CGI? How can I publish a image file created on run-time on the Internet?

[Reddawn]

I want to make an exe to be run on the Internet which will read some data from the form and will create a bitmap image. The image on the server is going to be displayed on the client's browser. What should I do, if by any chance someone felt like undestanding what I am talking about?

[parksie]

Firstly, a couple of things to get out of the way.

1. Make sure that your provider uses NT (fairly unlikely)
2. If they do use NT, that they have the VB runtimes

That done, you need to encode the image as either GIF, JPEG, or PNG. Kedaman has some code for JPEGs, and look on PSC for the GIF code.

Then, send something like this to stdout:

Content-type: image/jpeg
Content-length: 30000

JFIF..........

[Reddawn]

What is it i

[Reddawn]

I made this bitmap and saved as a seperate file using a form and a picturebox control, but how am I supposed to do this on a console environment such as the Internet? Theoretically, I judge that I have to create a picture object by createobject statement and use its methods to form the image. Which object should that be ? Any other ideas

[parksie]

I can't remember where I got it, but have a look at CGI4VB. However, for CGI programs VB really isn't the best option. You'd find it a lot easier to use C++ and the gd libraries from http://www.boutell.com/gd.

But...to try and do it in VB anyway, you'd need to do this:
1. Create the image in your picturebox
2. Convert to JPEG
3. Print the headers
4. Print the image

Parts 3 and 4 are going to be very hard in VB, since it isn't a console language. You're much better off using a different language. Honestly. I tried using VB for CGI programs a few years ago and decided against it and learnt C++ instead .

PS: What OS does your hosting provider use?

[Reddawn]

It's Windows 2000 it wouldn't cause a problem I suppose..

[parksie]

That's a good sign...at least you're not beaten before you start