in reply to gernerating unique string

Well, if by any chance you are using Apache as your webserver, you could always use the Apache::Session module, which will happily generate unique numbers for you.

If you choose to make use of Apache::Session for this purpose, you would always have the option down the road to make use of the session support it provides -- allowing you to store data in the server across requests. Good luck!
-Eric

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Re: Re: generating unique string
by perrin (Chancellor) on Sep 19, 2001 at 22:04 UTC
    The unique ID generation in Apache::Session is actually not very good. It can have collisions, especially when used in a cluster of servers. You should replace that function with something better (I like mod_unique_id) if you use it in a cluster and are concerned about collisions.
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Re: Re: generating unique string
by Anonymous Monk on Sep 19, 2001 at 20:14 UTC
    Thanks -- but unfortunately the server is NT 4 (yuk)
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      Shouldn't be a problem. Apache runs just fine on NT4.

      --
      <http://www.dave.org.uk>

      "The first rule of Perl club is you don't talk about Perl club."

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      Hmmm.. are you saying then that you are using IIS? Some folks still choose to use Apache on Windows NT.

      If you are using IIS, I know if provides unique ID's to all ASP scripts -- it's possible it does the same thing for Perl.. although I couldn't tell you how to determine that info. But perhaps that'll give you a start. It may even be provided to you in an environment variable or with the request string.
      -Eric
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      NP: Apache::Session, much like 'Monster Island', is just a name, and can probably be used on whatever webserver you have at hand.
      HTH

      broquaint

      Hands up those who got the Simpsons reference <g>

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