Sams Teach Yourself ColdFusion® in 21 Days

Sams Teach Yourself ColdFusion® in 21 Days

by Charles Mohnike
Released August 2000
Publisher(s): Sams
ISBN: 9780672317965

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Book description

Sams Teach Yourself ColdFusion in 21 Days quickly empowers you to create your own dynamic database-driven Web applications using Allaire's ColdFusion. Using client-proven methods, and the success of his popular ColdFusion tutorial for Wired, expert author Charles Mohnike provides you with an understanding of the ColdFusion Server and guides you through the use of the ColdFusion Studio, enabling you to create your own ColdFusion applications quickly and easily. Topics such as installing and configuring the ColdFusion Server, working with the ColdFusion Studio, working with SQL, optimizing your datasource, understanding templates and ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML), using ColdFusion tags, manipulating data, creating e-commerce solutions with ColdFusion, and debugging ColdFusion applications.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. About the Technical Editor
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Tell Us What You Think!
  6. Introduction
  7. Week 1 At a Glance
    1. Introducing ColdFusion
      1. What Is ColdFusion?
      2. Exploring a Sample ColdFusion Application
      3. Why Should I Use ColdFusion?
      4. Database-Driven Sites
      5. Data Collection
      6. Understanding Clients and Servers
      7. How ColdFusion Works Within the Client/Server Relationship
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    2. Anatomy of a ColdFusion Application
      1. Connecting Your Database to the Web
      2. The Datasource and ODBC
      3. Exploring the ColdFusion Template
      4. Exploring the Relationship Between Query and Output
      5. Summary
      6. Q&A
      7. Workshop
    3. Setting Up ColdFusion and Defining a Datasource
      1. Deciding What to Buy or Not to Buy
      2. Questions to Ask a Potential ColdFusion Provider
      3. Exploring ColdFusion Server Varieties
      4. Installing ColdFusion Server on Windows Platforms
      5. Installing ColdFusion Server on UNIX-Based Platforms
      6. Verifying Server Setup
      7. Understanding the ColdFusion Administrator
      8. Datasource Options and Setup
      9. Verifying a Datasource
      10. Starting and Stopping ColdFusion Service
      11. Summary
      12. Q&A
      13. Workshop
    4. Building a Database and Organizing Data
      1. Database Software Supported by ColdFusion
      2. ColdFusion as a Database-to-Web Gateway
      3. Creating a Data Map
      4. Introducing Data Relationships
      5. Designing the Database
      6. Creating Data Relationships
      7. Table and Database Security
      8. Writing Data into a Database
      9. Summary
      10. Q&A
      11. Workshop
    5. Finding the Data You Need: An Introduction to Queries and SQL
      1. Examining the ColdFusion Query
      2. Exploring the Basics of the SELECT Statement
      3. Qualifying a SELECT Statement with Conditions
      4. Sorting and Evaluating Query Results
      5. Summary
      6. Q&A
      7. Workshop
    6. Creating Your First Web Application
      1. Defining a Sample Application
      2. Creating and Sharing Folders
      3. Setting Up the Datasource
      4. Constructing Your First Templates
      5. Viewing the Index Template
      6. Creating the Second Template Page
      7. Viewing the Details Template
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    7. Changing the Contents of a Database with ColdFusion
      1. Defining a Sample Application
      2. Introducing <CFINSERT> and <CFUPDATE>
      3. Understanding Web Forms
      4. Creating an Input Form to Insert Data
      5. Creating the Insert Page
      6. Creating the Edit Interface
      7. Creating a Form to Edit Existing Data
      8. Creating the Update Page
