Why does this download the script file instead of displaying the results?

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

Hello everyone. I have checked high and low for help on my issue here, but have had no luck whatsoever. A website several years ago had a CGI script to convert Kelvin temperature to RGB values. After the page disappeared and then reappeared at another site, I asked the author if he would allow me to have a copy of the script so I can host it on my site so I did not have to go searching for it whenever he changed hosts. No problem there. I had it working beutifully with only adjusting the path to perl. But, just recently, my web host went belly up, so, I decided to be my own webhost. I have apache running the latest from activeperl in Windows XP Pro--no snickering, ok, guys? I a learning Lunix, but needed something in the interim. I confirmed my Perl install is functioning correclty and has the correct path with running test scripts. And I can get this onverter to display what it should until I submit the input data: it wants to download the script file rather than updating the displayed RGB value. My script is below as it sits now on my server with the correct path to perl: PS I tried to get the cgi-bin directory under my site root to work for running this but only got a 403 persmission error, so, the script site in the siteroot and comes up fine.

#!C:\usr\bin\perl.exe

@cie = (
  [ 390,  1.83970E-3, -4.53930E-4,  1.21520E-2 ],
  [ 395,  4.61530E-3, -1.04640E-3,  3.11100E-2 ],
  [ 400,  9.62640E-3, -2.16890E-3,  6.23710E-2 ],
  [ 405,  1.89790E-2, -4.43040E-3,  1.31610E-1 ],
  [ 410,  3.08030E-2, -7.20480E-3,  2.27500E-1 ],
  [ 415,  4.24590E-2, -1.25790E-2,  3.58970E-1 ],
  [ 420,  5.16620E-2, -1.66510E-2,  5.23960E-1 ],
  [ 425,  5.28370E-2, -2.12400E-2,  6.85860E-1 ],
  [ 430,  4.42870E-2, -1.99360E-2,  7.96040E-1 ],
  [ 435,  3.22200E-2, -1.60970E-2,  8.94590E-1 ],
  [ 440,  1.47630E-2, -7.34570E-3,  9.63950E-1 ],
  [ 445, -2.33920E-3,  1.36900E-3,  9.98140E-1 ],
  [ 450, -2.91300E-2,  1.96100E-2,  9.18750E-1 ],
  [ 455, -6.06770E-2,  4.34640E-2,  8.24870E-1 ],
  [ 460, -9.62240E-2,  7.09540E-2,  7.85540E-1 ],
  [ 465, -1.37590E-1,  1.10220E-1,  6.67230E-1 ],
  [ 470, -1.74860E-1,  1.50880E-1,  6.10980E-1 ],
  [ 475, -2.12600E-1,  1.97940E-1,  4.88290E-1 ],
  [ 480, -2.37800E-1,  2.40420E-1,  3.61950E-1 ],
  [ 485, -2.56740E-1,  2.79930E-1,  2.66340E-1 ],
  [ 490, -2.77270E-1,  3.33530E-1,  1.95930E-1 ],
  [ 495, -2.91250E-1,  4.05210E-1,  1.47300E-1 ],
  [ 500, -2.95000E-1,  4.90600E-1,  1.07490E-1 ],
  [ 505, -2.97060E-1,  5.96730E-1,  7.67140E-2 ],
  [ 510, -2.67590E-1,  7.01840E-1,  5.02480E-2 ],
  [ 515, -2.17250E-1,  8.08520E-1,  2.87810E-2 ],
  [ 520, -1.47680E-1,  9.10760E-1,  1.33090E-2 ],
  [ 525, -3.51840E-2,  9.84820E-1,  2.11700E-3 ],
  [ 530,  1.06140E-1,  1.03390, -4.15740E-3 ],
  [ 535,  2.59810E-1,  1.05380, -8.30320E-3 ],
  [ 540,  4.19760E-1,  1.05120, -1.21910E-2 ],
  [ 545,  5.92590E-1,  1.04980, -1.40390E-2 ],
  [ 550,  7.90040E-1,  1.03680, -1.46810E-2 ],
  [ 555,  1.00780,  9.98260E-1, -1.49470E-2 ],
  [ 560,  1.22830,  9.37830E-1, -1.46130E-2 ],
  [ 565,  1.47270,  8.80390E-1, -1.37820E-2 ],
  [ 570,  1.74760,  8.28350E-1, -1.26500E-2 ],
  [ 575,  2.02140,  7.46860E-1, -1.13560E-2 ],
  [ 580,  2.27240,  6.49300E-1, -9.93170E-3 ],
  [ 585,  2.48960,  5.63170E-1, -8.41480E-3 ],
  [ 590,  2.67250,  4.76750E-1, -7.02100E-3 ],
  [ 595,  2.80930,  3.84840E-1, -5.74370E-3 ],
  [ 600,  2.87170,  3.00690E-1, -4.27430E-3 ],
  [ 605,  2.85250,  2.28530E-1, -2.91320E-3 ],
  [ 610,  2.76010,  1.65750E-1, -2.26930E-3 ],
  [ 615,  2.59890,  1.13730E-1, -1.99660E-3 ],
  [ 620,  2.37430,  7.46820E-2, -1.50690E-3 ],
  [ 625,  2.10540,  4.65040E-2, -9.38220E-4 ],
  [ 630,  1.81450,  2.63330E-2, -5.53160E-4 ],
  [ 635,  1.52470,  1.27240E-2, -3.16680E-4 ],
  [ 640,  1.25430,  4.50330E-3, -1.43190E-4 ],
  [ 645,  1.00760,  9.66110E-5, -4.08310E-6 ],
  [ 650,  7.86420E-1, -1.96450E-3,  1.10810E-4 ],
  [ 655,  5.96590E-1, -2.63270E-3,  1.91750E-4 ],
  [ 660,  4.43200E-1, -2.62620E-3,  2.26560E-4 ],
  [ 665,  3.24100E-1, -2.30270E-3,  2.15200E-4 ],
  [ 670,  2.34550E-1, -1.87000E-3,  1.63610E-4 ],
  [ 675,  1.68840E-1, -1.44240E-3,  9.71640E-5 ],
  [ 680,  1.20860E-1, -1.07550E-3,  5.10330E-5 ],
  [ 685,  8.58110E-2, -7.90040E-4,  3.52710E-5 ],
  [ 690,  6.02600E-2, -5.67650E-4,  3.12110E-5 ],
  [ 695,  4.14800E-2, -3.92740E-4,  2.45080E-5 ],
  [ 700,  2.81140E-2, -2.62310E-4,  1.65210E-5 ],
  [ 705,  1.91170E-2, -1.75120E-4,  1.11240E-5 ],
  [ 710,  1.33050E-2, -1.21400E-4,  8.69650E-6 ],
  [ 715,  9.40920E-3, -8.57600E-5,  7.43510E-6 ],
  [ 720,  6.51770E-3, -5.76770E-5,  6.10570E-6 ],
  [ 725,  4.53770E-3, -3.90030E-5,  5.02770E-6 ],
  [ 730,  3.17420E-3, -2.65110E-5,  4.12510E-6 ],
);

