How can I forbid Hyperlinks in FrontPage Guestbook entries?

M

Mike Gora

I run a popular web site with a guest book with many nice entries. But I am
now being spammed by people whoi create entries that are each nothing but a
large numberof hyperlinks that appear to be ads for other sites. The solution
would either be a moderated guestbook, or simply forbidding hyperlinks in
Guestbook entries. The latter sounds simpler. Does anyone know how to do this?
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

There is nothing that you can do about this when using the FP Guestbook.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
M

Mike Gora

Well, I know there is no standard feature in FrontPage for that, but since it
must be a common requirement someone must have written a script or something
else to solve this problem. In the simplest case, a script that runs once an
hour and deletes all hyperlinks in guestlog.htm would suffice, but perhaps
there is a better solution.
 
M

Mike Gora

Thomas,

after posting my first response to you, it occurred to me that a better
solution might be to intercept the "Submit" button and check the text at that
point, rejecting it if it contains any hyperlinks. Would that be possible,
Assuming I could find someone who could write that code?
 
M

Mark Fitzpatrick

You would have to have someone write client-side Javascript as you can't
intercept the server call without breaking the guestbook. Another solution
though is to see if there is a free guestbook that is compatible with your
server setup. If your host supports Active Server Pages (ASP) you could run
a Google search for Free ASP Guestbook and see what you find. Some of them
will require a database, but there may be a few that don't or may only
require a simple access database connection.

Hope this helps,
Mark Fitzpatrick
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
 
C

clintonG

What is called 'comment spam' is a growing problem that is for the most part
generated by bots that look for the proprietary code generated by
applications like FrontPage and blogging applications and so on. Using a
CAPTCHA will not stop a human from copying and pasting spam into your
guestbook but it can and does prevent the bots from spamming you.

Google: captcha

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/



Mike Gora said:
I run a popular web site with a guest book with many nice entries. But I am
now being spammed by people whoi create entries that are each nothing but a
large numberof hyperlinks that appear to be ads for other sites. The solution
would either be a moderated guestbook, or simply forbidding hyperlinks in
Guestbook entries. The latter sounds simpler. Does anyone know how to do
this?
 
M

Mike Gora

Clinton,

have you created CAPTCHA code for FrontPage submissions, or do you know
where I can get it?

Mike
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Not possible to use CAPTCHA with the FP guest book or discussion web components, requires
server-side scripting, such as ASP, ASP.net, PHP etc. and if you want to use server-side scripts,
then you can not use the FP components that rely on the FP extensions for processing, such as the
forms, guest book and discussion web, etc.
--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
M

Mike Gora

But adding client-side code to redo the Submit button handling is possible,
isn't it? Would it be easier to add a dialog box somewhat like "Click yes if
you really want to submit", or to simply not submit if the text entered
contains hyperlinks?

Mike
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

You would have to write JavaScript to check for this, but if JavaScript is disable, then the checks
will not work.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
C

clintonG

I haven't deployed any in the wild yet but have been evaluating several
different implementations and this C# CodeProject implementation [1] is one
of the best I've found. The idea -- for you -- is to rip out the FrontPage
tinker toys and replace with the real thing.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/

[1] http://www.codeproject.com/aspnet/CaptchaImage.asp
 
M

Mike Gora

But with this approach, if Javascript were disabled, then the Submit would
not work either. So the approach seems foolproof.

Mike
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

But if you modify the Submit function, then the guest book may not work, since it is process by the
FP extensions.

Really the best option if you must have a guest book is to get one that database driven using
server-side scripting.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
C

clintonG

Not very strong when static but sometimes simplicity will do ainna?

