Lesson Format and Course Objectives

Through class lectures, demonstrations, walkthroughs, and labs, you will learn to:

• Set up and understand the ColdFusion MX development environment
• Use Dreamweaver MX as a development tool
• Skillfully use common tags of the Cold Fusion Markup Language (CFML)
• Publish dynamic data using ColdFusion tags
• Create applications to display, insert, and update data dynamically
• Create forms complete with client-side JavaScript validation
• Incorporate Cold Fusion-generated Java controls
• Understand ColdFusion variables and their scopes
• Use CFML and variables to perform conditional procedures
• Utilize common Cold Fusion functions
• Create data drill-down routines
• Create a delete records routine with JavaScript enhancements
• Create a browse next n records routine
• Create an intuitive search interface
• Incorporate JavaScript to perform client side validation
• Debug ColdFusion MX applications
• Build security and authentication routines with persistent variables
• Implement structured error handling
• Build a Web application during the next three days which will give you practical experience using the aforementioned skills

Course Outline

Level 1

Introduction

About the Course
Course Objectives
Course Prerequisites
Course Format
Internet Applications: The Big Picture
The Dynamic Page Advantage
The Next Generation Internet Applications

Unit 1: Introduction to ColdFusion MX

Understanding the Interaction between Web Server, Application Server, and Browser
Advantages of ColdFusion as an Application Server
The ColdFusion MX Components
The New ColdFusion MX Architecture
Why is MX Better than all Previous Versions of ColdFusion?
New Features in ColdFusion MX
Integration Capabilities of ColdFusion MX

Unit 2: Introduction to Dreamweaver MX

What Happened to ColdFusion Studio?
Overview of Dreamweaver MX Features
Selecting a Workspace
Defining a Site
Finding Help
Right Click Functionality
Understanding Panels
The Insert Bar
Keyboard Shortcuts
Setting Preferences
Code Hints and Tag Completion
Customizing Dreamweaver

Unit 3: Publishing Dynamic Data

Creating a Data Source
Querying Database Tables
Setting Local Variables
Outputting Query Result Sets and other Variables to a Page

Unit 4: ColdFusion MX Programming with CFML

Performing Conditional Logic
Creating Different Types of Conditional Looping
Including Common Code
Redirecting users to an URL
Common CFML Usage

Unit 5: Introduction to ColdFusion Functions

Learning Usage Rules of Functions
Becoming Familiar with Different Groups of Functions
Learning to Use Common Functions
Introduction to User-Defined Functions

Level 2

Unit 6: ColdFusion Forms

Creating Various HTML Forms and Controls
Collecting User Input from Forms
Using <CFFORM>, <CFINPUT>, and <CFSELECT>
Creating a Form Action Page that Uses <CFQUERY>
Dynamically populating SELECT controls
Dynamically populating <CFSELECT>
Publishing a List to Users Based on their Selections
Using Server Side Data Validation
Using Client Side Data Validation
Validating for Special Values

Unit 7: Dynamic URL Parameters (data drill-down)

Using URL Parameters to Pass Data Between Pages
Using URL Parameters to Create a Dynamic Data Drill-Down Page

Unit 8: Inserting and Updating Data

Creating a ColdFusion MX Form for Inserting Data
Creating an Insert Action page
Creating a ColdFusion MX Form for Updating data
Creating an Update Action Page
Pre-filling Form Controls with Current Database Values
Adding Records to a Database
Updating Records in a Database

Unit 9: Creating Application Enhancements

Creating a Delete Records Routine
Using JavaScript to Enhance Delete Routine
Create a Browse Next n Records Routine
Caching Queries for Better performance
Creating a Search Interface

Level 3

Unit 9: ColdFusion Java Controls

Adding Java Controls to <CFFORM> Blocks
Java Slider Controls
Java Tree Controls
Implementing a Java Grid Control
Creating Your own Java Controls

Unit 10: Debugging and Troubleshooting

Recognizing and Fixing Web Server Configuration Problems
Recognizing and Fixing ODBC Driver Error Problems
Handling SQL Statement Syntax and Logic Errors
Fixing ColdFusion MX Syntax Errors
Recognizing and Fixing URL and Path Problems
The Ten Commandments of Application Development

Unit 11: Structured Error Handling

Catching Errors as They Occur
Introducing <CFTRY> and <CFCATCH>
Basic Exception Handling
Templates that Work Around errors
Templates that recover from Errors
Nesting <CFTRY> Blocks
Introducing <CFRETHROW>
Introducing <CFTHROW>

Unit 12: Introducing the Web Application Framework

Becoming Familiar with the Application Framework
Using Application-Level Variables
Use of <CFERROR>
Understanding the Use of CFID and CFTOKEN in Maintaining State
Introduction to Application Variables
Introduction to Cookie Variables
Introduction to Client Variables
Introduction to Session Variables
Introduction to J2EE Sessions

Unit 13: Creating a Security/Authentication Routine

Designing for Security
Designing for Page to Page Authentication
Using <CFLOGIN>
Using Session Variables
Locking Session Variables with <CFLOCK>
Creative Use of Multiple Application.cfm Files
Creating a Logout Routine