C++ TUTORIALS - C++ Web Programming

C++ Web Programming

HTTP Header

Header	Description
Content-type:	A MIME string defining the format of the file being returned. Example is Content-type:text/html
Expires: Date	The date the information becomes invalid. This should be used by the browser to decide when a page needs to be refreshed. A valid date string should be in the format 01 Jan 1998 12:00:00 GMT.
Location: URL	The URL that should be returned instead of the URL requested. You can use this filed to redirect a request to any file.
Last-modified: Date	The date of last modification of the resource.
Content-length: N	The length, in bytes, of the data being returned. The browser uses this value to report the estimated download time for a file.
Set-Cookie: String	Set the cookie passed through the string

CGI Environment Variables

Variable Name	Description
CONTENT_TYPE	The data type of the content. Used when the client is sending attached content to the server. For example file upload etc.
CONTENT_LENGTH	The length of the query information. It's available only for POST requests
HTTP_COOKIE	Return the set cookies in the form of key & value pair.
HTTP_USER_AGENT	The User-Agent request-header field contains information about the user agent originating the request. Its name of the web browser.
PATH_INFO	The path for the CGI script.
QUERY_STRING	The URL-encoded information that is sent with GET method request.
REMOTE_ADDR	The IP address of the remote host making the request. This can be useful for logging or for authentication purpose.
REMOTE_HOST	The fully qualified name of the host making the request. If this information is not available then REMOTE_ADDR can be used to get IR address.
REQUEST_METHOD	The method used to make the request. The most common methods are GET and POST.
SCRIPT_FILENAME	The full path to the CGI script.
SCRIPT_NAME	The name of the CGI script.
SERVER_NAME	The server's hostname or IP Address
SERVER_SOFTWARE	The name and version of the software the server is running.

Web Server Configuration

<Directory "/var/www/cgi-bin">
   AllowOverride None
   Options ExecCGI
   Order allow,deny
   Allow from all
</Directory>
 
<Directory "/var/www/cgi-bin">
Options All
</Directory>

						First CGI Program

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
 
int main ()
{
    
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Hello World - First CGI Program</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";
   cout << "<h2>Hello World! This is my first CGI program</h2>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						HTTP Header

HTTP Field Name: Field Content
 
For Example
Content-type: text/html\r\n\r\n

						CGI Environment Variables

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
using namespace std;

const string ENV[ 24 ] = {                 
        "COMSPEC", "DOCUMENT_ROOT", "GATEWAY_INTERFACE",   
        "HTTP_ACCEPT", "HTTP_ACCEPT_ENCODING",             
        "HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE", "HTTP_CONNECTION",         
        "HTTP_HOST", "HTTP_USER_AGENT", "PATH",            
        "QUERY_STRING", "REMOTE_ADDR", "REMOTE_PORT",      
        "REQUEST_METHOD", "REQUEST_URI", "SCRIPT_FILENAME",
        "SCRIPT_NAME", "SERVER_ADDR", "SERVER_ADMIN",      
        "SERVER_NAME","SERVER_PORT","SERVER_PROTOCOL",     
        "SERVER_SIGNATURE","SERVER_SOFTWARE" };   

int main ()
{
    
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>CGI Envrionment Variables</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";
   cout << "<table border = \"0\" cellspacing = \"2\">";

   for ( int i = 0; i < 24; i++ )
   {
       cout << "<tr><td>" << ENV[ i ] << "</td><td>";
       // attempt to retrieve value of environment variable
       char *value = getenv( ENV[ i ].c_str() );  
       if ( value != 0 ){
         cout << value;                                 
       }else{
         cout << "Environment variable does not exist.";
       }
       cout << "</td></tr>\n";
   }
   cout << "</table><\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						C++ CGI Library

$tar xzf cgicc-X.X.X.tar.gz 
$cd cgicc-X.X.X/ 
$./configure --prefix=/usr 
$make
$make install

						Passing Information using GET method:

http://www.test.com/cgi-bin/cpp.cgi?key1=value1&key2=value2

						Simple URL Example :  Get Method  

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h>  

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc formData;
   
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Using GET and POST Methods</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   form_iterator fi = formData.getElement("first_name");  
   if( !fi->isEmpty() && fi != (*formData).end()) {  
      cout << "First name: " << **fi << endl;  
   }else{
      cout << "No text entered for first name" << endl;  
   }
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   fi = formData.getElement("last_name");  
   if( !fi->isEmpty() &&fi != (*formData).end()) {  
      cout << "Last name: " << **fi << endl;  
   }else{
      cout << "No text entered for last name" << endl;  
   }
   cout << "<br/>\n";

   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						
$g++ -o cpp_get.cgi cpp_get.cpp -lcgicc

						
First name: ZARA 
Last name: ALI 

						Simple FORM Example: GET Method

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_get.cgi" method="get">
First Name: <input type="text" name="first_name">  <br />
 
Last Name: <input type="text" name="last_name" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

						Passing Information using POST method:

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_get.cgi" method="post">
First Name: <input type="text" name="first_name"><br />
Last Name: <input type="text" name="last_name" />
 
