The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

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.

Introduction and Installation
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* 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.
* Register datasources.
Topics:
* 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
* Debugging and Logging Settings

Talking With the Database
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* 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.
* Use advanced ColdFusion functions to create new queries and query the results of previous queries.
Topics:
* 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
* Queries of queries

Displaying Data
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* Create a form.
* Validate form data.
* Submit a form.
* Display data dynamically.
* Create charts and graphs.
Topics:
* 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
* Standard and drill-down charts

Programming and Application Framework
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course covers programming elements including variable scoping and flow-control statements, which are key to building useful ColdFusion applications.
Objectives:
* Scope and lock variables.
* Use the flow control statements CFIF, CFSWITCH, and CFLOOP.
* Link pages using the application framework.
* Track users using Client and Session variables.
Topics:
* 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
* CF development frameworks

Custom Tags and Building Blocks
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* 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.
* Create your own user-defined functions.
Topics:
* 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
* Creating user-defined functions

Using E-mail, Complex Data Types, and FTP
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* 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.
* Manipulate files and directories on an FTP server.
Topics:
* 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
* Uploading and downloading

Securing, Debugging, and Improving Application Performance
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* Secure the ColdFusion environment.
* Build secure applications.
* Isolate bugs and use built-in debugging tools.
* Create scalable applications.
* Optimize database queries.
* Use stored procedures.
Topics:
* 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
* Using stored procedures

Using Flash, Java, and XML
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to integrate ColdFusion with Flash, Java, and XML to create robust applications.
Objectives:
* 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.
* Use XML with ColdFusion MX.
Topics:
* 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
* Transforming data with XSLT

Integration and Understanding Fusebox and FLiP
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* Integrate ColdFusion applications with other applications.
* Create a Web service.
* Create an application framework using Fusebox.
* Utilize the FLiP design methodology.
Topics:
* 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
* Using FLiP

Functions, Tags, and Resources
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Objectives:
* List and describe ten categories of ColdFusion functions.
* List and describe a variety of commonly-used ColdFusion tags.
* Access and use a variety of ColdFusion resource sites on the Web.
Topics:
* Functions
* Tags
* Resources