Creating a "member's section" for users to post their info

[digitalchaos]

Hello. I recently created an online community for automotive enthusiasts, and would like to make a section of the site for members to submit various information and pictures. Now I figure the easiest way to do this would be to allow members a specific amount of space to create their own page on the site to post what they want. The problem is, I am unsure how to go about this. From what I have read, it seems CGI would allow this, but I don't believe my host, anzwers.org, allows cgi access. Does anyone have another method for allowing users to create their own site, or at least any ideas that would achieve a goal similar to what I am looking to let them do? Thank you in advance, any help you can offer is appreciated.

My site is: Modern Vehicles Online (http://anzwers.org/free/moveon/)

[filburt1]

I'm not sure allowing members to create their own whole pages would be wise; that could open up a rat's nest of security holes.

What would be better (IMHO) is just a list of fields, including pictures, that they can fill in, sort of like viewing a user's profile here but more extensive.

CGI would allow this, but you'll find more common support for PHP. Integrating the page with a MySQL database would be fairly easy to write. You won't likely find a free host with reliable and secure PHP/MySQL but you can get a cheap one; check out the Hosting forum here.

[filburt1]

In fact drop this host as fast as you can:
Unlimited space.
Unlimited bandwidth.

Widely regarded as a despicable thing for hosts to say, ugh...

[energizze]

I agree with Filburt about having a server side script with form.

One thing you might want to add in is a feature where it informs you when someone updates/adds some content.

Unless you are getting millions of entires a day.

I have made sites for people who have wanted members areas where members can add images and page content, and unless you personally know these people, don't trust anyone not to upload alsorts of rubbish.

[filburt1]

Re: your last point, that is exactly why HTML is disabled here: there are always stupid people out there who will exploit it to grab user passhashes and other annoying things. :paranoid:

[Macguru]

Good luck with this... I'd like to see it when you integrate it.