<%= Clinton Gallagher


in message clinton,

I used a non automatic image (no code just an image with #'s) like that to
cut down on email form spam...even though its a simple method...it seems to
work. I figured a spam bot couldn't read the image #.



| I haven't deployed any in the wild yet but have been evaluating several
| different implementations and this C# CodeProject implementation [1] is
one
| of the best I've found. The idea -- for you -- is to rip out the
FrontPage
| tinker toys and replace with the real thing.
|
| --
| <%= Clinton Gallagher
| METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
| NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
| URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/
|
| [1] http://www.codeproject.com/aspnet/CaptchaImage.asp
|
|
|
|
| | > Clinton,
| >
| > have you created CAPTCHA code for FrontPage submissions, or do you know
| > where I can get it?
| >
| > Mike
| >
| > "clintonG" wrote:
| >
| > > What is called 'comment spam' is a growing problem that is for the
most
| part
| > > generated by bots that look for the proprietary code generated by
| > > applications like FrontPage and blogging applications and so on. Using
a
| > > CAPTCHA will not stop a human from copying and pasting spam into your
| > > guestbook but it can and does prevent the bots from spamming you.
| > >
| > > Google: captcha
| > >
| > > --
| > > <%= Clinton Gallagher
| > > METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
| > > NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
| > > URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/
| > >
| > >
| > >
| > > | > > > I run a popular web site with a guest book with many nice entries.
But
| I
| > > am
| > > > now being spammed by people whoi create entries that are each
nothing
| but
| > > a
| > > > large numberof hyperlinks that appear to be ads for other sites. The
| > > solution
| > > > would either be a moderated guestbook, or simply forbidding
hyperlinks
| in
| > > > Guestbook entries. The latter sounds simpler. Does anyone know how
to
| do
| > > this?
| > >
| > >
| > >
|
|
 
M

Mike Gora

Thomas,

after some of the responses hinted at spambots, it occurred to me that they
are probably just looking for the page "guestbook.htm". So I just did a "Save
As" to rename my guestbook.htm to a different name, and then changed the
original guestbook.htm to a 2-line page requiring an additional click to get
to the new guestbook. With that simple change, I have not gotten spam entries
in my guestbook for ten days now, and that is a one-year record.

I could probably do even better by simply eliminating the page guestbook.htm
altogether and just using the new name, but I have a complicated reason for
not doing that.

Sometimes very simple solutions are just waiting to be found.

Mike
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Great workaround.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
V

vallon

I have been in the computer industry for a long time and I know that there is
almost always a work around. I am very surprised at the "CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T"
attitude of the Microsoft guys in this forum!

Shame on you.........
 
T

Tom Pepper Willett

Okay, Vallon, provide the work around.

