Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan 0.07
It turns out that there are several software applications that go by the name FileMan. I have updated Apache::FileMan.pm to pre-release version 0.07. I substantially reorganized to code. FileMan provides a file manager for a web site through a web browser. It is an extensive rewrite of the Apache::AutoIndex.pm module (written by Philippe M. Chiasson), which in turn was a remake of the autoindex Apache C module. FileMan can provide the same functionality as AutoIndex.pm, so it can be used to both navigate and manage a web site. For example; Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 18:57:00 -0700 From: Alex Krohn [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: FileMan Hi George, I released an Apache modperl web file manager called FileMan on 13 Dec 00. It's demo is available at: www.xorgate.com/FileMan/demo I thing that we should resolve the name conflict, so that others will not get confused. I had been meaning to email you as I am on the mod_perl list and caught your announcement a while back. We've been using the name FileMan since our first release back in September of 1998. You can see us in third party listings like: http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/File_Management/ http://www.hotscripts.com/Detailed/237.html If there's any way you could change your projects name to something else, I'd really appreciate it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Cheers, Alex Here is my short list of URLs that reference other FileMan applications: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/scripts/index.htm http://business.fortunecity.com/hearst/805/fileman.htm http://thegururamana.enmail.com/Fileman.htm http://www.hardhats.org/fileman/u1/index.html http://www.tribbs.com/help/tri00018.htm http://www.suse.de/en/produkte/susesoft/linux/Pakete_prof/paket_xfileman.html The point is, that I think Apache::FileMan should be renamed, to something, which easily distinguishes it from the others, yet at the same time, keeps the name short and to the point, before releasing it to CPAN. Here is a short list of names that might work. NameComment == FileMan.pm Of course, pm stands for Perl Module (not that different) OpenIndex This name maintains Index from AutoIndex. XorfMan Just a thought. FileMod Same initials, Please comment if you have any preferences or other recommendations. Also, please respond and let me know what you think of the current code: good, bad, or ugly. Thank you.
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan pre-release 0.04
At 09:19 PM 1/7/2001 -0600, you wrote: I just tried the demo (coursoity got the better part of me ;) and the username: fileman password 13dec00 did not work Sorry, it appears, I left the demo access wide open and the directory got deleted. Try it again. It should work. (Its now read only though.)
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan
At 01:40 PM 12/18/00 -0800, you wrote: you should take a look at the interface of the file management of some of the free webspace providers. I have looked at some of these. They do not look and feel like a file manager. They tend to be fragmented and wordy. i haven't really looked at the Apache::FileMan module, but the biggest thing i would suggest is using something like the Template Toolkit to move the html pages into templates. I am not there yet. FileMan does not require any client software and it is independent of the file content. It just doesn't care what is in a files or directory. (personally, i've moved on to using dav (http://www.webdav.org/) for most of my web-based file management needs.) I know very little about WebDAV. I looked at the site and found the DAV concepts interesting. Perhaps you could point me to a demo or more information about how the requirements are implemented. WebDAV appears to integrate the CASE information within the XML documents themselves. I noticed that WebDAV provides file sharing. I had not considered this, but it would be easy to do in FileMan.
