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"500: Internal Server
Error" Messages
This error usually only occurs in one of two
cases: either you do not have your script configured correctly or you are not
using the correct script information for your server's requirements and you
need to re-check your host's CGI documentation.
Here is a common list of things to check if you
receive this message:
- Script File Permissions: All of our
scripts require permissions of at least 755 (rwx-rx-rx) on all of their files
and directories. On some servers, these permissions may need to be as high as
777 (rwxrwxrwx).
- Server Paths: Verify the full server
side directory path that you are using with your host. Also verify your mail
program path and your Perl5 path. Incorrect paths can prevent a script from
running.
- Typographical Errors: Proofread your
script configurations very carefully. A single typographical error can cause an
entire script to stop functioning. It is usually best to carefully copy and
paste your paths to avoid these errors. Also verify that you are not using
trailing slashes in your paths. Paths should look something like
"/home/account/script" and not
"/home/account/script/".
- Escaped Characters: Perl reserves a
fair number of punctuation marks and special characters for its own use. You
should avoid using these in your configurations if at all possible. If you must
use them and you receive an error message, always "escape" the
special character with a backslash (i.e. "\") to tell Perl that you
wish to use this character as a symbol. This is very important to remember with
email addresses in scripts. They need to be referenced as
yourname\@yourdomain.com or you will receive an error.
- File Format: CGI script files need to
be kept in plain-text, ASCII format. All of our scripts are supplied to our
users in this format. To guarantee that your files stay in this format, you
should edit them only in Windows Notepad or Wordpad, save them as plain text
files only and always FTP them to your server using a dedicated FTP program set
to ASCII mode transfer (not binary). Anything else could permanently corrupt
your script files.
- Script Modifications: Please do not
alter the basic formatting or any of the program code in your script files.
Altering a script file beyond basic configuration is very likely to cause your
script to stop functioning. We are not able to provide technical support for
user-end script modifications.
©2000, CGI Script
Center
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