Copyright: Corel Corporation
Citation: Copyright (c) 1997 Corel Corporation


About the Corel Web Server

The Corel Web Server executable file (.EXE) is a fully functional Web server with the following features:

•	HTTP support (version 1.0 plus many 1.1 elements)

•	File caching

•	Contact (access) logging using the CERN/NCSA Common Log Format plus transaction logging (see The Corel Web Server access log for details)

•	Custom MIME types

•	Support for multiple IntraBuilder sessions (multi-threaded)

The Corel Web Server acts as an intermediary between Web browsers and compatible applications, such as IntraBuilder and Corel Paradox, to transfer requests and responses between them.

For information about starting and using the Corel Web Server, see Using the Corel Web Server.

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Using the Corel Web Server
Getting started with the Corel Web Server

The Corel Web Server (.EXE) program files and documentation are included in the Typical Corel Paradox installation. The default location is C:\COREL\SUITE8\PARADOX.

To start the Corel Web Server (.EXE), simply choose Corel Web Server from the Start menu. By default, it is in the Accessories submenu of the Corel Paradox 8 program group. The Corel Web Server icon will appear on the Taskbar. It is active and ready to receive browser requests.

Right-click on the Corel Web Server icon to view the connections, change the server properties, or shut down the server.

These topics contain information on setting up and using the Corel Web Server:

•	Starting and stopping the Corel Web Server

•	Setting the working directory and base path

•	The Corel Web Server window

•	Customizing the Corel Web Server

•	The Corel Web Server access log

•	Saving memory

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Starting and stopping the Corel Web Server

You can start the Corel Web Server by double-clicking its icon in its program group or in Windows Explorer. When started, it appears as an icon or minimized window button at the bottom of the Windows Desktop:

When started and active, the Corel Web Server is ready to handle client browser requests. If you’re using a compatible application such as IntraBuilder or Corel Paradox, the Corel Web Server finds application data by checking the Windows registry. If you want to access data that is not automatically entered in the registry, you need to enter a working directory or base path, so the Corel Web Server will know where to look for requested information (see Setting the working directory or base path).

Deactivating and reactivating the Corel Web Server

You can deactivate the Corel Web Server by right-clicking its icon or minimized window button at the bottom of the Windows desktop and clicking Shutdown. To reactivate it, click Startup.

Terminating the Corel Web Server

To exit the Corel Web Server and remove its icon or button from the Windows desktop tray, right-click the icon or button and click Exit.

Restarting the Corel Web Server

Once you exit the Corel Web Server, you can open it again by clicking its icon in the Corel Web Server program group or double-clicking it in Windows Explorer.

Viewing the Corel Web Server connection list

For information on viewing the Corel Web Server connection list, see About the Corel Web Server window.

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Setting the working directory and base path

Any requests for IntraBuilder files (with extensions .ISV, .JFM, .JRP, OR .JS) are received by the Corel Web Server, then handled by IntraBuilder.

IntraBuilder looks for these documents in its working directory. So, be sure IntraBuilder points to the desired URL path containing these files. Click View, IntraBuilder Explorer or Properties, Desktop Properties in IntraBuilder to enter the path in the appropriate text box.

Requests for Corel Paradox HTML documents are also handled automatically by the Corel Web Server.

 Note

Client browsers cannot access dynamically published Corel Paradox HTML documents from the Paradox :PRIV: alias while Paradox is running. For best results, publish the source table in an alias other than :PRIV:.

Requests for documents with other extensions are handled only by the Corel Web Server. Be sure the Corel Web Server points to the appropriate Web site base path for those documents. If you have not already set the base path in a pop-up dialog box, set it on the Corel Web Server Pages property page.

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The Corel Web Server window
About the Corel Web Server window

Opening the Corel Web Server window

When you run the Corel Web Server, you have a fully functional Web server that can pass information between a client Web browser and Intranet or Internet URLs. To open the Corel Web Server window and display a list of active and completed connections

•	Right-click the Corel Web Server icon or minimized window button at the bottom of your Windows desktop and click View Connections.

The Corel Web Server window appears.

