Programming Coldfusion

ColdFusion is a powerful platform for creating and deploying dynamic Web applications. Developers like ColdFusion because its simple, tag-based language makes it easy to handle simple tasks, like processing form data and querying databases. ColdFusion is easy to learn, yet powerful enough to deliver highly scalable, robust applications. This text covers everything a developer needs to know to create effective Web applications with ColdFusion and includes numerous examples that readers can use for their own applications. The book starts with ColdFusion basics and quickly progresses to topics like sharing application data, accessing databases, and maintaining state information. It also provides chapters on advanced database techniques, working with the Verity search engine, and interacting with other data sources, including LDAP directories, email servers, and other Web servers. Finally, the book explores more advanced topics, such as creating custom tags, sharing data with WDDX, and calling external objects.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1. Introducing ColdFusion What Is Allaire's ColdFusion? ColdFusion Architecture Getting Started with ColdFusion. 2. ColdFusion Basics Getting Started Datatypes Variables Expressions Writing Output Conditional Processing Looping Including Other Templates. 3. Passing Data Between Templates Passing Parameters via URL Passing Data Using Forms Dealing with Nonexistent Parameters. 4 Database Basics Configuring Data Sources Introducing CFQUERY A Quick SQL Primer Retrieving and Displaying Data Sorting Query Results Grouping Output Looping Over a Query Result Set Formatting Techniques. 5. Maintaining Database Records Inserting Records Updating Existing Records Deleting Records. 6. Complex Datatypes Lists Arrays Structures Query Objects. 7. Maintaining State Setting Up the Web Application Framework Using Persistent Variables Browser Redirection Portal Example. 8 Security Security Basics Implementing Security from Scratch Using ColdFusion's Built-in Advanced Security Services. 9.Error and Exception Handling Basic Exception Handling Custom Exception Handling Rethrowing Exceptions Error Handling Within the Web-Application Framework Server-wide Error Handling. 10. Dynamic Form Controls Combining HTML and CFML Form Controls Data Validation Basic Input Controls Textual Input A Selection Control Sliders Grids Trees Custom Controls Form Controls in Version 5.0. 11. Advanced Database Techniques Display Techniques Drill-Down Queries Query Caching Advanced SQL CFSQL Calling Stored Procedures Transaction Processing. 12. Manipulating Files and Directories Working with Directories Dealing with Files Performing FTP Operations. 13. Working With Email Sending Email Dealing with Undeliverable Email Retrieving Messages Building a Web-Based Email Client. 14. Interacting with Other Web Servers Using HTTP Retrieving Information Parsing Data Generating Static HTML Pages Posting Information CFHTTP Considerations. 15. Interfacing with LDAP-Enabled Directories LDAP Basics Querying an LDAP Directory Modifying LDAP Entries Modifying the Distinguished Name. 16. Working with the Verity Search Interface Creating Collections Populating Collections Searching Collections The Verity Search Language Updating Collections Maintaining Collections Advanced Techniques. 17. Regular Expressions in ColdFusion Regular-Expression Syntax Finding Strings Replacing Strings Back References Useful Regular Expressions Input Considerations Regular Expression Builder. 18. Scripting Scripting Syntax Writing Output CFScript Statements User-Defined Functions. 19. Creating Custom Tags Getting Started Calling Custom Tags Passing Data Returning Data Attribute Validation and Error Handling Advanced Techniques Protecting Your Tags CFX Tags. 20. Sharing Data with WDDX WDDX Basics Serializing and Deserializing Data Storing WDDX Packets Server-to-Server WDDX Server-to-Browser WDDX Using JavaScript. 21. Working with the System Registry Getting Registry Keys and Values Setting Registry Keys and Values Deleting Registry Keys and Values. 22. Using the ColdFusion Scheduler Scheduling Tasks with the ColdFusion Administrator Scheduling Tasks with CFSCHEDULE Additional Considerations. 23. Calling External Objects Connecting to External Objects Executing Programs Invoking Java Servlets. 24. Graphing and Charting Creating a Simple Graph Graphing Query Results Drilling Down on Graph Data. A. Tag Reference. B. Function Reference. C. Example Database Tables. D. ColdFusion Resources. Index

About the Author :
Rob Brooks-Bilson is a freelance writer and the manager of web technologies at Amkor Technology. He has been working with ColdFusion since version 1.5. Rob has written several freeware custom tags for ColdFusion, including CF_Stockgrabber, which was a winner in Allaire's "Coolest Tags of 1997" contest. Rob is a member of Team Allaire and is a frequent speaker at ColdFusion user groups and industry conferences, including Allaire Developer Conferences. He has written several articles on ColdFusion for Intranet Design Magazine, CFAdvisor, and CNET's Builder.com. Rob lives with his lovely and talented wife and their three fuzzy cats in a sprawling split level mansion in the heart of Delaware's Brandywine Valley. In his free time (what little of it there is), he enjoys running, rock climbing, mountain biking, and traveling.

Review :
'An excellent book for the beginner to the experienced ColdFusion developer. With clear and concise chapters that take you through the learning process from introducing ColdFusion 5.0 to the Advanced Techniques in 24 chapters, with 916 pages of a well written book.' www.four-runner.com