problem?
I am very sorry for this inconvenience! This is a bug in the version 1.17 May 19, 2003! I fixed this on May 20, 2003.
- I get an
error message when I click on the button "View
guestbook" after deleting the first entry. What's
that?
This error only occurs if your guestbook contains one entry (total). This is a bug in version 1.17 May 19, 2003! I fixed this on may 20, 2003. I am very sorry for this inconvenience!
- I get an error message such as: "Use
of uninitialized value in string" or "Use
of uninitialized value in substitution" or "Use
of uninitialized value in concatenation"...
in my guestbook. What' that?
This error occurs on some servers. You just have to remove the string "-w" at the first line of the file guestbook.cgi (#!/usr/bin/perl -w -> #!/usr/bin/perl) and the error will disappear!
- FPG produces a wrong hyperlink if the message
contains more than one URL or E-Mail address.
What to do?
There was a little bug in the versions 1.17 and 1.18. FPG in these versions could not handle more than one URL or E-Mail in one message (the FPG Codes translator was too greedy). Bug fixed on May 30, 2003. Please upgrade your guestbook.
- I got the error message below and don't know
what to do?
HTTP 500: Internal Server Error
The page cannot be displayed
There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed- Are you sure you uploaded the guestbook.cgi file in ASCII mode? The cgi file MUST be transfered in ASCII mode.
- Some servers require the "-w" at the first line. So change it from #!/usr/bin/perl to #!/usr/bin/perl -w
- Ask your server administrator to get more
information about file access
permission (755 or 775 or whatever else...)
- Is there an ability to automatically add the
latest written message to other pages outside the
guestbook?
Yes, this is the "Shout-Box" function of FPG. You can do it using inline frames (version 1.22 and higher). Copy and paste the following code to the HTML code of your page:
and the result is:<iframe scrolling="yes" src="http://www.you.com/cgi-bin/guestbook.cgi?action=last_entry" frameborder="0" width="300" height="150"></iframe>
- I installed FPG on my server (Operating
System is Windows) and everything works fine except
the function for sending email notification. Is
there any way to activate it?
Yes! FPG version 1.23 or higher supports this. Please download this version if you are using an older version. Open the file guestbook.cgi with a text editor (like UltraEdit or Notepad) and change the lines 45, 47, 48 from:
to:$SEND_MAIL="/usr/lib/sendmail -t"; #(comment if server OS is Windows)
#use Net::SMTP; # (UNcomment if server OS is Windows)
#$smtp = Net::SMTP->new("localhost"); # (UNcomment if server OS is Windows)
Save and upload it to your cgi-bin directory (in ASCII mode). And do not forget to activate this function in the Control Panel.
#$SEND_MAIL="/usr/lib/sendmail -t"; #(comment if server OS is Windows)
use Net::SMTP; # (UNcomment if server OS is Windows)
$smtp = Net::SMTP->new("localhost"); # (UNcomment if server OS is Windows)
- Is there an ability to hide the link to the
Control Panel at the bottom of the guestbook?
Yes! FPG Version 1.24 or higher supports this. In FPG version 1.23 - 24.Aug.2003, you must manually edit the file guestbook.style. Change the line:
LinkToControlPanel="yes"= to LinkToControlPanel="no"=
To enter the Control Panel, you can use this link: http://www.you.com/cgi-bin/guestbook.cgi?action=control
- After i set the whole guestbook up it works
except until i add an entry. After that it gives me
this error:
This was a stupid mistake of me. I used the two lines $info=$Homepage_Icon; (line 2780) and &info; (line 2781) to test the GB and forgot to delete them. This is a bug in version 1.24 (January 2004). Fixed today January 26, 2004. If you get the error message like above, please open the guestbook.cgi file and delete these two lines. Sorry for this inconvenience!Content-type: text/html
http://www.vitinh.de/downloads/guestbook/images/homepage_icon.gif
Some reasons why this error occured:
The file in the directory tdpn_v_10_dir has been moved or deleted.
You have edited the file in the directory tdpn_v_10_dir. Didn't you?
The files or directories have been wrongly chmoded.
You have uploaded a newer version of guestbook.cgi (visit the support page).
- Everything is so complicated for me. Can you
install this script for me on my server?
Yes. Click [here] to continue!
Is your question not listed on this page? Use the [forum] to get more information!