print $_;

%arvo = split /[=&]/, join '=none&', split /=&/, <STDIN>;

foreach $avain (keys %arvo) {
    $_ = join ' ', split /\+/, $arvo{$avain};
    s/%\w{2}/chr(hex(substr($&,1,2)))/ge;
    $arvo{$avain} = join "'", split /"/, $_;
}

$kw = $arvo{'kw'};
@rv = ( 0, 0, 0 );
print $kw;

$ct = $arvo{'cntype'};
print $ct;

if ($ct eq "wl") {
    if ($kw == 730) { @rv = ($cie[68][1], $cie[68][2], $cie[68][3]); }
    if (($kw >= 390) && ($kw < 730)) {
        $ps = 0;
        while ($kw >= $cie[$ps+1][0]) { $ps++; }
        for ($c = 1; $c < 4; $c++) { $rv[$c-1] = $cie[$ps][$c] + ($cie
+[$ps+1][$c]-$cie[$ps][$c])*($kw-$cie[$ps][0])/5; }
    }
    $rv[0] = $rv[0]/2.5;
    $rv[1] = $rv[1]*1;
    $rv[2] = $rv[2]*2;
} else {
    $kb = $arvo{'kb'};
    if ($kb < 500) { $kb = 7000; }
    @rr = ( 0, 0, 0 );
    for ($p = 0; $p < 69; $p++) {
        $l = $cie[$p][0]*1e-6;
        $i = 1/(($l*1e3)**3 * (exp(14.3877/($kb*$l))-1));
        for ($c = 1; $c < 4; $c++) { $rr[$c-1] = $rr[$c-1] + $i*$cie[$
+p][$c];
        }
    }
    if ($kw > 0 ) {
        for ($p = 0; $p < 69; $p++) {
            $l = $cie[$p][0]*1e-6;
            $i = 1/(($l*1e3)**3 * (exp(14.3877/($kw*$l))-1));
            for ($c = 1; $c < 4; $c++) { $rv[$c-1] = $rv[$c-1] + $i*$c
+ie[$p][$c];
            }
        }
    }
    for ($c = 0; $c < 3; $c++) {
        $rv[$c] = $rv[$c]/$rr[$c];
    }
}

$mx = 0;
for ($c = 0; $c < 3; $c++) {
    if ($rv[$c] < 0) { $rv[$c] = 0; }
    if ($rv[$c] > $mx) { $mx = $rv[$c]; }
}