      9. Troubleshooting Insert and Update Operations
      10. Summary
      11. Q&A
      12. Workshop
  8. Week 2 At a Glance
    1. Understanding ColdFusion Studio
      1. Introducing ColdFusion Studio
      2. Installing Studio
      3. Studio Components
      4. Accessing Remote Servers
      5. Working with the Editor
      6. Studio's Helping Hand
      7. Configuring Studio for Your Work
      8. Studio's Help and Reference Functions
      9. Summary
      10. Q&A
      11. Workshop
    2. Enhancing Your Applications with Variables and If-Then Statements
      1. Defining a Sample Application
      2. Introducing the <CFIF> Tag
      3. Creating an Application with <CFIF>
      4. The Password-Check Page
      5. The Insert Page
      6. Defining Variables with <CFSET>
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    3. Enhancing Output with Tables and Groups
      1. Understanding <CFTABLE>
      2. Creating Output Tables with <CFTABLE>
      3. Creating Output Tables with HTML's <TABLE> Tag
      4. Grouping Data to Organize Output
      5. Creating Output Using the GROUP Parameter
      6. Making Long Pages Accessible with Index Links
      7. Using SQL's DISTINCT to Create Dynamic Index Links
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    4. Enhancing Input Pages with Basic <CFFORM> Tags
      1. Understanding <CFFORM>
      2. Using <CFFORM>
      3. The <CFINPUT> Tag
      4. The <CFTEXTINPUT> Tag
      5. The <CFSELECT> Tag
      6. The <CFSLIDER> Tag
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    5. Using Advanced Form Techniques to Manage Input
      1. Understanding SQL Updates, Inserts, and Deletes
      2. Combining Multiple Form Actions
      3. Understanding <CFTREE> and <CFTREEITEM>
      4. Understanding <CFGRID>
      5. Using <CFGRIDUPDATE>
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
    6. Using ColdFusion to Handle Email
      1. Understanding the <CFMAIL> Tag
      2. Using <CFMAIL>
      3. Defining a Default Mail Server in ColdFusion Administrator
      4. Using Queries to Autorespond and Create Content
      5. Using Queries to Send Mail to a List
      6. Getting Incoming Mail with <CFPOP>
      7. Deleting Mail with <CFPOP>
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    7. Using ColdFusion Functions to Manipulate Data
      1. Understanding Functions
      2. General Function Rules
      3. Display and Formatting Functions
      4. Using String Functions
      5. Date and Time Functions
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
  9. Week 3 At a Glance
    1. Using Lists, Structures, and Arrays to Package Data
      1. Understanding ColdFusion Lists
      2. Creating ColdFusion Lists
      3. Reading List Values with <CFLOOP>
      4. Understanding ColdFusion Structures
      5. Understanding ColdFusion Arrays
      6. Defining and Populating Arrays
      7. Reading Data from an Array
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    2. Using ColdFusion Client and Session Management
      1. Understanding ColdFusion's Web Application Framework
      2. Using Application.cfm
      3. Setting Values In Application.cfm
      4. Understanding ColdFusion's Client-State Management
      5. Understanding Variable Scopes
      6. Using Session Variables
      7. Understanding Application Variables
      8. Understanding Cookies
      9. Summary
      10. Q&A
      11. Workshop
    3. Finding Text with Verity
      1. Understanding Verity
      2. Defining Verity Collections with ColdFusion Administrator
      3. Searching Verity Collections
      4. Defining and Indexing Verity Collections with CFML Tags
      5. Integrating Databases into Verity Collections
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
    4. Working with Files and Directories
      1. Understanding How ColdFusion Works with Files
      2. Using <CFFILE> to Accept Uploads
      3. Using <CFFILE> to Manage and Create Files
