Dynamic Content

What is "Dynamic Content?"

Dynamic content is content that changes as your pages are served. For example, this page is a dynamic page. It always shows today's date here: . The server inserts the date automatically based on special codes in your page. Your website can have dynamic content in a variety of ways, from very simple to complex.

The turbolift pull-down menu is another example of dynamic content. Although it looks static to you as you view it in your browser, a CGI is called that actually inserts the code for that menu on the fly when the page is requested. The advantage is that I can change that menu very easily through a simple browser interface and my menu is instantaneously updated across my web site.

A third example of dynamic content is the little counter at the bottom of this page. When the page is served, a CGI is called that checks a named counter for the current value, adds 1, and returns the correct code to load the counter images.

SSI

SSI allows you to include the following in your website: today's date & time, counters, include text files, arguments from a form, random numbers, file sizes, and others. Information about WebStar SSI can be found here. Most SSI functions are available to you without charge.

MGI

MGI from PagePlanet Software also can add quite a variety of dynamic elements to your website. The MGI user manual is here. Many MGI functions are available to you without charge. Some involve a setup charge, and a few involve a montly access charge.

CGIs

On other servers, these are sometimes called "scripts." Our "scripts" are actually compiled applications we developed in-house. Our CGIs can provide the following dynamic functions to your website: graphic counters, text line insertion, text file insertion (w/browser-based management), and others. Sorry, we don't allow customers to use their own scripts or compiled CGIs to our servers without strict quality control. A few CGIs are available to you without charge, most involve a setup charge, and a few involve a monthly access charge.

What about Perl scripts in the cgi-bin? Our server doesn't run them. They're slow, and we often write our own. Email us with requests on our Free Quote page.

Javascript, Flash, and DHTML

Dynamic pages using JavaScript, Flash, and DHTML and other client-side scripting are entirely compatible with our server.