@rs = @rv;
if ($mx > 0) {
    for ($c = 0; $c < 3; $c++) {
        $rv[$c] = int($rv[$c]*65535/$mx+0.5);
        $rs[$c] = int($rv[$c]/256-0.5);
    }
}

print "Content-type: text/html\n\n<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Kelvin or wavelen
+gth to RGB converter";
print '</TITLE></HEAD><BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#6699FF" VLINK="#0
+000CC">';
print '<BR><CENTER><H1>Kelvin or wavelength to RGB converter</H1><BR>'
+;
print '<TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0><TR><TD WIDTH=680 A
+LIGN=left>';
print '<BR><B>Temperature to RGB</B><BR><BR>';
print '<FORM METHOD=POST ACTION="kwrgb.cgi">';
print '<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="cntype" VALUE="bbs">';
print 'Reference temperature in Kelvins (K): <INPUT TYPE=text NAME="kb
+" VALUE="';
if ($kb > 500) { print $kb; } else { print '7000'; }
print '" MAXLENGTH=6 SIZE=6> (appears as pure white)<BR>';
print 'Temperature in Kelvins (K): <INPUT TYPE=text NAME="kw" MAXLENGT
+H=6 SIZE=6>';
print ' <INPUT TYPE=submit VALUE="Submit"></FORM><BR>';
print '<B>Wavelength to RGB</B><BR><BR>';
print '<FORM METHOD=POST ACTION="kwrgb.cgi">';
print '<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="cntype" VALUE="wl">';
print 'Wavelength in nanometers (nm): <INPUT TYPE=text NAME="kw" MAXLE
+NGTH=6 SIZE=6>';
print ' <INPUT TYPE=submit VALUE="Submit"></FORM></TD></TR></TABLE><BR
+><H3>';
print $kw;
if ($ct eq "wl") { print ' nm'; } else { print ' K (white ',$kb,' K)';
+ }
print '</H3><TABLE BORDER=2><TR><TD WIDTH=60 BGCOLOR="#';
printf "%2.2X%2.2X%2.2X", $rs[0],$rs[1],$rs[2];
print '"> <BR><BR><BR><BR></TD></TR></TABLE><P><TABLE BORDER=0>';
print '<TR><TD WIDTH=32><B>R</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rs
+[0],'</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rv[0],'</B></TD></TR>';
print '<TR><TD WIDTH=32><B>G</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rs
+[1],'</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rv[1],'</B></TD></TR>';
print '<TR><TD WIDTH=32><B>B</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rs
+[2],'</B></TD><TD WIDTH=64 ALIGN=right><B>',$rv[2],'</B></TD></TR>';
print '</TABLE></P><P><A HREF="/~tmakinen/projects.shtml"><IMG SRC="/~
+tmakinen/pics/navi/upaway.gif" WIDTH=48 HEIGHT=48 BORDER=0 VSPACE=10 
+HSPACE=10 ALIGN=middle>Back to projects</A></P>';
print '<TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0><TR><TD WIDTH=680 A
+LIGN=left>';
print '<HR><FONT SIZE=-1>Created by <A HREF="/~tmakinen/index.html">Te
+emu M&auml;kinen</A>';
print ', (<I><A HREF="mailto:teemu.makinen@fmi.fi">teemu.makinen@fmi.f
+i</A></I>).<BR>';
print '</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE></CENTER></BODY></HTML>';
[download]

Comment on Why does this download the script file instead of displaying the results? Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Why does this download the script file instead of displaying the results? by stevieb (Canon) on Nov 10, 2009 at 03:57 UTC
This is a web server/file system issue. My first instinct is to tell you to migrate to another Unix based web hoster... ;) You need to ensure that your Apache config file allows www execute privileges on the script directory ( presumably cgi-bin ) Next, you need to ensure that your OS can determine what type of file you are trying to run ( afaik, Windows doesn't read into a file, so it can't read the shebang line ). From what you've said, it sounds like an Apache handler issue if it forces a download. Apache does not know how to render the non-HTML file, so it offers it up as a download. Do you have to register .pl and like files by extension in Apache on Windows? Steve	[reply]
Re^2: Why does this download the script file instead of displaying the results? by thenodemaster (Initiate) on Nov 11, 2009 at 21:43 UTC
Thank you very much for your reply. I just figured out what was going on. And, to answer your questions regarding registering perl with Apache and associating the .pl and .cgi extensions, yes they had to be associated with the perl executable. But, what I found was almost too blatant and comical at the same time I am busting up laughing still! The path and info in the script were all correct. However, the error was in the .EXE file that was called up. I did not know there was a difference between perl.exe and perl5.10.1.exe. Once I pointed the script at the perl5.10.1.exe instead of just perl.exe, everything works just like it should have from the begining. You can check out the page below to see what I have been pulling my hair out to get to work. Oh, PS, eventually, I will be migrating to a Linux box, but since I can get Windows up and running faster and I was getting frustrated with configuration issues on setup with Linux due to my STEEP learning curve. But I do like the security of Linux/Unix better than Windows. But, like I said, my web host went tits up (not the first one to do that to me) I decided to do my own and Windows provided the quickest route while I learned Linux. Anyway, here is what the script does: http://node3d.servehttp.com/kwrgb.cgi Thanks again! Scott	[reply]