sybperl-l Archive

From: floyd at interactive dot net
Subject: GIF to Browser - HERE IS THE SOLUTION
Date: Sep 15 1997 7:58PM

I finally figured it out - and thanks to all for their input
!
It seems the problem was perl, not http related.

I created the following script in the cgi-bin directory, 
and called it show-gif:

#!/usr/bin/perl
print "Content-Type: image/gif\n\n";
 
$/ = 0;	# force perl to read to end of current file.
		# undef($/) works also

$| = 1;	# MUST force the buffer to be flushed, or the browser will sit
		# and wait for more data (STOP button will stay activated in 
		# Netscape)
 
open(FILE,"whatever.gif");
print ();
close FILE;
exit;

you can use this script either directly from the browser:
http://xxx.com/cgi-bin/show-gif

or within an image tag:


Its easy to extend this script to recognize different image types and 
to accept a filename as input.

Use it in good health!

floyd@interactive.net