I need help with user tracking

My friend created a site that combines a forum with seperate chat... the problem is that you dont even know if someone is on the site. It's a small site with a MAX of 125 that will visit the site regularly. I refered him to this site for ideas (I love it's setup) and told him he need a way to let logged on users know if there are others on... I dont even know terms to search for on Google so I'm sort of at a wall. I have no knowledge of login sequence programming etc so I'll start by getting up to date with that while I wait for someone to lead me in the right direction for this. Please if anyone can help me with terminology that would be great... any help in 'step by step process isnt necissary unless you are determined. lol


Thanks,
Tuskin

Oh, would I use pearl or what? (I really have no clue where to start)

the only thing I can say is to use php...
This site and others with forums are founded on php...
Now, besides that info, I can't say much, never worked with or even gave time to look at php, so I'm totally in the dark...

sorry

well that gives me a start
now I at least know it's not pearl lol
thanks

I like to help with as much (or as little) info I know...

Download it Here

Actually Tuskin, perl's pretty good (actually, the best) at text file manipulation, which is one way to find out about user activity however PHP would be better for logon information.

alright if its in PHP I'll be set... kind of anyways. I will know I'm on a good track but then I have to figure a way of following them until they leave

*Maybe* some like:

PHP Code:

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<?php
exec("whois $REMOTE_ADDR>file.txt");
?>

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Sorry, that was meant for another thread. Just ignore it...

PHP/ASP/JSP or CGI are definitely the ways to go.

Quote:

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Sorry, that was meant for another thread. Just ignore it...

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Then delete it?