--
===
Tom "Pepper" Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
About FrontPage 2003:
http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx?assetid=FX01085802
FrontPage 2003 Product Information:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/frontpage/prodinfo/default.mspx
Understanding FrontPage:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/frontpage/
===
|I have been in the computer industry for a long time and I know that there
is
| almost always a work around. I am very surprised at the "CAN'T CAN'T
CAN'T"
| attitude of the Microsoft guys in this forum!
|
| Shame on you.........
|
| "Thomas A. Rowe" wrote:
|
| > Great workaround.
| >
| > --
| > ==============================================
| > Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| >
| > FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > ==============================================
| > To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support see:
| > http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| >
| > | > > Thomas,
| > >
| > > after some of the responses hinted at spambots, it occurred to me that
they
| > > are probably just looking for the page "guestbook.htm". So I just did
a "Save
| > > As" to rename my guestbook.htm to a different name, and then changed
the
| > > original guestbook.htm to a 2-line page requiring an additional click
to get
| > > to the new guestbook. With that simple change, I have not gotten spam
entries
| > > in my guestbook for ten days now, and that is a one-year record.
| > >
| > > I could probably do even better by simply eliminating the page
guestbook.htm
| > > altogether and just using the new name, but I have a complicated
reason for
| > > not doing that.
| > >
| > > Sometimes very simple solutions are just waiting to be found.
| > >
| > > Mike
| > >
| > > "Thomas A. Rowe" wrote:
| > >
| > >> But if you modify the Submit function, then the guest book may not
work, since it is process by
| > >> the
| > >> FP extensions.
| > >>
| > >> Really the best option if you must have a guest book is to get one
that database driven using
| > >> server-side scripting.
| > >>
| > >> --
| > >> ==============================================
| > >> Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > >> WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| > >>
| > >> FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > >> ==============================================
| > >> To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support see:
| > >> http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| > >>
| > >> | > >> > But with this approach, if Javascript were disabled, then the
Submit would
| > >> > not work either. So the approach seems foolproof.
| > >> >
| > >> > Mike
| > >> >
| > >> > "Thomas A. Rowe" wrote:
| > >> >
| > >> >> You would have to write JavaScript to check for this, but if
JavaScript is disable, then the
| > >> >> checks
| > >> >> will not work.
| > >> >>
| > >> >> --
| > >> >> ==============================================
| > >> >> Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > >> >> WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| > >> >>
| > >> >> FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > >> >> ==============================================
| > >> >> To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support
see:
| > >> >> http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| > >> >>
| > >> >> | > >> >> > But adding client-side code to redo the Submit button handling
is possible,
| > >> >> > isn't it? Would it be easier to add a dialog box somewhat like
"Click yes if
| > >> >> > you really want to submit", or to simply not submit if the text
entered
| > >> >> > contains hyperlinks?
| > >> >> >
| > >> >> > Mike
| > >> >> >
| > >> >> > "Thomas A. Rowe" wrote:
| > >> >> >
| > >> >> >> Not possible to use CAPTCHA with the FP guest book or
discussion web components, requires
| > >> >> >> server-side scripting, such as ASP, ASP.net, PHP etc. and if
you want to use server-side
| > >> >> >> scripts,
| > >> >> >> then you can not use the FP components that rely on the FP
extensions for processing, such
| > >> >> >> as
| > >> >> >> the
| > >> >> >> forms, guest book and discussion web, etc.
| > >> >> >> --
| > >> >> >> ==============================================
| > >> >> >> Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > >> >> >> WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| > >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > >> >> >> ==============================================
| > >> >> >> To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support
see:
| > >> >> >> http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| > >> >> >>
message
| > >> >> >> | > >> >> >> > Clinton,
| > >> >> >> >
| > >> >> >> > have you created CAPTCHA code for FrontPage submissions, or
do you know
| > >> >> >> > where I can get it?
| > >> >> >> >
| > >> >> >> > Mike
| > >> >> >> >
| > >> >> >> > "clintonG" wrote:
| > >> >> >> >
| > >> >> >> >> What is called 'comment spam' is a growing problem that is
for the most part
| > >> >> >> >> generated by bots that look for the proprietary code
generated by
| > >> >> >> >> applications like FrontPage and blogging applications and so
on. Using a
| > >> >> >> >> CAPTCHA will not stop a human from copying and pasting spam
into your
| > >> >> >> >> guestbook but it can and does prevent the bots from spamming
you.
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >> Google: captcha
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >> --
| > >> >> >> >> <%= Clinton Gallagher
| > >> >> >> >> METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
| > >> >> >> >> NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
| > >> >> >> >> URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >>
message
| > >> >> >> >> | > >> >> >> >> > I run a popular web site with a guest book with many nice
entries. But I
| > >> >> >> >> am
| > >> >> >> >> > now being spammed by people whoi create entries that are
each nothing but
| > >> >> >> >> a
| > >> >> >> >> > large numberof hyperlinks that appear to be ads for other
sites. The
| > >> >> >> >> solution
| > >> >> >> >> > would either be a moderated guestbook, or simply
forbidding hyperlinks in
| > >> >> >> >> > Guestbook entries. The latter sounds simpler. Does anyone
know how to do
| > >> >> >> >> this?
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >> >>
| > >> >> >>
| > >> >> >>
| > >> >> >>
| > >> >>
| > >> >>
| > >> >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| >
| >
| >
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Yes, there are workaround, however, unless the user is will to work or learn HTML, CSS, server-side
scripting for many issue, the answer is no, in that it can not be done directly via the FP client
application.

Plus, there are no Microsoft Guys/Gals in this forum.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 

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