G'day all I have been trying to write a script which takes a user's input from a form on the submission page (addnews.html) and adds it to the main page (index.html). The plan is to store the addnews.html file in a .htaccess protected directory and have a static un-updatable password to stop everyone and everbody adding news. My script currently is: 
#!/usr/bin/perl

# news.pl
# Attempt #3 at a news script.

# Set up the standard HTML header.

    print "Content-type: text/html\n";

# Read in the data from the "addnews.html" file.

    $data_length = $ENV{'CONTENT_LENGTH'};
    $bytes_read = read (STDIN, $temp_data, $data_length);

# Store the 'temp_data' in an array called '@temp_name_value' for mani
+pulation.

    @temp_name_value = split (/&/, $temp_data);

    foreach $temp_name_value (@temp_name_value)
    {

    # Split up the 'name=value' pairs.

        ($name, $value) = split (/=/, $temp_name_value);

    # Replace '+'s with ' 's.

        $name =~ tr/+/ /;
        $value =~ tr/+/ /;

    # Translate hexidecimal characters back into their original charac
+ters.

        $name =~ s/%(..)/pack("C",hex($1))/eg;
        $value =~ s/%(..)/pack("C",hex($1))/eg;

    # Create an associative array using the '$name" and '$value' varia
+bles.
    # NOTE: If there is no '$name' specified '$value' is used instead.

        if ($form_data{$name})
        {
            $form_data{$name} .= "\t$value";
        }
        else
        {
            $form_data{$name} = $value;
        }
    }

# Create a variable to store the location of the display page, "index.
+html".

    $news_data = "/index.html";

# Open the '$news_data' file to read the current data or die with an e
+rror message.

    open (NEWS, ">$news_data") || die "Unable to locate $news_data, th
+e news data file.";

# Read the data form '$news_data' into an array called '@news'.

    @news = <NEWS>;

# Close the '$news_data' file after use.

    close (NEWS);

# Re-open the '$news_data' file for the input of the new data.

    open (NEWS, "<$news_data") || die "Unable to locate $news_data, th
+e news data file a second time.";

# Write the data back into the '$news_data' file with the new data inc
+luded where appropriate.

# Loop through each line of the '$news_data' file and write it back.
    
    foreach $line (@news)
    {

        # Search for the '<!--latest_news-->' marker.

        if ($line =~ /<!--latest_news-->/i)
        {
            # Write itself back for future use.

            print NEWS "<!--latest_news-->\n";

            # Add the 'nickname' of the poster.

            print NEWS "From: $form_data{'nickname'}</TD>\n<TD>";

            # Add the 'headline' of the post.

            print NEWS "<B>$form_data{'headline'}</B></TD>\n<TD>";

            # Add the 'news_text' underneath the 'headline'.

            print NEWS "$form_data{'news_text'}";

        }
        else
        {
            die "Unable to find the position header in $news_data, the
+ news data file.";
        }

    }

# Close the '$news_data' file after use.

    close (NEWS);

# Provide the poster with a link to their news item.

    print << "EOF";
    <H2 ALIGN="center">Thank you for your news item</H2>
    <P ALIGN="center">Click <A HREF="../index.html">here</A> to view y
+our news item.<BR>
    Note that you may have to reload the file before your post is visi
+ble.</P>
EOF

# EOF news.pl

[download]
Could someone please give me some ideas on where to go from here, in terms of making it functional..? Thanks David

In reply to Writing a simple posting script which can be used via the web by Anonymous Monk

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