Web Programming Portfolio for Becca Thomas, Ph.D.

Please note that most applications are ``live,'' running on production servers. You can exercise any of the forms up to the point where you select the hyperlink on the verification Web page (described below). I'll indicate when an operation is not ``safe'' to do with a form.

Here are some things to try (with any form) to check out robustness of the software that processes the form. First, hit the ``Submit'' button without entering any data. After that, enter some data, but leave some required data missing on purpose, then hit ``Submit.'' Finally, complete the form, but use obviously bogus data in some fields, like invalid e-mail address format.

Most of the links on this page point to forms. I use the same processing approach for all forms:

The CGI software reads form data using POST method and then decodes it into a hash (associative array), in typical fashion.
Next, the CGI detects any missing information that was deemed to be required, and reports the deficiency to the user, who's instructed to return Back to the form and add the missing information.
Then the CGI does critical data-integrity checks on the entered data. For instance, all e-mail addresses entered on a form must be in the user@domain format and not invalid characters.
Next, the CGI presents the user with a dynamically-generated verification Web page, which is generally an HTML table showing the form field name and the data they entered. There are at least two copies of a link provided on that same page which, when activated, will call the same CGI script (using the GET method this time).
The CGI always stores a copy of formatted form data into a log file on the server. Often, a copy of the data is mailed to a particular recipient or perhaps back to the form user.
Finally, the CGI presents the user with an acknowledgement page that thanks them for filling out the form.

Philosophically, I try to give a client the most ``bang for their buck.'' That is, I attempt to minimize cost to the client, yet achieve the greatest functionality. For example, many common business CGI applications are publicly available for free. If such an application can be found, I'll install and customize that versus writing an application from scratch. I only write applications from scratch if there's no other viable alternative.

CMP Media

Networkcomputing's Unixworld

E-Mail Registration: This simple four field form is first checked locally by a simple JavaScript program to catch egregious entry errors. Then it's processed by a CGI that simply writes the data to a disk file. No exercise restrictions.
Site Search Form: Created a simple gateway for the publicly available SWISH search engine. Most of the work on the search system consisted of customizing the swish program itself, in particular, redefining the words indexed so computer terms, and acronyms are included. No exercise restrictions.
Vendor Announcement Form (<URL:http://www.unixworld.com/unixworld/rs/va/announce.html>): A relatively complicated form to process, primarily because of the formatting required to build a dynamic HTML page from the data supplied by the user. The final result is logged to disk and then mailed to me so you can exercise this application without restriction.
Vi/Ex Quiz (<URL:http://www.unixworld.com/unixworld/rs/contests/vi/>): An example of a CGI written by someone else but customized for use on our site. The original quiz application was developed by Shishir Gundavaram. Exercise as much as you wish. Good luck with your answers.

LAN Times

Banner-Ad Test Page (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/ad-test.html>): This test page exercises the rotating banner-ad system I developed for LAN Times.
Here's how that system works: Each target Web page has a server- side include directive that calls a CGI that reads a randomly selected ``ad'' file, which specifies a GIF image file for display and the CGI updates the impression count for that advertisement. If the user ``clicks'' on the image, another CGI counts it (as a ``click-through'') and redirects the user's browser to the Web site of the company who bought the rotating advertisement. That CGI can also act as a counter for static banner ads. There are banners on all editorial and many ``Buyer's Directory'' pages.
E-Mail Registration (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/customer/register.html>): Basically, the same e-mail registration used on UWOL (link provided above), but without the embedded JavaScript.
Search Form (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/search/search.html>): This search gateway was also updated to support search of multiple indices, one for each specified time period.
Domestic Subscription Form (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/customer/subscribe.html>): This form has been through several reincarnations, with the latest a vast simplification from 15 down to three questions in addition to demographic information to qualify for a free subscription. You can exercise it up to the point that you would click on one of the two links on the Web page entitled ``Verify LAN TIMES Subscription Data.'' Of course, you're welcome to subscribe if you want.
International Subscription Form (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/customer/internat.html>): Safe to exercise up to the point where links are selected on the verification page.
Buyer's Guide entry form (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/buyers/entryform.html>): Safe to exercise up to the point where links are selected on the verification page.
Trade Show Navigator Form (<URL:http://www.lantimes.com/calendar/navigator.html>): Safe to exercise up to the point where links are selected on the verification page. An example of a newer style where all missing required field names are displayed on the error page, instead of just the first one.
View Publication Click-Through Counts: Here, the CGI displays the contents of ``counter'' files, formatting the result with an HTML table.

Other Projects

MicroDesign Resources

Search Form: A port of the older SWISH search gateway to a private client.

Kare Anderson

Remote (www.sayitbetter.com) Say It Better Web store.: Installation and customization of the pubicly available Web Store shopping-cart application, available from the Selena Sol CGI archive site. This project took about ten hours. The time to development the equivalent functionality from scratch would be hundreds of hours. Obviously, a client prefers to pay for 10 hours versus 10, 20, or 30 times that. You can exercise this system up to the point where you submit your order at the ``check-out stand.''

The Reel Directory

Search Reel Directory (<URL:http://www.reeldirectory.com/reel_new/search.html>): In this case I had to rewrite the CGI gateway for the search operation. At first I was able to employ a previously developed C application that generates the search results so the cost to the client was minimized. Later I took over a Perl-rewrite of the same application.

AirTouch

Vision Tech development site AirTouch Conference Entrance (<URL:http://www.visiontec.com/airtouch/conference/>): This development site (www.visiontec.com) has some sample postings. This is another case where the basic application was freely available so I installed and customized it for the client. This approach saved me lots of time and the client lots of money.
AirTouch remote test site AirTouch Conference Entrance (<URL:http://www.airtouch.com/international/conference/>): Although, hosted on the client site, this application isn't ``live.'' The ``live'' application is available on an internal company Intranet, not accessible to the Internet. You're welcome to exercise this or the previous link as much as necessary with no harm done.

Shaklee

Note that the hosting site (SLIP.NET) is often overloaded during regular daytime business hours so it's probably best to exercise this site during off hours.

Site Design Note: The primary aim of this site is to create up to three different customized Web pages from templates per Shaklee distributor (salesperson). These pages will be advertised by the distributor and provide the primary way the general public can reach a Shaklee distributor.

For instance, the search page (URL below) allows the public to locate a Shaklee distributor Web page in their area code, city, or state. They can also fill out a form on the distributor's Web page that allows them to contact the distributor via email.

This entire site was written from scratch because at the time I couldn't locate any canned software, either publicly or commerically available, that met the client's needs.

SLIP.NET-resident Sign-On Form (<URL:http://www.connectmedia.com/shaklee/gatekeeper.html>): You have to be a registered Shaklee distributor to sign on to this site.
SLIP.NET-resident Membership Form (<URL:http://www.connectmedia.com/shaklee/membership/index.html>): This form is ``live'' so you can only exercise up to the point where you select a link on the verification page.
SLIP.NET-resident Search Form (<URL:http://www.connectmedia.com/shaklee/search/search.html>): Search the database for existing Web pages. The search results page will contain links to pages generated by this CGI system. Click on a Business name on the left hand side to view the page.
SLIP.NET-resident E-mail Registration Form (<URL:http://www.connectmedia.com/shaklee/email/register.html>): Another rather simple form.