W3C Validator offline
Problems
The following things may go wrong:
- Configurating the Web Server
blechtrottel brodaktschns recommends studying the server's documentation. It may be helpful to run simple Perl or CGI scripts ("Hello World!") - Running Perl
Check your Perl's help and documentation or try running scripts in a DOS box. ActivePerl comes with some simple scripts for testing purposes, all you have to do is change the first line (compare fine tuning) and add a pl file extension. - Calling the Parser
Onsgml.exe can be called in a DOS box. Blechtrottel brodaktschns offer their visitors a simple batch test script, which only needs the path to a file as a parameter. In the batch file you have to change a few paths first. Included are two test files (ok.html and fehler.html). The parser creates a file called ok.html.validator.txt or fehler.html.validator.txt. If you pass it ok.html the resulting file should be empty. If you pass it fehler.html you should find a warning regarding the use of the <a> in the body tag. - Processing the Output
If everything else seems ok you will have to start searching for typos in the Perl script (hooray). Getting the help of a Perl specialist can do miracles in such a case.
Final Tips
- The HTML files and the HTML code generated by the script both include links to image files on the WWW. So if you really want to work offline have a look at the source code and change the paths to the images in htdocs\images. You may have to rename or download some files first.
- We at blechtrottel brodaktschns installed the validator into a folder that we named validator067. Should a new version of the validator be published, it will get its own folder named accordingly (of course, it will also get a separate virtual host in Apache). So if adapting the new check.pl for Windows takes longer than expected, we will still have a working older version to validate our files with.
Disclaimer
This howto is not for newbies! Applying the changes described is recommended for seasoned users only. Blechtrottel brodaktschns cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by your implementation. Any mistakes you come across and point out to us will be gladly accepted. Since we are not native speakers of English this also applies to the text itself (grammar, spelling, etc).
Thanks
We would like to thank Karlheinz Zöchling for tutoring us in Perl.
We also would like to mention the validator site of www.bjoernsworld.de (in German), which made us deal with this project, and the tips available at Scottish Lass, which we mentioned above. Last but not least another thank you goes to the team of the W3C validator for all the work.
Final Tip
An even more detailed howto with lots of screen shots can be found at SelfHTML aktuell. It is in German only.
