The Character Server package includes a small ActiveX control that can be used in conjunction with a Flash shell to record audio over the web. This control is designed to work with the Microsoft Post Acceptor (cpshost.dll), a commonly-used component on Microsoft IIS-based web servers. The post acceptor must be configured for anonymous upload, that is no password dialog should pop up when uploading files.

You can download version 7.0 of the post acceptor here:

cpshost.zip

Older versions of the post acceptor appear not to support anonymous uploads under Windows 2000.

Recommended installation is as follows:

1. Create a scripts directory below your inetpubs directory, if you do not already have one, e.g. c:\inetpub\scripts.

2. Unzip the cpshost.zip file into this directory.

3. Map the scripts directory as a virtual directory for your domain name. For example if your domain is acme.com, then the dll should be accessible as http://www.acme.com/scripts/cpshost.dll.

4. Ensure that the virtual directory has "Allow Execute Access", and that the physical directory has read and execute priviliges for IUSR_machinename.

5. Next, as per Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 179566 How to Do Anonymous Uploads, you need to add a registry entry to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINES\Software\Microsoft\WebPost\Acceptors\CPSHost - it needs to be a REG_DWORD value named AllowAnonymous, and the value must be 1.

6. On Windows 2003, you need to add a new web services extension "Post DLL", and list cpshost.dll as a required file, or set "All Unknown ISAPI Extensions" to Allowed. You can find Web Service Extensions under Internet Information Server in My Computer > Manage.

7. Also on Windows 2003, you may need to change the identity of the App Pool from the stricter Network Service account, to the Local System account that was used in prior versions of IIS. This is done in Manage Computer, IIS, Application Pools, DefaultAppPool, Properties, Identity tab. Reports are that both the scripts and the destination directory must be moved to this App Pool.

8. An IIS restart will be required, and some systems may require a full server reboot.

If the posting acceptor is installed correctly, then you should be able to upload an audio file using Samples\Record\UploadAudio.htm, without filling in a password dialog. Proper installation of the posting acceptor can be tricky - if you have any feedback on these steps, please contact us at support@mediasemantics.com.