ColdFusion MX - Online Course

This series teaches users how to install and set up a ColdFusion development environment, including connecting to a database, and also teaches how to build ColdFusion applications that integrate such features as e-mail, FTP, Flash, Java, and XML.

This series is for anyone who is interested in learning more about designing Web and database applications with ColdFusion MX. This online course contains 10 lessons and should take approximately 28 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Introduction and Installation (2.0) hours

Introduction and Installation teaches you how to describe ColdFusion MX, describe ColdFusion tag and function syntax, demonstrate ColdFusion code, install and set up a ColdFusion development environment, use the ColdFusion Administrator application, and register datasources. This course provides an introduction to the interface and the new features of ColdFusion MX, as well as how to install and set up ColdFusion Server. Topics include Introducing ColdFusion MX, New in ColdFusion MX, Getting started with ColdFusion, Setting up the development environment, Installing ColdFusion MX Server, Configuring ColdFusion Administrator, Data and Services settings, and Debugging and Logging Settings.

Lesson 2: Talking With the Database (3.0) hours

Talking With the Database teaches you how to establish a connection between a Web server and database, write SQL statements to select, insert, update, and delete information, use CFQUERY tags to send and receive database information, use CFOUTPUT tags to display database information, and use advanced ColdFusion functions to create new queries and query the results of previous queries. This course introduces the two basic ColdFusion tags used to query a database and display results. The user learns to use CFQUERY to perform queries and CFOUTPUT to display the results on a Web page. The user also learns to use standard SQL to perform basic database operations. Topics include Making database connections, Defining and organizing tables, Introduction to SQL, Adding and deleting data, Using SQL joins, Grouping and aggregating results, Getting data to and from your database, Constructing queries, Outputting your data, Grouping the data, Getting the most from your queries, Manipulating data, Queries without a database, and Queries of queries.

Lesson 3: Displaying Data (3.0) hours

Displaying Data teaches you how to create a form, validate form data, submit a form, display data dynamically, and create charts and graphs. This course provides an overview of form basics, validating form data, and submitting the form and saving the data. It also includes information on building dynamic pages by using query results to create charts and graphs. Topics include Creating a form, Using form elements, Validating data, Required fields, Submitting the form, Displaying dynamic data, Building dynamic pages, Creating charts and graphs, Dynamic graphing, and Standard and drill-down charts.

Lesson 4: Programming and Application Framework (3.0) hours

Programming and Application Framework teaches you how to scope and lock variables, use the flow control statements CFIF, CFSWITCH, and CFLOOP, link pages using the application framework, and track users using Client and Session variables. This course covers programming elements including variable scoping and flow-control statements, which are key to building useful ColdFusion applications. Topics include Understanding CF variables, Setting variables with CFSET, Variable scope, Basics of program flow, Looping, Manipulating the page, A dynamic example, The application framework, Application.cfm and OnRequestEnd.cfm, Variables for applications, Tracking users within sessions, Tracking users across sessions, Locking variables, and CF development frameworks.

Lesson 5: Custom Tags and Building Blocks (3.0) hours

Custom Tags and Building Blocks teaches you how to describe how custom tags work in ColdFusion MX, create and modify custom tags, build ColdFusion components, identify built-in functions and describe their uses, use CFSCRIPT to enhance your code, and create your own user-defined functions. This course explains how to use ColdFusion custom tags and how to build custom tags. It introduces ColdFusion Components, built-in functions, and user-defined functions. Topics include Working with custom tags, Finding and installing custom tags, Using custom tags, Creating custom tags, Custom tag scope, ColdFusion components, Using ColdFusion components, Built-in functions, Using CFSCRIPT, User-defined functions, and Creating user-defined functions.

Lesson 6: Using E-mail, Complex Data Types, and FTP (4.0) hours

Using E-mail, Complex Data Types, and FTP teaches you how to use ColdFusion to send and receive e-mail and attachments, describe the use of complex data types, and the functions that support these data types, work with files and directories on a Web server, allow users to upload files to a Web server, and manipulate files and directories on an FTP server. This course provides information on integrating e-mail into ColdFusion applications, using complex data types such as lists, arrays and structures, and managing directories and files using FTP. Topics include Sending e-mail, Reading e-mail, Complex data types, Lists, Arrays, Structures, Web Distributed Data Exchange (WDDX), Manipulating files, Uploading and moving files, Managing directories, Using FTP, and Uploading and downloading.

Lesson 7: Securing, Debugging, and Improving Application Performance (3.0) hours

Securing, Debugging, and Improving Application Performance teaches you how to secure the ColdFusion environment, build secure applications, isolate bugs and use built-in debugging tools, create scalable applications, optimize database queries, and use stored procedures. This course provides information on securing your ColdFusion environment, isolating bugs and using built-in debugging tools, and improving the performance of your ColdFusion applications. Topics include Security basics, Securing the ColdFusion environment, User security, Building secure applications, Understanding debugging, Isolating bugs, Built-in debugging, Handling errors, Creating scalable applications, Configuring caching, Optimizing database queries, and Using stored procedures.

Lesson 8: Using Flash, Java, and XML (3.0) hours

Using Flash, Java, and XML teaches you how to use Flash with ColdFusion MX, use JSP custom tag libraries with ColdFusion MX, integrate JSP, servlets, and ColdFusion MX, use Java objects with ColdFusion MX, and use XML with ColdFusion MX. This course explains how to integrate ColdFusion with Flash, Java, and XML to create robust applications. Topics include ColdFusion and Flash fundamentals, Communicating between Flash and ColdFusion, Putting a Flash application together, Integrating Java with ColdFusion, Setting up a JSP tag library, Mixing JSP, servlets, and ColdFusion, Manipulating Java objects, Using JavaBeans, Understanding XML, Working with XML, Creating an XML document, and Transforming data with XSLT.

Lesson 9: Integration and Understanding Fusebox and FLiP (2.0) hours

Integration and Understanding Fusebox and FLiP teaches you how to integrate ColdFusion applications with other applications, create a Web service, create an application framework using Fusebox, and utilize the FLiP design methodology. This course provides you with information on integrating your ColdFusion applications with other applications, designing better applications with the Fusebox framework, and using FLiP to streamline your design methodology. Topics include Web application integration options, Scraping the Web with CFHTTP, Building a simple agent, Building Web services, Building better applications, The case for Fusebox, How Fusebox works, Managing settings, Building a Fusebox application, and Using FLiP.

Lesson 10: Functions, Tags, and Resources (2.0) hours

Functions, Tags, and Resources teaches you how to list and describe ten categories of ColdFusion functions, list and describe a variety of commonly-used ColdFusion tags, and access and use a variety of ColdFusion resource sites on the Web. This course covers the wide variety of ColdFusion tags, functions, and resources, including ten different categories of functions, a dozen new tags, and the ample assortment of ColdFusion resource sites. Topics include Functions, Tags, and Resources.