Comprehensive ColdFusion Training (5 days)

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Overview

In this Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training course, students will spend the first part of the week learning the basics of ColdFusion and the second part of the week learning advanced ColdFusion techniques.

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Course Goals

• Learn how ColdFusion 8 works
• Learn the basics of ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML)
• Learn to pass variables from page to page in ColdFusion
• Learn to process form data in ColdFusion
• Learn to write reusable code
• Learn / Review basic SQL
• Learn to manipulate database data with ColdFusion
• Learn to manage sessions with ColdFusion
• Learn to send email with ColdFusion
• Learn sophisticated data management techniques
• Learn to build and use Custom Tags
• Learn to build and use ColdFusion Components (CFCs)
• Learn to use <cflock> effectively
• Learn to handle errors properly
• Learn to create dynamic charts

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Course Prerequisites

Experience in the following areas is required:

• HTML

Experience in the following areas would be beneficial.

• SQL
• JavaScript
• CSS
• Some programming experience

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Course Outline

1. ColdFusion Basics
   1. How ColdFusion Works
      1. ColdFusion Application Server
      2. ColdFusion Markup Language
   2. ColdFusion Variables
      1. Variable Names
      2. Variable Prefixes and Scope
      3. Using <cfoutput>
      4. Passing Variables on the URL
      5. ColdFusion Comments
   3. HTML Forms and ColdFusion Variables
      1. How HTML Forms Work
      2. A Sample HTML Form
   4. Built-in Functions
      1. ColdFusion Function References
      2. Date & Time Functions
      3. Pound Sign Usage
   5. Arithmetic and String Operators
   6. Conclusion
2. Flow Control
   1. Conditional Processing
      1. If-Else if-Else Blocks
      2. Switch Blocks
      3. Decision and Boolean Operators
      4. Short-circuiting
      5. Condition Examples
   2. Redirection Using <cflocation>
   3. isDefined() and <cfparam>
   4. Loops
      1. Index Loops
      2. Conditional Loops
      3. List Loops
      4. Other Types of Loops
      5. <cfbreak>
   5. <cfsavecontent>
   6. Conclusion
3. Lists and Arrays
   1. Lists
      1. List Functions
   2. One-dimensional Arrays
      1. Creating Arrays
      2. Reading from Arrays
      3. Looping through Arrays
      4. Array Functions
   3. Two-dimensional Arrays
      1. Reading from Two-dimensional Arrays
      2. Looping through Two-dimensional Arrays
   4. Conclusion
4. Form Validation
   1. <cfform> Basics
   2. Auto-generated Form Validation
      1. Form Validation with <cfform>
      2. Server-Side Validation without <cfform>
   3. Masking Input Values
   4. Custom Server-Side Form Validation
      1. IsValid()
   5. Conclusion
5. Database Access and Authentication
   1. A Database-less Login Form
   2. <cfquery>
   3. Outputting Database Data
   4. Conclusion
6. Reusing Code and Writing Functions
   1. Including Files
      1. A Note on Security
   2. Application.cfm and OnRequestEnd.cfm
   3. User-defined Functions
      1. Defining and Calling Functions
   4. Conclusion
7. Session & Application Management
   1. Sessions
      1. Configuring Sessions
      2. The <cfapplication> Tag
      3. Basics of Structures
      4. Session Example
   2. Cookies
   3. Conclusion
8. Working with Files and Directories
   1. Using <cffile>
      1. Reading from a File
   2. Writing and Appending to Files
      1. Uploading a New File
   3. File Functions
   4. Using <cfdirectory>
      1. Listing Directory Contents
   5. Directory Functions
   6. Conclusion
9. Sending Email with ColdFusion
   1. Configuring Settings
      1. Mail Server Settings
      2. Mail Spooling Settings
      3. Mail Logging Settings
      4. Mail Character Set Settings
   2. Using <cfmail>
      1. Sending Email as HTML
      2. Attaching Files
   3. Conclusion
10. Managing Data
    1. Creating a User Administration Page
       1. Displaying Users
       2. Adding Users
       3. Editing and Deleting Users
       4. Controlling Access to the Page
    2. Allowing Users to Add and Edit Data
       1. Displaying Data
       2. Adding Data using Stored Procedures
       3. Editing and Deleting Data
    3. Conclusion
11. Custom Tags
    1. Calling Custom Tags
       1. thisTag Structure
    2. Storing Custom Tags
    3. Other Ways of Calling Custom Tags
       1. CFMODULE
       2. CFIMPORT
    4. Conclusion
12. ColdFusion Components
    1. CFC Basics
    2. Creating CFCs
    3. Storing CFCs
    4. Invoking CFCs
       1. Passing Argument Values
    5. Extending ColdFusion Components
    6. Application.cfc
       1. Application.cfc Methods
       2. Application.cfc Benefits
    7. Conclusion
13. Handling Errors
    1. Handling Exceptions
       1. Compiler Exceptions
       2. Runtime Exceptions
    2. cftry/cfcatch
       1. Exception Types
    3. Locking Code to Prevent Errors
       1. Race Conditions
       2. Named Locks
    4. Conclusion
14. ColdFusion and XML
    1. XML Functions
       1. Creating New XML Documents
       2. Searching XML Documents
       3. Validating XML Documents
    2. Processing RSS Feeds
       1. Processing RSS Feeds with XmlSearch()
       2. Processing RSS Feeds with XmlTransform()
    3. ColdFusion and WDDX
       1. <cfwddx>
       2. WDDX vs. Web Services
    4. Conclusion

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Course Materials

In addition to a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all the programming examples, each student will receive a copy of Adobe ColdFusion 8 Web Application Construction Kit, Volume 1: Getting Started by Ben Forta, Raymond Camden and Charlie Arehart.

Each student will also receive a one-year subscription to Webucator's online reference library, which contains hundreds of the most current electronic technology books - a $149.95 per student value.

Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training Technical Requirements

1. Operating Systems Options
   • Operating System Options
     • Windows Vista
     • Windows XP with Service Pack 2
   • Macintosh
2. ColdFusion Application Server
   • Download
   • System Requirements
3. Editor Options
   • (Recommended) Adobe Dreamweaver CS3
     • Download
     • System Requirements
   • Adobe Homesite
     • Download
     • System Requirements
4. Database Options
   • Microsoft Access 2000 or later
   • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express
     • Download
   • MySQL 4.1 or later
     • Download
   • Oracle 8i or later
     • Download - - Oracle Database 10g Express Edition
     1. The file you want to download is Oracle Database 10g Express Edition (Western European) - OracleXE.exe.
     2. You will need to register for a free account.
     3. Run through the Installer accepting all the defaults. Make sure to write down your password.
     4. Follow steps 1-3 of the Getting Started Guide available at the Oracle Web site
5. Browser Options
   • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
     • Download
   • Firefox
     • Download
   • Safari
     • Download

Class Files for Comprehensive ColdFusion 8 Training

1. Download the class files.
2. After downloading the files, click here for further instructions.