Actually, no.

Sorry, but that doesn't work. I've just tried the following script:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use warnings;
use strict;
print "Location:http://www.perlmonks.org/\n\n";
[download]

And it failed - no redirection, just the string "Location:http://www.perlmonks.org/\n\n" in my browser.

The reason it failed on my machine is because (IIRC) Apache looked at the first few lines of output of the script, didn't see a header, and so added the header itself (specifying plain text) before sending the output of the script.

You can make yours work by adding the line

print "HTTP/1.1 302 Moved\n";
[download]

above the existing print() line.

I've also just tried the following:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use warnings;
use strict;
use CGI;

my $q = new CGI;
print $q->redirect( -uri => 'http://www.perlmonks.org/' );
[download]

Status: 302 Moved
location: http://www.perlmonks.org/
[download]

When called by the webserver, it outputs a valid, correct, and working header that redirects the client.

I'm not completely against printing the headers yourself for such a simple task, but I am against printing headers wrongly. Using the CGI module saves you from having to read the RFCs to find out why your script didn't work, and will save time: it took about 5 seconds to produce the CGI.pm method, and closer to 5 minutes for me to make your version work¹

When there's a monastery full of monks suggesting 'use CGI;', perhaps they're onto something

Please Note:
This isn't intended to be a telling-off: I did honestly want to see if your version worked.
Cheers.

Update: After an interesting ChatterBox discussion with true, and some playing around with webserver configs, I've come to the following conclusion (for apache):

true's solution works, if:

1. You're not using modperl, or
2. You are using modperl, but you've got "PerlSendHeader On" in your httpd.conf, or
3. You play around with it to add the correct HTTP headers yourself

The CGI.pm solution works whatever because it checks to see if modperl's running, and whether the header's been sent.

References: the modperl guide, and Writing Apache Modules with Perl and C.

Thanks for the info and input.
I know CGI.pm is cool.
This does redirect on my apache 1.3.6 webserver.
I tried it again to be sure.


#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
#Your Perl Program here
print "Location:http://www.perlmonks.org\n\n";
exit;
[download]


FYI
I also tried to add your 302 tag but it failed.


#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
##Your Perl Program here
print "HTTP/1.1 302 Moved\n";
print "Location:http://www.perlmonks.org\n\n";
exit;
[download]

The httpd log reports:"...malformed header from script. Bad header=HTTP/1.1 302 Moved:..."

cheers,
jtrue

First off, thanks to davis, your time has been very valuable.
I should have clarified my current non-modperl status
in my earlier post.
Sadly i can't test under mod_perl right now.
But, if anybodies is curious, I tested
the code below successfully on
Win2k apache and linux apache.
Running perl 5.005 sans mod_perl


#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
print "Location:http://www.google.com\n\n";
exit;
[download]

Also, note on both platforms,
adding the line
print "HTTP/1.1 302 Moved\n";
causes a mal-formed header error.

The Motto of the story...
use da CGI module!

jtrue

<edit:made grammar edit

Allright Good People!

What a lot of information this little question generated. I will work with your suggestions a little later - when time permits and I feels sure that I will get this working. Thanks a lot for all your time and input! You are the best!

Donnie

Donnie, Don't give up just yet. Make sure you don't print anything to STDOUT before you output the Location redirect. Try this code on your server as is, then add your code, avoid printing to STDOUT.

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

#!/usr/bin/perl
#Your Perl Program here
#DO NOT output anything to STDOUT
print "Location:http://www.google.com/search?q=perl\n\n";
#OUTPUT ANYTHING OR NOTHING
##Your Perl Program here
exit;
[download]

Things you probably know anyway.

• Apache is the guy doing the work here.
• Perl doesn't know you are 'redirecting' it anywhere.
• HTTP HTTP/1.x is a protocal in and of itself.
• Read about the HTTP Location Header here
• The above code works on Apache 1.3.6 with perl5.005
• Here's a working link to prove it.
• http://perl.to/d.cgi?pm=Donnie
  jtrue