Window features

The Corel Web Server contains a Menu Bar, a toolbar, a connection list, and a Status Bar. The window looks like this before any connections have occurred:

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The Corel Web Server Menu Bar

The Corel Web Server Menu Bar offers three main commands, File, View, and Help:

File	Properties	Displays the Corel Web Server Properties dialog box for customizing features and performance. For more information, see Customizing the Corel Web Server.
	Shutdown/ Startup	Deactivates and reactivates the Corel Web Server. This command is a toggle; you see only the appropriate command.
	Exit	Terminates and closes the Corel Web Server.
View	Toolbar	When checked, displays the toolbar beneath the Menu Bar at the top of the Corel Web Server window. This command is a toggle.
	Status Bar	When checked, displays the Status Bar at the bottom of the Corel Web Server window. This command is a toggle.
	Clear View Window	Clears all entries from the connection list. This is useful for debugging.
Help	Help Topics	Displays online Help files.
	About Web Server	Displays copyright and other information about the Corel Web Server.
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The Corel Web Server toolbar

The Corel Web Server toolbar contains the following buttons that are shortcuts for menu commands:

	Shutdown/Startup [image] a toggle that deactivates and reactivates the Corel Web Server.
	Clear [image] clears the Corel Web Server connection list.
	Properties [image] displays the Corel Web Server property sheet for customizing features and performance. For more information, see Customizing the Corel Web Server.
	Help [image] displays online Help files.
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The Corel Web Server connection list

When a Web browser contacts the Corel Web Server with an HTTP request, the server displays the following information:

Time	Contact time, in local time
Client Name	The client Host Name (machine name) if Enable Client Name Lookup is enabled on the Corel Web Server properties Status page; otherwise, the client’s IP Address.
User Name	The user ID, entered in response to a browser prompt
Method	HTTP method used in the request: GET, POST, or HEAD
URI	The named resource (such as an HTML file) the browser is requesting. This can include the path with respect to the Base Path set on the Corel Web Server properties Pages page
Status	The HTTP connection code for the current status of the contact
Error Message	An error message
Dead connections only show if Show Completed Connections is enabled on the Corel Web Server properties Status page.

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The Corel Web Server Status Bar

To display status messages on the Status Bar at the bottom of the Corel Web Server, enable Enable Server Status Bar on the Corel Web Server properties Status page.

When this setting is enabled, the first number at the right end of the server Status Bar shows the number of current connections, the next number shows the total number of connections, and the third number shows the number of failed connections.

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Customizing the Corel Web Server

To set the Corel Web Server’s properties, do one of the following:

•	Right-click the Corel Web Server icon or minimized window button at the bottom of your Windows desktop and click Properties

•	Click File, Properties from the Corel Web Server Menu Bar

•	Click the Properties button on the Corel Web Server toolbar

For more information, see About Corel Web Server properties.

One important property to set is Base Path, on the Pages page. This property sets the root directory where target Web pages are stored (not the computer’s root directory).

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Saving memory

It is convenient to have many threads waiting for client connections, but this can use a lot of memory. To reduce the number of waiting threads, you can enter a lower value for Min Ready Connections on the Corel Web Server properties Server page.

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The Corel Web Server access log

The access log contains a record of all completed requests to the Corel Web Server, regardless of returned HTTP status. Requests interrupted by the browser or by network errors are not logged in the access log.

Activating the log

To start logging server access records, enable Enable Access Logging on the Corel Web Server properties Logging page and, enter a log filename in the Access Logging File Name box. You can log transactions and access records by setting the appropriate debug logging properties on the Logging page.

Format

The access log complies with the NCSA/CERN Common Log Format (CLF). A sample entry is shown below (each entry is on a single line in the actual log file):

146.82.56.219 - - [23/Apr/1996:05:28:13 -0800] “GET /newinfo/32srvr/newpage.html HTTP/1.0” 200 29764

A dash or minus means null or not applicable. The fields are (in order)

•	IP address or host name of the client. For host-name logging, Enable Client Name Lookup must be enabled on the Corel Web Server properties Status page. This slows down server performance and is not recommended.