      4. Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Files with <CFFILE>
      5. Viewing File Object Attributes
      6. Reading and Writing with <CFFILE>
      7. Using <CFDIRECTORY>
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    5. Using Advanced SQL Techniques
      1. Understanding Column Aliases
      2. Understanding Aggregate Functions
      3. Understanding Table Joins
      4. Understanding SQL Subqueries
      5. Understanding SQL Views
      6. Introducing Stored Procedures
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    6. Using ColdFusion for E-Commerce Applications
      1. Considering Prewritten Commerce Applications
      2. Planning an E-Commerce Site
      3. Constructing an Administration Section
      4. Constructing a Catalog
      5. Constructing Transaction Pages
      6. Understanding E-Commerce Transaction Types
      7. Completing Your Store Application
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    7. Using ColdFusion's Debugging Tools to Troubleshoot Your Code
      1. Identifying the Source of Errors
      2. Understanding Error Messages Generated by Your Web Server
      3. Understanding Error Messages Generated by ColdFusion
      4. Understanding Error Messages Generated by Your ODBC Driver
      5. Understanding ColdFusion's Debugging Tools
      6. Using ColdFusio n Studio's Document Validator
      7. Introducing ColdFusion Log Files
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    8. Answers to the Quiz and Exercise Questions
      1. Day 1
      2. Day 2
      3. Day 3
      4. Day 4
      5. Day 5
      6. Day 6
      7. Day 7
      8. Day 8
      9. Day 9
      10. Day 10
      11. Day 11
      12. Day 12
      13. Day 13
      14. Day 14
      15. Day 15
      16. Day 16
      17. Day 17
      18. Day 18
      19. Day 19
      20. Day 20
      21. Day 21
    9. ColdFusion Tags
      1. Alphabetical List of ColdFusion Tags
      2. New Tags in ColdFusion 4.5
      3. ColdFusion Forms Tags
      4. Database Manipulation Tags
      5. Data Output Tags
      6. Exception Handling Tags
      7. Extensibility Tags
      8. File Management Tags
      9. Flow-Control Tags
      10. Internet Protocol Tags
      11. Java Servlet and Java Object Tags
      12. Variable Manipulation Tags
      13. Web Application Framework Tags
      14. Other Tags
      15. CFABORT
      16. CFAPPLET
      17. CFAPPLICATION
      18. CFASSOCIATE
      19. CFAUTHENTICATE
      20. CFBREAK
      21. CFCACHE
      22. CFCOL
      23. CFCOLLECTION
      24. CFCONTENT
      25. CFCOOKIE
      26. CFDIRECTORY
      27. CFERROR
      28. CFEXECUTE
      29. CFEXIT
      30. CFFILE
      31. CFFORM
      32. CFFTP
      33. CFGRID
      34. CFGRIDCOLUMN
      35. CFGRIDROW
      36. CFGRIDUPDATE
      37. CFHEADER
      38. CFHTMLHEAD
      39. CFHTTP
      40. CFHTTPPARAM
      41. CFIF CFELSEIF CFELSE
      42. CFIMPERSONATE
      43. CFINCLUDE
      44. CFINDEX
      45. CFINPUT
      46. CFINSERT
      47. CFLDAP
      48. CFLOCATION
      49. CFLOCK
      50. CFLOOP
      51. CFMAIL
      52. CFMAILPARAM
      53. CFMODULE
      54. CFOBJECT
      55. CFOUTPUT
      56. CFPARAM
      57. CFPOP
      58. CFPROCESSINGDIRECTIVE
      59. CFPROCPARAM
      60. CFPROCRESULT
      61. CFQUERY
      62. CFQUERYPARAM
      63. CFREGISTRY
      64. CFREPORT
      65. CFRETHROW
      66. CFSCHEDULE
      67. CFSCRIPT
      68. CFSEARCH
      69. CFSELECT
      70. CFSERVLET
      71. CFSERVLETPARAM
      72. CFSET
      73. CFSETTING
      74. CFSILENT
      75. CFSLIDER
      76. CFSTOREDPROC
      77. CFSWITCH/CFCASE/CFDEFAULTCASE
      78. CFTABLE
      79. CFTEXTINPUT
      80. CFTHROW
      81. CFTRANSACTION
      82. CFTREE
      83. CFTREEITEM
      84. CFTRY/CFCATCH
      85. CFUPDATE
      86. CFWDDX
  10. Index

Product information

  • Title: Sams Teach Yourself ColdFusion® in 21 Days
  • Author(s): Charles Mohnike
  • Release date: August 2000
  • Publisher(s): Sams
  • ISBN: 9780672317965