Perl script for running a CGI-BIN service over the web

Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi there Monks!
So, I am new to Perl and I need to create a script that can send data to a webpage (it's a tool that I need for my research) and then, when the service finishes running, get the results.
The web-tool is this:

http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/bioinf/Signal-3L/
[download]

and to see the results, you can use this example sequence:

MKMASSLAFLLLNFHVSLFLVQLLTPCSAQFSVLGPSGPILAMVGEDADLPCHLFPTM SAETMELRWVS
+SSLRQVVNVYADGKEVEDRQSAPYRGRTSIL
[download]

So, I need first to select one of the radio-buttons, then paste the sequnce in the textarea, then press Submit and then, in the results page, either download it or "read" the result, which, in this example is:

According to Signal-3L engine for your selected species, the signal pe
+ptide is:1-42
[download]

Can you give me hints/links on where to start? Because there are quite a few tools that I need to run through the web and it would be easier to know how to do it.
Thank you!

Comment on Perl script for running a CGI-BIN service over the web Select or Download Code

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Re: Perl script for running a CGI-BIN service over the web by hippo (Archbishop) on Oct 13, 2013 at 15:44 UTC
A good place to start would be LWP but only assuming that you know about HTTP. If that isn't the case, read up about HTTP first.	[reply]
Re: Perl script for running a CGI-BIN service over the web by NetWallah (Canon) on Oct 13, 2013 at 17:24 UTC
You need to send data to the web page using the POST method, as described in this stackoverflow article. THe equivalent GET is something like: `http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/cgi-bin/Signal3L.cgi?R2=Plant&S1=MKMASSLA +FLLLNFHVSLFLVQLLTPCSAQFSVLGPSGPILAMVGEDADLPCHLFPTM SAETMELRWVSSSLRQVV +NVYADGKEVEDRQSAPYRGRTSIL&B1=Submit` [download] which did not work on your site because it requires POST. After the POST is sent, you need to write code to parse the response. When in doubt, mumble; when in trouble, delegate; when in charge, ponder. -- James H. Boren	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Perl script for running a CGI-BIN service over the web by CountZero (Bishop) on Oct 13, 2013 at 17:41 UTC
Try WWW::Mechanize. CountZero A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James My blog: Imperial Deltronics	[reply]