Follows up thread "Remotely-hosted resources 001" started 05 August 1999. REMOTELY-HOSTED RESOURCES 002 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A remotely-hosted resource is a program which resides on a web server that is different from the server which hosts your web site. An example is the Response-O-Matic form script -- a Perl program which some members of this list use on their web pages. The web page is at internettrash.com and the program is at www.response-o-matic.com. Most webmasters prefer to use programs on their own servers, but there are not many free web site providers that allow it (mainly for security reasons). So remotely-hosted resources are widely used, and are sometimes of a very high standard. Without reliable web access, we have a problem finding out what they are and where they are. But the biggest problem is signing up for them and maintaining them, because it so often involves user names, passwords and cookies. However, many of those resource sites are available to us if we know how to web-to-email servers -- programs which we can use to register and update by email, even to accept a cookie by email. WEB-TO-EMAIL SERVERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Members of this list who also subscribe to the ACCMAIL list are already familiar with the idea of obtaining web pages and images using email-only methods. Those who don't know about the ACCMAIL list and documents should find out as soon as possible -- you are missing out on something valuable that can help you develop your email-only web site. ............................................................. To join ACCmail, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with this message: subscribe ACCMail FirstName LastName To get the ACCmail document, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with this message: send lis-iis e-access-inet.txt ............................................................. Programs which fetch web pages and email them to you are called web-to-email servers. It would be pointless to list them all here, because the list would soon become out of date. By joining the ACCMAIL list, you will have access to all the latest information and help. You can use web-to-email servers to fetch most web pages. As would-be webmasters, the pages that are most interesting to us are those which have forms for subscribing to webmaster services or signing up for free resources. A web form is used to send information back to the server, so we have to do more than just fetch the page. Fortunately for us, there are several web-to-email servers which can do it. Access to some resources is controlled by cookies. This is most common when you have already signed up and the server needs to connect you to your records in a database. Even this obstacle has now been overcome. The correct forum for discussion of web-to-email servers, where they are, and how to use them is ACCMAIL. Please join the ACCMAIL list if you would like to add remotely hosted resources to your email-only web site. Minor technical difficulties are not unusual, and ACCMAIL is the best place to ask for help and give advice. ON-TOPIC DISCUSSION FOR THIS LIST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The focus of this list should be on developing a web site without the benefit of reliable access to the web. Getting a web site is much easier than it was only two years ago. Anybody can do it. It is not easy to develop real webmaster skills this way, but it is *possible*, so let's concentrate on the possibilities. On-topic discussion of remotely-hosted resources includes * The resources themselves * How to integrate them into an email-only web site Sun Zoom Spark and Friends have recently been testing free remote CGI resources, and will soon begin reporting on those that seem suitable for email-only users. .............................................................. For list info & help, including subscription options, email message "intro website-by-email" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web URL is http://www.netnormal.com/users/websitebyemail/
