Received My New ColdFusion Book!

I Just received my new book, “ColdFusion – Lists, Arrays and Structures” by Jeff Peters.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff at CFUNITED a few years back, while attending a Hal Helms presentation on the subject. This is probably the book I would most recommend to new CF programmers. I can’t emphasize how important the tools in this book are!

I bought this one because it’s the second edition, with new, updated content on ColdFusion 8.

Go get it. I promise it’ll be the best $20 you ever spent!

Multi-Dimensional Arrays

I’m working on a new database-driven code review tool for myself. I’m planning on using it to learn more about regular expressions – the most powerful force in the universe!

Anyway, I didn’t have much of a problem creating an array with 6 dimensions, but outputting the values from it was another story.

The code that generates it resides in a query loop, so it needs to be dynamic:

<cfset lineNum = lineNum + 1>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][1] = arrayNew(1)>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][1] = “Problem: ” & getchecks.cr_errortitle>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][2] = sourceLineNum>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][3] = “Source: ” &  thisLine>
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][4] = “Dir\File: “  & mySite.directory & “\” & mySite.name >
<cfset errorArray[lineNum][1][1][1][1][5] = “Suggestion:”  & getchecks.cr_suggestion >

And here’s how I log it to the db (I still need to add more error checking. This is just a prototype).

<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#lineNum#’ index=’i'>

<cfquery datasource=”#dsn#”>
insert into tbllog (log_name,  log_time, log_problem, log_linenum, log_sourcetext, log_directoryfile, log_suggestion)
values(
‘#form.scanname#’
,
<cfqueryparam cfsqltype=”cf_sql_timestamp” value=”#createODBCDateTime(now())#”>
,

<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#arrayLen(errorArray[i])#’ index=’j'>
<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#arrayLen(errorArray[i][j])#’ index=’k'>
<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#arrayLen(errorArray[i][j][k])#’ index=’l'>
<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#arrayLen(errorArray[i][j][k][l])#’ index=’m'>
<cfloop from=’1′ to=’#arrayLen(errorArray[i][j][k][l][m])#’ index=’n'>

<cfif len(errorArray[i][j][k][l][m][n])>

<cfif n eq 2>
<cfqueryparam cfsqltype=”cf_sql_integer” value=”#errorArray[i][j][k][l][m][n]#”>
<cfelse>
<cfqueryparam cfsqltype=”cf_sql_varchar” value=”#errorArray[i][j][k][l][m][n]#”>
</cfif>

<cfelse>
NULL
</cfif>

<cfif n neq arrayLen(errorArray[i][j][k][l][m])>
,
</cfif>

</cfloop>
</cfloop>
</cfloop>
</cfloop>
</cfloop>
)
</cfquery>

</cfloop>

Works like a champ! Thanks to Barney B. of CF-Talk for helping me out!

A Newcomer’s Comparison – Model Glue and Coldbox – Part 1

I’ve decided to post some thoughts on my first adventure into two popular frameworks – Model Glue 2 and Coldbox. Both frameworks use an MVC architectural patern.

Remember, my comments are only my opinion. I am definitely not a frameworks expert, nor am i an OO expert. But I think it’s interesting to see what a nOOb thinks about these two fine frameworks at first glance. What goes through a complete newcomer’s mind as he pours over the information and files accompanying the applications.

Let’s find out…

New Tutorial Website – Built With ColdBox AND Model Glue

I’ve never really used frameworks when building applications. It just seemed… well… like a waste of time?

When I started fooling around with a framework, I’d go through the quickstart tutorials, and by the time I got to step 20 to simply output a query on the screen, I said screw this! I could’ve been done an hour ago!

I just started a new position at a large company here in Greensboro which uses a framework, so I figured heck, I might as well dive into again.

With all that said, I’d like to present a tutorial site I built using Model Glue and Coldbox. www.cfcomplexdata.com

The site focuses on a subject that isn’t well-documented … Complex data types. I’ll add more to the content as I go along, but I believe it’s a good start. I think I should add a bit more about how to loop over those complex data types when you actually need to USE them.

You’ll see a few bits of code examples on the site, but I plan to blog about my experience with both frameworks, and which one seems to fit me best.

Another ColdFusion Blog About to Be Unleashed …

I’m planning on blogging my experiences with Model Glue and Coldbox. You’ll see code and ramblings about code.

<cffunction name="init" access="public" returntype="calendarDAO" output="false"
hint="Returns an instance of the CFC initialized with the correct settings.">
  <cfargument name="dsn">
  <cfset variables.dsn = arguments.dsn>
  <cfreturn this>
</cffunction>

Hope you enjoy suffering along with me on this journey.

Will