# XForms Techniques Hands-On

by Steven Pemberton, CWI, Amsterdam

You can follow the tutorial online, but if you want to do the exercises, you have to download a small package.

1. Download the package, either xforms-techniques.tar.gz, or xforms-techniques.zip (for Windows), and unpack it somewhere
2. Run the (tiny) server: in the top-level folder, there is a program called "xcontents", versions for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Raspberry Pi. Depending on how your unpacking program works, you may have to make the server executable first. Run it in a shell or command window as "`./xcontents 8082`", in the folder that the program is in (so first change directory to that folder); on windows it is just "`xcontents 8082`" without the leading "`./`".
3. Then click on this link to check that it is running correctly.

## Alternative Server

Alas some Windows virus checkers think that xcontents.exe is malware (it isn't; feel free to grab the source, and compile it yourself).

As an alternative, there is a tiny Javascript server called server.js that will also do the job (also works on Linux, and Macintosh).

If you already have `node` installed, then in the folder that the program is in you can run

       node server.js

If you don't yet have node, go to https://nodejs.org/en/download/, click on "Windows Installer" or whatever, run the installer, and follow the instructions.

Then start up the command prompt, and run

       node server.js

Then click on the link to check that it is running.

## Different Port

Already got something running on 8082? No problem: just start the server on any free port, and after you click on the link above to check it is running, change the port number in the URL to the port you have used.