ColdFusion Training : Advanced ColdFusion 9: XML, External Data and File System

Advanced ColdFusion 9: XML, External Data and File System

ColdFusion Training Course Duration

2 Days

ColdFusion Training Course Outline

Advanced ColdFusion: XML, File System and Web Services

Module 1: Working with <cffile>

Read and Write Text Files with <cffile>

Demo: Read Plain Text Documents

Built-in Function: ExpandPath()
Reading Files with the <cffile> tag

Demo: Write Text File

Built-in Function: FileExists()

Exercise 1: Build a Simple Message Board or Log File

Challenge

Possible Solution to Exercise 1

Upload Documents with <cffile>

Using the <cffile> tag for an Upload
After a <cffile> Upload: FILE Variables
Demo: Upload Image and Dynamically Create Static HTML Pages
- Deeper Examination: HTML and a File Upload18
- Saving long variable values with <cfsavecontent>
Using the <cffileupload> tag for Multiple Uploads in ColdFusion 9
Demo: Using <cfdirectory>
Using <cfcontent> to create an Excel Spreadsheet
Exercise 2: Upload External Files and Create Photo Gallery Page
- Challenge
Possible Solution to Exercise 2

Module 2: Using XML

XML Syntax Basics

XML Logical Structure
- Each XML document must begin with a language declaration
- Each XML document must have a single root element, which normally contains other child elements
XML Physical Structure
- Case Sensitivity
- Required Closing Tags
- New Syntax for �empty elements�
- Tags must be nested properly
- Attribute Values must be enclosed properly in single or double quotes <
- XML Comments
XML Logic: Designing Datasheets

Parsing XML data with ColdFusion

Demo: Convert an XML datasheet into an XML Document Object with XMLParse()
- Case-sensitive Element Names with XMLParse()
Demo: Referring to Specific XML nodes
- Method 1 � Array notation with generic node names
- Method 2 � Associative Array notation
- Method 3 � Array notation with specific node names
- Methods 4(+) � Mix and Match
Demo: Loop through each node with <cfloop>
- Deeper Examination: Counting Nodes
Manipulating XML data with Built-in Functions
List of Structure/Array Functions that may be used on an XML Document Object
List of XML-specific Functions
Exercise 3: Create a Calendar of Events Built from External XML Files Provided by External Organizations
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 3

Manipaulating the XML Document Object: Adding Elements

Demo: Build XML Object in .cfm Document with <cfxml> Tag
Demo: Query Database to Build XML Document Object
Demo: Add nodes to Existing XML Document Object
- Deeper Examination
- Deeper Examination: Adding an XML Attribute
Exercise 4: Add an Event to the Calendar
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 4

Create a Query Object from Existing XML (optional)

Demo: Combine Multiple XML Document Objects into One
- Deeper Examination: Looping through the XML
Demo: Convert XML Document Objects into a Query Object with QueryNew()
- Deeper Examination: Creating the Query Object
- Deeper Examination: Query the query
Exercise 5: Co-mingle the Events on the Calendar (optional)
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 5

Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) Basics

XSL, XSLT, and XSLFO
XSL Basics: Linking to an XSL Stylesheet
Examining an XSL Stylesheet
- The xsl:stylesheet tag and the namespace declaration
- The <xsl:template> tag
- The <xsl:value-of> tag
- Referencing iterating nodes

Server-side XSL Transformation with ColdFusion

Demo: Transforming XML Data with XSL
- Deeper Examination: XMLTransform()
Idea! Transforming XML Data into XML Data
Exercise 6: Transform XML data
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 6

XPath Basics

XPath: the XSL Node Matching Syntax
- Choosing Between Equivalent XPath Expressions
- An XPath testing tool

Using XPath with ColdFusion

Demo: Select Nodes Based on Attribute Values
- Deeper Examination: XPath expression
- Deeper Examination: XMLSearch()
- Idea! Convert an XML Document Object to a Query Object
Exercise 7: Using XPath to select specific XML elements
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 7

Module 3: Working with <cfhttp>

Making http requests with <cfhttp>

Demo: Using <cfhttp> to display a complete page: Screen Scrape
Demo: Using <cfhttp> to download a complete page and save with <cffile>
Attributes of <cfhttp>
Demo: Convert a Text File into a Query with <cfhttp>
- Deeper Examination: <cfhttp> tag
- Deeper Examination: <cfoutput> block
While looping though the records�
Demo: Add a Column to Query
- Deeper Examination: QueryAddColumn() function
Idea! Dynamically Creating Static Pages
Exercise 8: Using <cfhttp> to Access and Parse External Data
- If you are done early
A Possible Solution to Exercise 8

Passing Variables with <cfhttp> and <cfhttpparam>

Creating an Intelligent Agent
Demo: Examine a Simple Traditional Application
Demo: Convert Simple Application into an Intelligent Agent
- Deeper Examination: agent.cfm
- Deeper Examination: agent-page2.cfm
- Deeper Examination: <cfsetting>
Demo: Screen Scraping for Data
Exercise 9: Simulate the Post Method with <cfhttp> and Create an �Intelligent Agent�
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 9

Module 4: Working with Web Services

Examples
Producers vs. Consumers
Definitions
Creating WSDL Documents
Demo: Converting CFCs into Web Services
- Step 1 � Convert the existing CFC into a Web Service
- Step 2 - Examine a local WSDL file from the demo
- Step 3 - Invoking a ColdFusion Web Service
- Deeper Examination
- Deeper Examination: Passing an argument to a Web Service
SOAP
A note about security
Exercise 10: Convert Existing CFC into Web Service
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 10

Invoking External Web Services

Locating Web Services
Invoking Web Services from .NET, Java and more
Demo: Random Quote Generator
- Deeper Examination: <cfinvoke> and <cfinvokeargument>
Exercise 11: Consuming External Web Services
- Challenge
A Possible Solution to Exercise 11

Module 5: Web Distributed Data Exchange (WDDX) (optional)

WDDX

Demo: Store simple data as WDDX
- Deeper Examination: <cfwddx> tag
Demo: Store an Array as WDDX
Demo: Store a Recordset as WDDX
Demo: Store binary object as WDDX
- Deeper Examination
Exercise 12: Serialize data as wddx file
- If you are done early
A Possible Solution to Exercise 12

Deserialize WDDX data in JavaScript

Demo: Deliver a ColdFusion query to JavaScript
- Deeper Examination: Include JavaScript functions
- Deeper Examination: Deserialize in JavaScript
- Deeper Examination: Generated source code
Demo: Using the data in a more complicated example
- Deeper Examination
Exercise 13: Transfer WDDX data from ColdFusion to JavaScript
- If you are done early
A Possible Solution to Exercise 13

Appendix A: Resources

Appendix B: Set-up Notes

Appendix C: Selecting Among ColdFusion Code Reuse Methods

Appendix D: Dreamweaver, Web Services and Components