Using this manual

This manual can to help anyone with a basic understanding of HTML learn to develop ColdFusion MX applications. However, this manual is most useful if you have basic ColdFusion experience, or have read Getting Started Building ColdFusion MX Applications. The Getting Started Building ColdFusion MX Applications manual provides an introduction to ColdFusion and helps you develop the basic knowledge that will make using this manual easier.

Approaches to using this manual

This section describes approaches to using this manual for beginning ColdFusion developers, developers with some experience who want to develop expertise, and advanced developers who want to learn about the new and enhanced features of ColdFusion MX.

Beginning with ColdFusion

If you are learning ColdFusion, it might be most effective to read this manual in the following order:

  1. Introducing ColdFusion MX through Using Expressions and Number Signs to learn the basics of CFML.
  2. Introduction to Databases and SQL through Updating Your Database to learn about using databases.
  3. Introduction to Retrieving and Formatting Data and Building Dynamic Forms with cfform Tags to learn about requesting data from users.

    After you read these chapters, you should have a basic understanding of the basic elements of ColdFusion, and be able to create simple ColdFusion applications. To learn to produce more complete and robust applications, you could proceed with the following chapters:

  4. Designing and Optimizing a ColdFusion Application through Debugging and Troubleshooting Applications to learn how to build a complete ColdFusion application.
  5. Using Query of Queries to learn how to use queries effectively.
  6. Using Arrays and Structures through Building and Using ColdFusion Components to learn to use more advanced features of CFML, including ways to reuse code.

You can then read the remaining chapters as you add new features to your ColdFusion application.

Developing an in-depth knowledge of ColdFusion

If you have a basic understanding of ColdFusion as presented in Getting Started Building ColdFusion MX Applications or the Fast Track to ColdFusion course, you might want to start at Chapter 1 and work through to the end of the book, skipping any specialized chapters that you are unlikely to need.

Learning about new and modified ColdFusion features

If you are an advanced ColdFusion developer, you might want to learn about new or changed ColdFusion features. The following chapters document features that are new or substantially enhanced in ColdFusion MX 7:

Nearly all chapters contain information that is new in ColdFusion MX 7, so you should also review all other chapters for useful information. The index and the table of contents are useful tools for finding new features or changed documentation.

Note: If you are moving from ColdFusion 4.5 or 5, start by reading Migrating ColdFusion 5 Applications, available on the Macromedia website.