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

						Passing Checkbox Data to CGI Program

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_checkbox.cgi" 
         method="POST" 
         target="_blank">
<input type="checkbox" name="maths" value="on" /> Maths
<input type="checkbox" name="physics" value="on" /> Physics
<input type="submit" value="Select Subject" />
</form>

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h> 

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc formData;
   bool maths_flag, physics_flag;

   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Checkbox Data to CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   maths_flag = formData.queryCheckbox("maths");
   if( maths_flag ) {  
      cout << "Maths Flag: ON " << endl;  
   }else{
      cout << "Maths Flag: OFF " << endl;  
   }
   cout << "<br/>\n";

   physics_flag = formData.queryCheckbox("physics");
   if( physics_flag ) {  
      cout << "Physics Flag: ON " << endl;  
   }else{
      cout << "Physics Flag: OFF " << endl;  
   }
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						Passing Radio Button Data to CGI Program

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_radiobutton.cgi" 
         method="post" 
         target="_blank">
<input type="radio" name="subject" value="maths" 
                                    checked="checked"/> Maths 
<input type="radio" name="subject" value="physics" /> Physics
<input type="submit" value="Select Subject" />
</form>

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h> 

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc formData;
  
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Radio Button Data to CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   form_iterator fi = formData.getElement("subject");  
   if( !fi->isEmpty() && fi != (*formData).end()) {  
      cout << "Radio box selected: " << **fi << endl;  
   }
  
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						Passing Text Area Data to CGI Program

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_textarea.cgi" 
         method="post" 
         target="_blank">
<textarea name="textcontent" cols="40" rows="4">
Type your text here...
</textarea>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h> 

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc formData;
  
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Text Area Data to CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   form_iterator fi = formData.getElement("textcontent");  
   if( !fi->isEmpty() && fi != (*formData).end()) {  
      cout << "Text Content: " << **fi << endl;  
   }else{
      cout << "No text entered" << endl;  
   }
  
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						Passing Drop Down Box Data to CGI Program

<form action="/cgi-bin/cpp_dropdown.cgi" 
                       method="post" target="_blank">
<select name="dropdown">
<option value="Maths" selected>Maths</option>
<option value="Physics">Physics</option>
</select>
<input type="submit" value="Submit"/>
</form>

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h> 

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc formData;
  
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Drop Down Box Data to CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   form_iterator fi = formData.getElement("dropdown");  
   if( !fi->isEmpty() && fi != (*formData).end()) {  
      cout << "Value Selected: " << **fi << endl;  
   }
  
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						Setting up Cookies

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main ()
{
 
   cout << "Set-Cookie:UserID=XYZ;\r\n";
   cout << "Set-Cookie:Password=XYZ123;\r\n";
   cout << "Set-Cookie:Domain=www.;\r\n";
   cout << "Set-Cookie:Path=/perl;\n";
   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";

   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Cookies in CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   cout << "Setting cookies" << endl;  
  
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						Retrieving Cookies

key1=value1;key2=value2;key3=value3....

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h>

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc cgi;
   const_cookie_iterator cci;

   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>Cookies in CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";
   cout << "<table border = \"0\" cellspacing = \"2\">";
   
   // get environment variables
   const CgiEnvironment& env = cgi.getEnvironment();

   for( cci = env.getCookieList().begin();
        cci != env.getCookieList().end(); 
        ++cci )
   {
      cout << "<tr><td>" << cci->getName() << "</td><td>";
      cout << cci->getValue();                                 
      cout << "</td></tr>\n";
   }
   cout << "</table><\n";
  
   cout << "<br/>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}

						
UserID XYZ 
Password XYZ123 
Domain www. 
Path /perl 

						File Upload Example:

<html>
<body>
   <form enctype="multipart/form-data" 
            action="/cgi-bin/cpp_uploadfile.cgi" 
            method="post">
   <p>File: <input type="file" name="userfile" /></p>
   <p><input type="submit" value="Upload" /></p>
   </form>
</body>
</html>

						
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>  
#include <string>  
#include <stdio.h>  
#include <stdlib.h> 

#include <cgicc/CgiDefs.h> 
#include <cgicc/Cgicc.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTTPHTMLHeader.h> 
#include <cgicc/HTMLClasses.h>

using namespace std;
using namespace cgicc;

int main ()
{
   Cgicc cgi;

   cout << "Content-type:text/html\r\n\r\n";
   cout << "<html>\n";
   cout << "<head>\n";
   cout << "<title>File Upload in CGI</title>\n";
   cout << "</head>\n";
   cout << "<body>\n";

   // get list of files to be uploaded
   const_file_iterator file = cgi.getFile("userfile");
   if(file != cgi.getFiles().end()) {
      // send data type at cout.
      cout << HTTPContentHeader(file->getDataType());
      // write content at cout.
      file->writeToStream(cout);
   }
   cout << "<File uploaded successfully>\n";
   cout << "</body>\n";
   cout << "</html>\n";
   
   return 0;
}