23 replies to this topic

[reddevil]

I don’t ask for much in this world but wonder if there is any FREE Guest Book programme that would give me the following:-

1. Free (did I already say that??)
2. Information to be held on my server
3. Ability to modify the on-screen look (I would like to create a blue row as a heading for of each of the entries which will contain the name and location of the Guest).
4. Any other fancy bells and whistles that I may or may not use.
5. Easy to install.

Is there any such programme?

[Randy]

Oh, there are probably 1,000 or so free guest book scripts out there. My conservative estimate.

Head on over to hotscripts.com and you can search by the scripting language you want, and choose from among the dozens that will come up.

[Jill]

Just curious...why a guest book? Aren't they like so 1995?

[ewc21]

Also you can check out www.aspin.com for ASP or .NET guestbook applications.

[reddevil]

why a guest book? Aren't they like so 1995

Maybe? It's just that I didn't have my website up and running in 1995.
My thoughts were that people would like to see their name on a website and a guest book seemed to be the easiest way for them to do it - there will be some very old people who may want to make a comment.

But, would love to hear of other options that could give the same kind of fame to my guests.....and doesn;t take me weeks to learn.

Edited by reddevil, 19 March 2006 - 11:36 AM.

[reddevil]

ASP or .NET guestbook

I would probably be looking for a .php or .cgi-bin guestbook (I think). Not exactly sure what will work until I have tested my .php includes.

[Jill]

Unfortunately, what you'll end up with are a bunch of automated spam guest book entries. Which is why they are no longer in vogue.

What type of site is that you're looking to put it on? Maybe we'll have better ideas for you.

[maleman]

There's a PHP database program on this page at hotscripts dot com. The first one at the top, ezDatabase. That might do what you want.

Which is why they are no longer in vogue.

Is "in vogue" in vogue?

LOL haha LOL haha sputter...cough...burp!

Sorry Jill, I'm going wacko! I'm gonna wind up in an old episode of Twilight Zone. I'll be the guy who got trapped in cyberspace inside his computer program.

Edited by maleman, 19 March 2006 - 09:18 PM.

[reddevil]

ezDatabase. That might do what you want.

cheers maleman - and sorry to hear about your psychiatric problems !!!
The programme looks great and with many cool features, but unfortunately it isn't free (OK its cheap, but not free) and is only free hosting for 3 months. As I have many childrens mouths to feed, and my own expensive life style to keep, I am really looking for something for free.

This is a stupid question but I'm going to ask it anyway....if the data is held on another server (as above) and that host goes bankrupt, do I lose all of that data??

[chrishirst]

if the data is held on another server (as above) and that host goes bankrupt, do I lose all of that data??

Potentially

Just ensure you have regular backups.

[reddevil]

So if regular backups should be made, I presume it would it be best to host in on my hosts server?

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of hosting on a "remote" server?

[Raphael]

Far as I can tell, there aren't any advantages and lots of advantages - Maybe one small advantage is that your host won't be serving the pages, so the bandwidth won't be coming out of your account, but unless you're expecting a million visitors a month, I wouldn't worry about that.

Are there really any people left on the web today who actually get excited about seeing their name on the web, especially when it takes all of 5 minutes to sign up at livejournal.com and have your own blog.

[reddevil]

Far as I can tell, there aren't any advantages and lots of advantages (of hosting on a remote server)

Whoops!

Are there really any people left on the web today who actually get excited about seeing their name on the web, especially when it takes all of 5 minutes to sign up at livejournal.com and have your own blog.

I would say yes. Especially non-techno people who wouldn't know a byte from a bite or don't know the difference between a cell and a row?? Certainly the older-ish generation or people who don't have a computer and hang out in internet cafes, they would struggle to set up a blog?

[reddevil]

Unfortunately, what you'll end up with are a bunch of automated spam guest book entries. Which is why they are no longer in vogue.

What type of site is that you're looking to put it on? Maybe we'll have better ideas for you.

The site is advertising our own holiday accommodation (one villa only).

In my quest to make the site as interesting as possible I wanted to put the previous guests comments (sent by email) into a Guest Book. Then I thought, why don’t I let them do it themselves?

I am looking for something interesting which will involve the minimum of input for me, but will be exciting enough for my visitors.

All suggestions are welcome and I am willing to think ‘outside the box’.

[Jill]

In my quest to make the site as interesting as possible I wanted to put the previous guests comments (sent by email) into a Guest Book. Then I thought, why don’t I let them do it themselves?

Makes sense! Just be sure to moderate the comments if you can so that as you start to get automated spam it isn't published automatically.