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ASP Web Counter

Introduction

If you're tired of free web counter services that just make you copy and paste the code for an image of some numbers into your web site, this article is for you. It will explain in easy steps how you can create a professional, and invisible, web counter. The numbers appear as normal text, no more ugly looking pictures! You will also learn how to use a cookie, ensuring that the same visitor isn't counted twice in, say, 2 hours, as well as a cookie so that you can visit your own site without distorting statistics.

Step 1: Create the file for the number to be stored in.

This counter works by storing a number in a text file, then reading or updating it accordingly. So, create a text file called "counter.txt" somewhere on your web server. Make sure the file isn't read only (you'll probably have to email your provider and ask them to grant it write access.) Put the value "0" [zero] in the text file, with no spaces before or after it.

Comments

  1. 16 Dec 2003 at 21:16

    How can I put all the code into the webpage?

  2. 29 Sep 2003 at 21:43

    This script is using VBScript.

  3. 11 Dec 2002 at 18:25

    Thanks for your help Paul. I've sent NTL an E-Mail about permissions and the <% tags. I'll let you know how it goes and if I've got any more problems.


    Cheers for now,
    Mark.

  4. 11 Dec 2002 at 15:15

    you'll need to email ntl and ask them to change the permissions for you.


    they (probably) only allow themselves to change them, cos then it's more secure and less prone to hacking.


    the counter.txt file must not be read only.


    check with NTL that they allow you to use the <% tags. it's conceivable (but unlikely) that they forbid them

  5. 11 Dec 2002 at 14:35

    Hi,
    I run my pages by uploading them to my Remote Server, then I use Internet Explorer to visit the page, example - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mfj/......... and then the ASP page.
    I can execute code with the the <script language="VBScript"> </script> tags but I can not run code with the <% %> (scriptlet) tags.


    Maybe the Request command may work when I get the scriplets to work.


    I have also noticed, when I view my files on the Remote Server using ftp://usernameassword@upload.ntlworld.com in Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer and select a file and view it's properties, I can not change the Permissions of the file (any file, including the Counter.txt file). I get the error :-


    An error occurred changing the permissions on the file or folder on the FTP Server. Make sure you have permission to change this item.
    Details:
    550 CHMOD not allowed on page.asp


    All the files permissions are set to :-
    Owner - Read Checked, Write Checked, Execute UnChecked.
    Group - Read Checked, Write UnChecked, Execute UnChecked.
    All Users - Read Checked, Write UnChecked, Execute UnChecked.


    Maybe this is the problem. If so, how can I change the Permissions.
    My OS is Windows XP, and I am the Computer Administrator.



    Thank you for your time and patience.
    Mark.

  6. 11 Dec 2002 at 13:30

    Code:
    Request.ServerVariables("Path_Translated")
    is a built in VBScript function. if basically gives you the path of the page on the server (NOT the URL, the actual path where it is stored in the computer which is acting as the server...)


    "websitename" and "recentvisitor" are just variable names that I've thought up. the idea is that you change "websitename" to whatever your web site's called. and "recentvisitor" you might as well leave the same.


    i personally reckon it's easier to program ASP pages in notepad, missing out the "middle man" [dreamweaver] altogether.


    one question about your scripts not running: Are you definetely running them from the web server on your PC, so it actually "requests" and "parses" them?? or are you just opening the asp page in internet explorer?


    if you're using NT/XP you can use IIS, for 9x it's PWS you'll use.


    then you'll access the pages from http://localhost/page.asp (you don't have to be online for this to work....)


    forgive me if you knew all that already... i was just making sure

  7. 10 Dec 2002 at 19:04

    I am using DreamWeaver MX. I can't seem to run VBScript that starts and finshes with the <% and  %> symbols. I can run VBScripts that start with <script language="VBScript"> and finish </script>. I also can not get the REQUEST command to work. As I am new at web development, to use this code, do I create a HTM page or a ASP page. If I have to create a ASP page, I take it that the page has to be a ASP VBScript.


    May I also ask the correct format for (examples if possible):-
        PathTranslated
        website
    name
        recentvisitor


    My upload address is :-
        http://upload.ntlworld.com/


    The address that is used to browse my web site is :-
        http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mfj1967/.......and then the home page.


    I do know quite a bit about Visual Basic for Applications, but VBScript is slightly different.
    Please can you help.
    Regards,
    Mark.

  8. 09 Dec 2002 at 07:02

    yeah, post the errors here so we can see what the problem is


    (is the counter.txt file granted read AND write access???)

  9. 09 Dec 2002 at 02:31

    oopos... didnt read the 'Couldnt get it to work' part till now...


    whats wrong? Be more precise, what errors, outputs etc are you facing? What Server are you using? Eg. Microsoft IIS, Linux, Unix? Is it local server or is it on on the web?(Eg a host)?

  10. 09 Dec 2002 at 02:30

    looks like ASP;VBScript not JScript as JScript ASP Pages look uglier than that...

  11. 08 Dec 2002 at 08:28

    Just a quicky,
    I'm just getting into Web Publishing, and I know all there is to know about Visual Basic.
    My question is :-
    Is the code your using VBScript or JavaScript, It looks very much like VBScript, but I could be wrong. The reason I ask is because I can't seem to get the code to work. I created a ASP VBScript page and added the code. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.


    Please Advise, Thank you.
    Mark.

  12. 01 Jan 1999 at 00:00

    This thread is for discussions of ASP Web Counter.

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