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Advise, Comments & Tips are always welcome
Thanks

Question/Error
Possible cause(s)
Answer/Solution
What is basepath
N/A
The basepath is the section on your webspace (server) which is not web accessible. Nobody can get there with an URL. The public or the visitors of your site can't get there either. This means that any data place in this section are safe - no prying eyes and copying possible.
How to make data directories
N/A
The script makes the data directories automatically. These are "reg" , "closed" and category directories. The "closed" directory is made ONLY when an auction is closed.
1. How to call the script
2. How to get to the administration section
N/A
1.
http://www.yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/yourauctiondirectory/auction.pl
Example: See 2 a.

2.
Example:
a. The Standard 1.5 auction
b. Administration for The Standard 1.5 auction
Note the difference ?action=admin .
That's all you have to add at the end of your script URL to get to the admin section.

Error:
The item number may not contain any non-numeric characters.
1. Wrong slash in the basepath
2. Transferring files from one server to another
3. There are other files in the auctiondata directory than the .dat files created by the script 		1. Place the trailing slash like this / before and at the end of the basepath
NOT like this \
2. Do not use those files again
3. Delete them
500 internal server error
1. The script was not uploaded with ASCII checked
2. The script was not chmod 755
3. The Perl address in the script is not correct
4. There is a syntax error in the script. Caused by a bad text editor or mistake(s) made in the coding during editing
5. The server has the PERL version 5.00502 or older 		1. Upload the script with ASCII checked
2. Chmod the script 755
3. This is the very first line in your script. Ask your host or Telnet and issue the command "where is perl".
4. Use a new original copy of the script or try another text editor. Arachnophilia and Textpad are highly recommended
5. Your Host must upgrade to a newer version of PERL.
But in the meantime, If you comment line 2 and 3 in the script you can get it going at your own risk
Cannot open category ???????
The basepath is not correct Ask your host for the base path or run basepath.cgi, perldiver.cgi or servercheck script on your server to get it.
Download:
[ Basepath | Perldiver | Servercheck ]
How to add more categories
N/A
Look in the configuration section of the script for the following:

%category = (
computer => 'Computer Hardware and Software',
elec => 'Consumer Electronics',
other => 'Other Junk',
);

Example: Adding the category Automobiles and Jewels

%category = (
autom => 'Automobiles',
computer => 'Computer Hardware and Software',
elec => 'Consumer Electronics',
jewels => 'Jewels',
other => 'Other Junk',
);

PS:
The first word in each line determines the alphabetical order of your category

Error:
We were unable to write to the user directory
Or
Cannot write to directory ???????
1. There is no data directory
2. The data directory was not chmod 777
3. The data directory was not added to the end of the basepath
4. The trailing slash is not added in the basepath 		1. Create a data directory
2. Chmod the data directory 777
3. Add the data directory at the end of the basepath
4. Add the trailing slash at the end of the basepath
The script does not send out the email with password when registered.
1. The e-mail configuration section is not done
2. The sendmail address is not correct 		1. Configure the e-mail section
2. Ask your host or try out those mentioned here: Unix server
Or use Servercheck.cgi to get it
Download:
[ Servercheck ]
How to fix the time difference between server and local time
N/A
The script counts the time in seconds.
If your time difference is, for example. 5 hours,
then this is 5x60x60=18000 seconds.
Find:
my $nowtime = localtime(time);
in the script and change to:
my $nowtime = localtime(time+18000);
or
my $nowtime = localtime(time-18000);
Depends on if your server is ahead or behind your localtime
How to change the
$ symbol to another currency symbol
N/A
Example:
If your currency symbol is £ ,
find \$ in the script and replace with £
Then find \$$ in the script and replace with £$

WARNING!

There is a $$ in the password sub routine - DON'T TOUCH THAT!

Another possibility

In the configuration section, add this line :
$config{'currency'} = '£';
Find all the \$ in the script and replace them with
$config{'currency'}
The script is now ready for any currency symbol in the world by just replacing the £ symbol with your currency symbol in this line: $config{'currency'} = '£';
How to change the end of auction period
N/A
Example: Change the auction end period to 30 days
Find in the Add new item sub routine:
Days Until Close: 1-14 and replace 14 with 30
Then find in the Process new item sub routine:
&oops('You must enter the number of days your auction should run, from 1 to 14.') unless (($form{'DAYS'} > 0) and ($form{'DAYS'} < 15));
and replace 1 to 14 with 1 to 30 and 15 with 31
What's the difference between .pl and .cgi files
N/A
PL = PERL and CGI = Common Gateway Interface
The original script is "auction.pl".
If your server do not support the PL, then just rename it to CGI and don't worry about anything else
What's the difference between .pl and .cgi files
N/A
PL = PERL and CGI = Common Gateway Interface
The original script is "auction.pl".
If your server do not support the PL, then just rename it to CGI and don't worry about anything else

Disclaimer
BSMP.COM is not responsible for any damage(s) caused by the above mentioned info