Mastering ColdFusion 4.5

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 1067 pages
• Published by: Sybex Inc. May 5, 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0782127738
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0782127737
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 2.4 inches
• Weighs: 4 pounds

Product Review
Allaire's ColdFusion is one of the most robust server-side scripting solutions for Web developers, offering the notable advantage of cross-platform deployment. Mastering ColdFusion 4.5 is a comprehensive exploration of this powerful product that makes migration to the language quick and first exposure to server-scripting easy to follow.

With more than 1000 pages, this book provides a step-by-step education in ColdFusion and plenty of examples for hands-on learning. The first chapters immediately give the reader a feel for how ColdFusion templates interact with HTML. Then the text steps back to begin presenting more details systematically. One of ColdFusion's key features--database interaction with the CFQUERY tag and SQL--is addressed early on with simple examples.

Once it hooks the reader on the power of ColdFusion, the book illustrates the product's flexibility in dealing with e-mail, FTP, LDAP servers, and custom tags. It goes on to cover the ColdFusion Studio integrated-development environment--though not in depth. The real focus of this book is how the ColdFusion language works.

Developers familiar with other scripting environments such as Microsoft Active Server Pages will immediately feel at home with the subject matter and quickly move through this hefty book. Those with only HTML knowledge will find all the details they need to learn about server-side scripting and may only need a supplemental study of SQL.

An enclosed CD-ROM includes evaluation copies of ColdFusion Application Server 4.5 and ColdFusion Studio, as well as all of the code used in the book. This title offers definitive coverage of ColdFusion and is likely the only book you'll need on the subject. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: ColdFusion templates, functions, variables, flow control, SQL queries, forms/form validation, ColdFusion Web Application Framework, e-mail, FTP, LDAP, search-engine implementation, custom tags, and ColdFusion Administrator.

Reader Reviews
Ben's books tie with this one for #1. ColdFusion can not ask for more. The chapter on XML is weak, but everything else shines greatly. Even hard-core CF experts will find some new insights and answers here. Beginners will be delighted. The style and the contents are unbeatable.