•	Unused (placeholder for RFC931/TAP identification; deprecated, not supported).

•	Authenticated user name. This is present only if the client browser sends basic authentication header with the request.

•	Date/time per Common Log Format (Local time, with GMT offset)

•	quoted string containing the HTTP request line, including method, URL, and HTTP version fields

•	the HTTP/1.0 status/result code for the request

•	the number of bytes, exclusive of HTTP header bytes, returned to the client as a result of the request

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About Corel Web Server properties

To set Corel Web Server executable file (.EXE) properties, do one of the following:

•	Right-click the Corel Web Server icon or minimized window button at the bottom of your Windows desktop and click Properties.

•	Click File, Properties from the Corel Web Server menu bar.

•	Click the Properties button on the Corel Web Server toolbar.

When the Properties dialog box opens, click a page tab to set each kind of property:

•	Server properties [image] control how the Corel Web Server handles connections.

•	Pages properties [image] indicate the location of Web pages accessed by the Corel Web Server.

•	Logging properties [image] indicate whether you want to keep log files of connections and transactions and, if so, the names of these files.

•	MIME properties [image] are records in the Corel Web Server MIME Types database.

•	Status properties [image] control client identification detail and status display.

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Web Server Properties dialog box (Server page)

The settings in this dialog box control how the Corel Web Server handles connections.

Dialog box options

HTTP Port

The port at which the server listens for connections; no two servers can have the same port on the same machine. Values are 1 to 32767 (Default = 80).

Min Ready Connections

The number of threads to prepare for connection at startup and keep waiting after startup. The number must be equal to or less than Max Connections. A higher number speeds connections but uses much more memory. Values are 0-255 (Default = 25).

Max Connections

Total number of connections allowed at one moment. Values are 1-255 (Default = 100).

Connection Timeout

The number of seconds to wait before issuing a time-out and breaking the connection. This property is used in both reading requests and sending responses. It also specifies how long to keep a keep-alive connection open. Values are 1-600 (Default = 30).

Keep Alive Connections

Allow Keep Alive Connections

If enabled, permits a request to keep the connection open. This allows a browser quicker access on its second request; it doesn't need to wait for a connection to open.

Enabling Allow Keep Alive Connections uses up more of the server's available connections.

Max Requests Per Connection

The number of request/response transactions allowed for each keep-alive connection (if Allow Keep Alive Connections is enabled). Values are 1-1024 (Default = 5).


Web Server Properties dialog box (Pages page)

The settings on this page indicate the location of Web pages accessed by the Corel Web Server.

Dialog box options

Base Path

The root directory where the Web pages are stored. (For security reasons, don't use your own root directory. Choose a directory with subdirectories that users are allowed to access.)

Default Page

The default Web page name in each directory.

Footer Page

The full path for an optional page with the information to appear at the bottom of each transferred page.

Header Page

The full path for an optional page with the information to appear at the top of each transferred page.


Web Server Properties dialog box (Logging page)

The settings on this page indicate whether you want to keep log files of connections and transactions and, if so, the names of these files.

Dialog box options

Access Logging

These settings enable and name a log file of who connected to the server. The access log file is written in Common Log Format.

Enable Access Logging

When enabled, logs connection history to a file in Common Log Format.

Access File Name

The name of the access log file.

Debug Logging

These settings enable and name a debug log file of debug information for transactions handled by the server.

Enable Debug Logging

When enabled, logs debug information for transactions to a file for later tracing and debugging.

Debug File Name

The name of the Debug Log file where transaction records are stored for later tracing and debugging.

The log includes the buffer received from the browser, the buffer sent to the browser, and a dump of the variables from both the request and response.


Web Server Properties dialog box (MIME page)

This page displays records in the Corel Web Server MIME Types database. You can use the buttons to add, edit, and remove MIME media-type records.

Add

Displays the New MIME Type dialog box where you can enter a file extension with associated media type and subtype.

Extension

The extension used for a certain media type, for example, TXT.

MIME Type

The main media type associated with an extension, for example, text.

