Introduction to Perl and CGI

This three-day course allows delegates to learn basic Perl scripting skills, to process information entered into forms, and to write scripts to a file. Delegates will also learn about the specifications of the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) protocol, details regarding its operation, and how to use the Perl programming language to perform common and powerful CGI communications and processing tasks on a Web server.

CGI using Perl is the most common Internet client-server communications protocol, and is particularly popular for use with Unix servers. This course can be taught using either Unix or Windows as an operating system. If Windows is to be used, the use of IIS is recommended as the web server.

Organisations running Windows servers, and who already possess some Visual Basic knowledge may want to consider a course in Active Server Pages.

Delegates should already possess good HTML skills (especially designing HTML forms). If required an Introduction to HTML course is available. No previous programming experience is assumed.

Introduction To Perl

• History Of Perl
• Perl Advantages & Disadvantages
• The Perl Interpreter
• Perl File Conventions
• Using Perl On Unix
• Perl on Windows

Perl Variables

• Variables
• Scalars
• Arrays
• Hashes

Perl Loops & Logic

• Loops
• Logical Operations
• If…
• Else & Elsif

Introduction To CGI

• CGI - Beyond HTML
• How A Web Server Functions
• The CGI Protocol
• CGI Programming Languages

How Perl Talks To The Browser

• Perl / Browser Communication
• Making A CGI Look Like A Web Page
• Print Using "qq"
• Printing Multiple Lines

How The Browser Talks To Perl

• Environment Variables
• Get & Post
• Using CGI.Pm
• Debugging CGIs
• Storing & Retrieving Information
• Storing Data
• Appending Data
• Reading Data

Regular Expressions - The Match Operator

• Introduction To Regular Expressions
• The m// Operator
• I Modifier
• Special Characters
• Character Classes
• Parentheses

Regular Expressions - The Substitute Operator

• s/// Operator
• More Modifiers
• Backreferences

Subroutines

• Organizing Data
• Scoping
• Functions

CGI Techniques

• Outputting Graphics
• Redirecting The Browser
• Cookies
• CGI Security
• Web Server Security
• Writing Secure CGIs

This course includes full course notes and course materials. This outline can be tailored to specific client requirements