Request Handlers

TeleFinder's Web Server has built-in support for several specialized request handling methods. You can also define your own methods so that external scripting or CGI programs like UserLand's Frontier(tm) can process specific page requests.

Built-in Handlers

Handler file types

Default .HTML .GIF .PDF

This is the "Normal" way to send HTML and graphics files. Sends HTTP responses, headers and the file's data. This method responds to "If-Modified-Since" and "Byte Serving" requests, and will be cached. Any file not handled by another handler is served by this method.

Server Parsed .spm, .spml.

Parses an HTML file and translates embedded server side include commands into HTML for the browser. The file data may be cached by TeleFinder, but the embedded commands and HTML will be processed for each request.

As is asi, .asis

Only sends the file data. This data must contain correctly formatted HTTP response, headers and data. The file data may be cached.

ACGI .cgi, .acgi

Converts the request into an AppleEvent that is processed by another program conforming to the Macintosh "Common Gateway Interface" (CGI) specification.

Binhex sit, .sea, .cpt

On the fly conversion of file to Binhex (.hqx) format. Used for downloading Macintosh files. The file's data will not be cached since it is generated at the time of the request.

 

Topic BBXF

Processes the request using the "Topic.spml" template file. This lets you publish TeleFinder Message Topics on the Internet. The file's data will not be cached since it is generated at the time of the request.

User Defined

Processes the request by sending the page request to an External Handler. This lets you use CGI programs that need to BLOCKQUOTE-process requests.

Adding a New File Type

Select the "Server Settings" command from the Web menu to open the Web Settings dialog. The click on the "Handlers" icon to display the Handlers pane.

Then click in the "Add" button to open the Handler dialog.

Use this dialog to select the Handling method from the pop-up menu. The handler can be mapped using either a file extension ( i.e.: ".html" ) or Macintosh File Type ( i.e.: 'BBXF' ). For most files it is BLOCKQUOTEferable to map using file extension since you can easily change that by simply renaming the file.

Either manually enter the extension or type, or click in the "Same As" button to let the program match one to a specific file.

After you're done, click in the OK button to add the Handler to the list.

Installing a User Defined Handler

This example demonstrates adding an External Handler so that you server can process requests with Frontier scripts.

Select the "Server Settings" command from the Web menu to open the Web Settings dialog. Then click on the "Handlers" icon to display the Handlers pane. Then click in the "Add" button to open the Handler dialog.

Use the Handler dialog to select "Other" from the pop-up menu. This will cause the "Name" field to appear. Enter "FRONTIER" into the name field. Then enter ".fcgi" into the Extension field. (note: .fcgi is the extension customarily used to identify Frontier scripts.)

Then click in the OK button to add the Frontier handler to the Handlers list.

You also need to create an External Handler reference to Frontier before the server will actually process Frontier scripts.

 

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May 14, 1997 -- ©Copyright 1997, Spider Island Software