Welcome To ColdFusion Express

The ColdFusion Web application server provides the fastest way to integrate browser, server, and database technologies into powerful Web applications and interactive Web sites.

Up until now, the ColdFusion Web application server was available for purchase in three editions that vary based on both platform and features:

• ColdFusion Server 4.0 Professional for Windows NT

• ColdFusion Server 4.0 Enterprise for Windows NT

• ColdFusion Server 4.0 Enterprise for Solaris

When you purchase ColdFusion Server Professional or Enterprise editions, you can build everything from online stores to sophisticated business systems.

ColdFusion Express is a limited functionality version of ColdFusion Server that is distributed electronically and available for free.

Read this manual to get started developing Web applications with ColdFusion Express.

To learn about ColdFusion configurations, refer to the ColdFusion product pages/a

Contents

• About ColdFusion Express Documentation 2

• Printing ColdFusion Express Documentation 2

• Documentation Conventions 2

• Intended Audience 3

• Using This Guide 3

• Developer Resources 4

• Getting Answers 4

• Contacting AllaireCorporate headquarters 4

About ColdFusion Express Documentation

ColdFusion Express online documentation supports all components of the ColdFusion Express Server. It is organized so that you can quickly locate the information you that you need.

Online documentation

All ColdFusion Express documentation is available online in HTML and online at our Web site in PDF format.

To view the HTML documentation, open the following URL:

http://127.0.0.1/cfdocs/dochome.htm

ColdFusion Express titles

The core ColdFusion Express documentation set consists of the following titles.

Developing Web Applications with ColdFusion

Section 1: Describes ColdFusion development system components, system requirements, how to verify the ColdFusion Server and Web server, and ColdFusion application development. Task-based in nature, this guide also details the procedures for creating application pages, setting up ColdFusion data sources, and retrieving data from desktop databases.

Section 2: Describes how to use the ColdFusion Express Administrator to configure the server for performance , add and configure data sources, set up basic security, configure logging, and work with client variables.

../CFML Language Reference for ColdFusion Express.

Provides the complete syntax, with example code, of all CFML tags and functions.

Printing ColdFusion Express Documentation

If you would like printed documentation to read, locate the Acrobat files at our Web site.

The Acrobat files offer excellent print output. You can print an entire manual or individual chapters.

Documentation Conventions

When reading documentation, please be aware of these formatting cues:

• Code samples, filenames, and URLs are set in a monospaced font.

• URL addresses that begin with http://127.0.0.1

  direct you to pages on your Web server’s local machine or the localhost.

• Bulleted lists present options and features.

• Menu levels are separated by the greater than (>) sign.

• Text for you to type in is set in italics.

Intended Audience

Developing Web Applications with ColdFusion Express is meant for anyone who wants to learn about:

• ColdFusion development platform components

• Verifying the server configuration

• ColdFusion development and processing

• Creating application pages

• Working with variables

• Building applications that retrieve data

• Formatting data for display

• Creating forms and action pages

• Controlling page flow

• Building search engines

• Building a Web frontend

• Where to go to learn more about ColdFusion

Using This Guide

Section 1 leads you through fundamental concepts and common procedures that you need to know in order to develop Web applications with ColdFusion Express.

Within most chapters in Section 1, you will apply the concepts and procedures that you learn in order to build a ColdFusion application that’s modelled after the Human Resources Employee Manager - a simple example application that was installed with the ColdFusion Express software. This application allows the Human Resources staff of a large company to view important data about their employees.

The application is made up of ColdFusion application pages which you can view and build as you progress through this guide. The Human Resources Employee Manager relies on an Access database that was also installed with ColdFusion Express.

Section 2 details how to administer ColdFusion Server.

Developer Resources

Allaire is committed to setting the standard for customer support in developer education, technical support, and professional services. Our Web site is designed to give you quick access to the entire range of online resources.

Getting Answers

One of the best ways to solve particular programming problems is to tap into the vast expertise of the ColdFusion developer community on the Allaire Support Forums.

Other ColdFusion developers on the forums can help you figure out how to do just about anything with ColdFusion. The search facility can also help you search messages going back 12 months, allowing you to learn how others have solved a problem you may be facing. The Forums are a great resource for learning ColdFusion, and they’re also a great place to see the ColdFusion developer community in action.

Contacting AllaireCorporate headquarters

Allaire Corporation One Alewife Center Cambridge, MA 02140

Tel: 617.761.2000

Fax: 617.761.2001

http://www.allaire.com

Sales

Toll Free: 888.939.2545

Tel: 617.761.2100

Fax: 617.761.2101

Email: sales@allaire.com

Web: http://www.allaire.com/store

Technical support

Telephone support is available Monday through Friday 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. Eastern time (except holidays)

Toll Free: 888.939.2545 (U.S. and Canada) Tel: 617.761.2100 (outside U.S. and Canada)

Postings to the ColdFusion Support Forum (http://forums.allaire.com) can be made any time.

6 Developing Web Applications with ColdFusion Express

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