About the CF.query function and data sources

You use the CF.query function to populate Macromedia Flash MX movie elements with data retrieved from a Macromedia ColdFusion MX data source. To use the CF.query function you do the following:

To pull data into your Flash MX movie from a ColdFusion MX data source:

  1. Create a server-side ActionScript file that performs queries against a ColdFusion MX data source.
  2. Write ActionScript code in your Flash MX movie that references your ActionScript file (.asr) on the ColdFusion server.

You create server-side ActionScript to execute the query and return the data in a record set to the client--your Flash MX movie. You can use methods in the RecordSet ActionScript object on the client to manipulate data in the record set and present data in your Flash MX movie.

Note: Client-side ActionScript files use the .as extension. Server-side ActionScript files use the .asr (ActionScript remote) extension.

Publishing dynamic data

You use the server-side ActionScript feature in ColdFusion MX to publish dynamic data. To do this, you write server-side ActionScript files that perform queries against ColdFusion MX data sources. Before using ActionScript, you must understand how to do the following:

Using the CF.query function, you can do the following tasks:

The CF.query function can retrieve data from any supported ColdFusion MX data source (see About ColdFusion MX data sources).

About ColdFusion MX data sources

For ColdFusion MX developers, the term data source can refer to a number of different types of structured data accessible locally or across a network. You can query websites, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) servers, POP mail servers, and documents in a variety of formats. For server-side ActionScript, a data source ordinarily means the entry point to a ColdFusion MX database.

Your ColdFusion MX administrator can help you identify and configure data sources. To create ActionScript files that successfully perform queries on ColdFusion MX data sources, you must know how the data source is identified by ColdFusion MX, as well as any other parameters that affect your ability to connect to that database, such as whether a username and password are required to connect.

You use server-side ActionScript in ColdFusion MX to return record set data to a Flash MX client from a ColdFusion MX data source. You specify the ColdFusion MX data source name and the SQL statement you execute on the data source as arguments in the CF.query function in server-side ActionScript.

Typically, your server-side ActionScript handles the interaction with the ColdFusion MX data source, and returns a record set to the Flash MX client through the Flash Remoting service.

For more detailed information about ColdFusion MX data sources, see Configuring and Administering ColdFusion MX.