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan
On Dec 18, George Sanderson wrote: At 01:40 PM 12/18/00 -0800, you wrote: you should take a look at the interface of the file management of some of the free webspace providers. I have looked at some of these. They do not look and feel like a file manager. They tend to be fragmented and wordy. a matter of taste, of course. it also depends on your target audience. most of the free webspace providers are oriented towards the lower-end of net-savviness, so things tend to be verbose. but they also tend to have done actual usability testing, so i think they're worth looking at to at least steal ideas from. :) (as an example, i ran across one site that used javascript to pop up a "uploading...please wait" window when you submitted a form to do a file upload, and then put javascript on the page sent in response to the upload to close that window. a very slick solution to the problem that most browser don't provide any meaningful feedback for http file uploads.) i haven't really looked at the Apache::FileMan module, but the biggest thing i would suggest is using something like the Template Toolkit to move the html pages into templates. I am not there yet. FileMan does not require any client software and it is independent of the file content. It just doesn't care what is in a files or directory. i didn't mean to suggest that, i meant you might want to move towards getting rid of all the 'print "htmlblah blah blah"', in your code and use something like Template Toolkit (or HTML::Template, or any of the others). http://www.template-toolkit.org/tpc4/paper.html#cgi (well, the whole document, really) is a good place to read about what i'm talking about. (a browser-based html template editor, which is what i gather you took me to mean, is also certainly possible. been there, done that, wouldn't recommend it. :) (personally, i've moved on to using dav (http://www.webdav.org/) for most of my web-based file management needs.) I know very little about WebDAV. I looked at the site and found the DAV concepts interesting. Perhaps you could point me to a demo or more information about how the requirements are implemented. WebDAV appears to integrate the CASE information within the XML documents themselves. well, webdav is an extension to http that allows you to "put", "delete", "move", "copy", etc. the "webfolders" functionality bundled with internet explorer on windows supports this. i've been hacking together a very simple gtk-based file manager that supports it, too (http://trainedmonkey.com/torem). http://www.mydocsonline.com/ is an example of a service that provides free space that is dav-accessible, if you just want to play around with some of the clients and not spend time setting up your own dav server. jim
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan
At 04:55 PM 12/18/00 -0800, you wrote: On Dec 18, George Sanderson wrote: At 01:40 PM 12/18/00 -0800, you wrote: a matter of taste, of course. it also depends on your target audience. The user interface is the most sacred information ground. It's application depends on the requirements (marketing). A benefit gained from a consistent and portable interface is that the user can progress from system A to system B without having to navigate (interface) differently. The seamless interface that DAV provides is it's biggest advantage, because to the user it has the same interface to different (servers) services. Which is why I thought, that since FileMan looks and feels like autoindex it would be a natural extension for Apache users. biggest thing i would suggest is using something like the Template Toolkit to move the html pages into templates. http://www.template-toolkit.org/tpc4/paper.html#cgi (well, the whole document, really) is a good place to read about what i'm talking about. After reading the first part of the document, it made a lot of sense. (Thanks) well, webdav is an extension to http that allows you to "put", "delete", "move", "copy", etc You have given me a lot to think about. I need to read RFC2518 a couple or three times. http://andrew2.andrew.cmu.edu/rfc/rfc2518.html
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan
Stas Bekman [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 11:11 PM 12/13/00 +0100, you wrote: On Wed, 13 Dec 2000, George Sanderson wrote: At 10:29 PM 12/13/00 +0100, you wrote: Do you want me to email you a *.tar.gz file? No. Please post the URL. http://www.xorgate.com/FileMan/FileMan-0.01.tar.gzhttp://www.xorgate.com/ FileMan/FileMan-0.01.tar.gz What do you mean by having aspects? Is it a question, or you does the module provides all the answers? I set the GID on the files and directories for the users that are authenticated. Also the GID of the files and directories are check before any significant commands are executed. Hmm, are you running the server as root? How can you set different GID than. No, Apache runs with a common "webuser" ID, just like normal Apache children. All I do is create a new UNIX /etc/group and make webuser a member of that group. When Apache creates files via FileMan, their UID is "webuser" (Apache's PUID). When a user is authorized, FileMan picks up a GID from an Apache environment variable for that user. Since Apache owns the file and is a member of the group, it can change the GID of the files. I'm investigating multiple membership and how that might be done. May be you should be more explicit in your question? What are you trying to accomplish and you don't get it? This is not really a question. I am just mumbling. Currently I have only two levels, of access control in FileMan, namely, "admin", and "user". I think there is a need for an intermediate level, that is, being able to run all the commands, but not able to change GIDs of the files.
Re: RFC: Apache::FileMan
At 02:32 PM 12/13/00 -0800 Carlos Ramirez [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Looks very nice and useful! Does it use the default apache icons when the files are listed? when do you plan to make it available to the public on CPAN? docs? Yes, it does use the apache icons, just like Apache::AutoIndex.pm. My intention is to make it available on CPAN. I have the docs, test, and etc., however I have never released anything to CPAN before, so I am sure I am missing something. I put a copy of the current package at: http://www.xorgate.com/FileMan/FileMan-0.01.tar.gz