MIME Subtype

The category of the main media type associated with an extension, for example, plain.

Edit

Displays the Change MIME Type dialog box where you can change the MIME Type or MIME Subtype associated with the selected extension.

Remove

Deletes the selected extension's record.


Web Server Properties dialog box (Status page)

The settings on this page control client identification detail and status display.

Dialog box options

Enable Client Name Lookup

When enabled, attempts to convert an IP address to an Internet machine name. This task takes more time than when Enable Client Name Lookup is disabled, but more connection information is obtained.

Enable Server Status Bar

When enabled, the server status bar shows information about the current status of the server and its connections. Enable Server Status Bar must be checked before these updates are made; but the updates are independent of other properties.

Show Active Connections

When enabled, active threads appear in the server list (state = New/Recv, Processing, Sending).

Show Completed Connections

When enabled, completed thread connections (status = Dead) appear in the server list.

Number of Completed Connections

If Show Completed Connections is enabled, the number of connections with “status = Dead” to show in the Corel Web Server connection list.


About MIME types

Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) developed as a way to send text formatting, graphics, sounds, and other multimedia elements across different Internet mail systems. They are now also used as a way to help Web browsers and servers communicate. For example, a browser will include a list of MIME types it supports when it sends a request to a server. The server responds by attempting to return the requested data in a format the browser can understand.

MIME establishes relationships between files and their content by mapping file extensions to specific MIME types, as shown by the examples in the table below.

File extension	MIME type

.HTM, .HTML	text/html

.TXT	text/plain

.JPG, .JPEG	image/jpeg

.GIF	image/gif

.WAV	audio/wav

.MPG, .MPEG	video/mpeg

You can modify and delete MIME types from the Corel Web Server MIME types database. The Corel Web Server also supports custom MIME types.

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Adding custom MIME types

To add a custom MIME type to the Corel Web Server MIME types database

1.	Click File, Properties.

2.	Click the MIME tab.

3.	Click the Add button.

4.	Type the file extension, the corresponding MIME type, and the subtype.

5.	Click OK.

Your new MIME type now appears in the Corel Web Server MIME types database.

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Deleting MIME types

To delete a MIME type from the Corel Web Server MIME type database

1.	Click File, Properties.

2.	Click the MIME tab.

3.	From the list box, select the MIME type you want to remove.

4.	Click the Remove button.

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Modifying MIME types

To modify an existing MIME type

1.	Click File, Properties.

2.	Click the MIME tab.

3.	From the list box, select the MIME type you want to modify.

4.	Click the Edit button.

5.	Make your changes to the MIME type or subtype.

Your MIME type is now modified in the Corel Web Server MIME types database.

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Running multiple instances of the Corel Web Server (.EXE)

If you require different server settings (e.g., base path, access logging) at different times, you can customize several Corel Web Server windows. Browser requests are handled by the active server. If more than one Web server is active at the same time, browser requests will automatically be handled by the first instance of the Corel Web Server.

To run multiple instances of the Corel Web Server

1.	Open the desired number of Corel Web Server windows.

2.	Right-click a Corel Web Server icon and choose Properties.

3.	Choose your desired settings.

4.	Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each Corel Web Server window.

Start up the appropriate server as needed, ensuring that the others are shut down.

 Notes

•	When you shut down your computer, all instances of the Corel Web Server will close. If you open a Corel Web Server window when you restart your system, its default settings will be the last ones used before shutting down.

•	It is possible to have multiple active Web servers where each one is set to receive requests on a different port. Since most browser requests come in at the default port 80, however, servers waiting for requests at a different port will most likely remain idle.

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Interoperability with the Corel Web Server Control

The Corel Web Server Control will override the Corel Web Server (.EXE). If an open form in Corel Paradox contains a Corel Web Server Control object, it is the server for all incoming browser requests. When there are multiple open forms containing a Corel Web Server Control object, the active form will be the server for incoming browser requests. For more information, see the Corel Web Server Control Help file.

 Note

•	If Corel Paradox is running but there are no open forms that contain a Corel Web Server Control object, the Corel Web Server (.EXE) will handle incoming browser requests.

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