ColdFusion MX: From Static to Dynamic in 10 Steps has 10 Steps to converting a static site to a dynamic site using ColdFusion MX, with reusable real-world examples and exercises make this book easy to use and the concepts easy to incorporate. This book sorts through the technical detail to present professional users with just the information they need to get started. After mastering the basics in this book, readers will be ready to advanced to the Inside ColdFusion MX book. ColdFusion MX: From Static to Dynamic in 10 Steps is a gentle introduction to the world of dynamic web publishing using ColdFusion MX. It is aimed at the professional web developer who is new to ColdFusion and is designed to highlight the simplicity, flexibility, and speed ColdFusion has to offer over other dynamic technologies. The main use is to upgrade or "makeover" an existing static, manually updated web site into a dynamic, data-driven site. Beginning with a case study of the site and how it can be improved using ColdFusion, the book progresses through 10 stages of upgrade by giving theory, examples, and hands on instruction for creating a dynamic site using such features as a data-driven catalog, search page, and shopping cart.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Step 1. The Basics. Web Publishing. What Is ColdFusion MX? CFML Basics. Your First Template. Reusing Code with the Tag. Example 1.1: My First Template. Troubleshooting. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 2. Using Variables. Understanding Variables. Data Types. Variable Scopes. Naming Variables. Setting Values. Retrieving Values. Accessing CGI Variables. Example 2.1: Using CGI Variables. Passing Values. Example 2.2: Passing Variables Via the URL. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 3. Databases and SQL. Database Basics. Setting Up a Data Source with ColdFusion Administrator. Retrieving Data. Example 3.1: Creating an Employee List. Retrieving Selected Data. Example 3.2: Listing Employees by Department. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 4. Controlling Program Flow. Using Conditional Statements. Using IF Statements. Example 4.1: Creating a Time-Based Greeting. Using . Example 4.2: Amended Time-Based Greeting. Nested IF Statements. Using SWITCH/CASE Statements. Using Loops. Example 4.3: A ColdFusion Cheer. Nested Loops. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 5. Using Forms with ColdFusion MX. The Form Page. The Action Page. Using Form Variables. Using the IsDefined() Function. Example 5.1: A Simple Search Form. Dynamic Queries. Using the Trim() Function. Example 5.2: Building an Advanced Search Form. Form Validation. Using . Example 5.3: Create A Login Form. When to Use What. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 6. Updating, Inserting, and Deleting Database Records. Considerations. Using Forms to Update Records. Example 6.1: Updating Staff Information. Updating the Database. Example 6.2: Updating Database Information. Using . Which Method to Use. Inserting Records. Example 6.3: Inserting New Staff Records. Deleting Records. Makeover Exercise. Summary Step 7. Using Email with ColdFusion MX. Understanding SMTP Servers. Using the Tag. Example 7.1: Creating a Web-Based Email Form. Sending HTML-Based Email. Example 7.2: Creating HTML Email. Advanced Attributes. Example 7.3: Sending Bulk Email. Makeover Exercise. Summary Step 8. ColdFusion Application Framework. Creating an Application Framework. The Application.cfm Template. The OnRequestEnd.cfm Template. Example 8.1: Creating an Application.cfm File. State Management. Using . Example 8.2: Built-In Variables. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 9. User Security. Types of Security. Makeover Exercise. Summary. Step 10. Using Lists, Arrays, and Structures. Lists. Example 10.1: Creating, Passing, and Displaying a List. Arrays. Example 10.2: Creating an Array. Inserting and Deleting Array Elements. Example 10.3: Working with Array Elements. Multidimensional Arrays. Looping Through Arrays. Queries and Arrays. Example 10.4: Populating an Array with Query Data. Structures. Makeover Exercise: The Grand Finale. Summary The Next Step. Advanced ColdFusion Functionality. Cookies. . and . Charting and Graphing. Flash Application Services. Custom Tags. CFSCRIPT. User-Defined Functions. Web Services. ColdFusion Components. XML Support. Verity Full-Text Searching. Scheduled Tasks. Development Methodologies. Appendix. System Setup. ColdFusion MX Server Versions. System Requirements. Downloading and Installing ColdFusion MX Server. Finding ColdFusion MX Documentation. Installing the Book's Supporting Files. Creating Virtual Sites. Index