Home > Associate Engine > Documentation > Troubleshooting FAQ
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Associate Engine : Troubleshooting FAQ | |
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Home > Associate Engine > Documentation > Troubleshooting FAQ |
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When I try to run the script, I get "500 Internal Server Error".
or, I'm using <script> and/or SSI tags and nothing shows up.
Download the .zip file again and unpack it again to your Windows PC. Then try re-uploading the ae.pl file using ASCII transfer mode. (You might want to try re-uploading all the files in ASCII mode.)
If you are using the FTP program called WS_FTP, click the "ASCII" button at the bottom of the screen. If you are using the FTP program called CuteFTP, select ASCII from the "Transfer > Transfer Type" menu (CuteFTP Pro automatically selects ASCII mode for .pl files).
Check the first line of the ae.pl file and verify that it indicates the full filename of the perl program. If you don't know which directory the perl program is located in on the webserver, ask your webserver administrator.
Try changing the first line
"#!/usr/local/bin/perl" to"#!/usr/bin/perl" Check that the file has all execute permissions set. Use the CHMOD command in your FTP program, or use the "chmod" command of the Linux/unix shell prompt (e.g.: "
chmod ugo+x ae.pl ").Note: Do not use CHMOD 777 since some servers do not permit 777 for .pl files; instead use
CHMOD 755 If you are using the WS_FTP FTP program from Ipswitch, right-click on the ae.pl file in the server window and select CHMOD from the pop-up menu that appears.
If you unpacked the file via your servers shell prompt (e.g.: unzip, or gzip | tar), then make sure that the owner and group are set correctly for all the unpacked files. Try unpacking on your Windows PC and then upload the unpacked files using FTP.
Note: Associate Engine v2.12.28 has a bug that causes this error if the "redir" configuration variable is set to "yes". Set "redir" to "no" or upgrade to a newer version (e.g.: v3.06.27 or even higher).
View your webserver's error_log file. Typically, the webserver writes more information about the error to that log file compared to what is displayed on the screen to the user. If you don't have access to your webserver's log file, then ask your ISP to look at it or to email it to you.
Try the test.pl script to make sure that Associate Engine can run on your webserver.
When I try to run the script, I get "404 Not Found Error".
Check that you have typed the correct URL. Typically, the URL looks something like:
http://www.domainname.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl
Change the domain name to your domain name. And, if necessary, change
"cgi-bin" to the directory name where you have installed ae.pl script. If you change the name of ae.pl to something else, such as shop.pl, then change the name in the URL.- Ask your hosting company about where .pl scripts are to be installed on your webserver. On some webservers, the
"cgi-bin" directory is called "cgi" or"cgi-local" , or the directory may not be in the same location where HTML files are stored. Typically, you cannot simply create a directory called"cgi-bin" . If you have other .pl scripts installed on your webserver then install ae.pl in that directory. If you're not sure which directory to use, then ask your hosting company.
I get the error
When I try to run the script I get a "CGIWrap:User Not Privileged" error.
You need to change the owner of the script to one of your user accounts, such as "
chown admin ae.pl " (assuming "admin" is one of your user accounts). [this problem was reported by a user who has a Cobalt RAQ server].
I tried to install the script but it won't run. Can you help me?
If you see a "500 Internal Server Error", see the recommended solution above. Otherwise, contact us and describe exactly what errors you see and what the URL of the script is so we can call it up ourselves. We do not do installations.
Why does my server log show showing like: Permission denied: mod_mime_magic: can't read `/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/buyitnow.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl'
Verify that ae.pl has all 3 read permission bits set to on. To set the permissions of a file, use the CHMOD command of your FTP program or use the chmod command of Linux.
My server uses Ensim and ae.pl has stopped working (all other .pl files have stopped too).
If all .pl files have stopped working, check that the linux system file /var/log/httpd/suexec_log has not exceeded 2GB in size (the maximum linux allows for any one file). If so, have your system administrator delete the /var/log/httpd/suexec_log file. Note: This file is in the "real" filesystem, it is not in your website's virtual filesystem; therefore, only the system administrator has permission to delete it.
Assuming that you purchased the fully-functional version of the Associate Engine script, your amazon.com associates ID is passed along to amazon.com. This is what happens: (1) the user clicks on an Associate Engine link; (2) Associate Engine is unable to handle that particular browse page so it redirects the user to amazon.com via a redirection (containing your associates ID) that tells amazon.com to show that browse page at amazon.com, (3) amazon.com then redirects the user to the browse page. There are two redirections happening (one by Associate Engine and the other by amazon.com itself) that are transparent to the user. Your associates ID is being passed to and tracked by amazon.com. If you want to verify this, add "&noredirect" to the end of the Associate Engine URL and try it again -- Associate Engine will then show a "Click here to continue" link rather than do the redirection to amazon.com -- examine the link shown and you will see that it contains your amazon.com associates ID.
There is also a noredirect configuration variable. If you set it to yes, it is equivalent to having the noredirect parameter in all URL's. Be sure to set it back to yes once you're done verifying that your associates ID is in the redirection.
I installed the demo and the links don't show my amazon.com associates ID. Why?
The demo version does not insert your amazon.com associates ID in links. When you purchase the fully-functional version of Associate Engine, your amazon.com associates ID will appear in links. To purchase, click here.
I tried "type=browse&mode=NUMBER" and I get amazon's page. Why?
The browse type is not supported for all numbers. If the script is unable to work with the browse page that you request, the script automatically redirects the user to that browse page at amazon.com. Your amazon.com associates ID is included in the redirection thus sales will be tracked (see the FAQ section "Associates ID" above).
I get "Book Bestsellers" even though I asked for something else.
If the script cannot determine what you want, it defaults to "Books Bestsellers". Verify that the value of the type script parameter and the mode script parameter that you are using are correct.
What's a Page Template and Format Template and how do I make/use them?
Associate Engine supports two types of templates: Page Templates and Format Templates. Page Templates control the macro "big picture". Format templates control the micro "small picture". See Page Templates and Format Templates.
Can I reprogram the script and add my own features?
No. The Associate Engine script is encrypted and thus cannot be modified. We recommend that you ask us if the Associate Engine script can do what you have in mind.
Are there more FAQ's?
See FAQ (more) for answers to more users' questions.
How do I contact you?
Contact us by using the support form.