MC CGI - What can't I do?

[andu]

--On Monday, August 26, 2002 21:21:49 -0700 Richard Gaskin 
<ambassador at fourthworld.com> wrote:

> andu wrote:
>
>> --On Monday, August 26, 2002 15:04:35 -0700 Richard Gaskin
>> <ambassador at fourthworld.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I've foound that MC as a CGI will let me create stack files on the
>>> serber and use their custom props for data storage.  Way cool.
>>>
>>> This has me thinking:  just whar can't I do faceless on a server?
>>>
>>> For example, I know I can't take screen shots, but can I paint and
>>> export JPEGs?
>>>
>>> What general restrictions apply when running MC as a CGI?
>>
>> I didn't figure them all out but I would assume anything having to do
>> with the visual or audio for that matter are off limits to mt scripts
>> since they most likely need libraries which are not available in this
>> state. Also any reference to stacks ("...this stack", cards, custom
>> properties etc.) are off limits.
>
> Not entirely true, which is what got me so excited.  Here's some of what I
> found:
>
> - stack files can be created:
>     create stack "tmp"
>     set the filename of stack "tmp" to "tmp/formdata.mc"
>
> - custom properties of stack files can be set:
>     set the customproperties of stack "tmp/formdata.mc" to tInData
>
> - paint tools do not generate an error:
>     choose brush tool
>     set the brushcolor to blue
>     drag from 60,60 to 80,80
>     select img 1 of stack "tmp/formdata.mc"
>     export png to file "myimg.png"
>
> - in the example above, the export command does not generate an error and
> an image file is created, but the image is a solid-colored rectangle
> instead of the painted image.
>
>
> So it looks like we're limited to text processing only, with the added
> benefit of using stack file properties for limited hierarchically-ordered
> data.  A fair replacement for Perl, but such a frustratingly small subset
> of what MC can do.
>
> I understand the reasoning behind these limitations (had to try anyway --
> after all, ignoring one of the early SC programmers is what led me to
> discover that I could store binary data in its fields), but I can't help
> but wonder if there's some way we could get graphics capabilities in MC
> CGIs in the future....

Keep in mind that all those capabilities you mention are not of the cgi 
itself but of the stack it created.

>
> --
>  Richard Gaskin
>  Fourth World Media Corporation
>  Custom Software and Web Development for All Major Platforms
>  Developer of WebMerge 2.0: Publish any Database on Any Site
>  ___________________________________________________________
>  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com       http://www.FourthWorld.com
>  Tel: 323-225-3717                       AIM: FourthWorldInc
>
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Regards, Andu Novac