ColdFusion users have long wanted a way to define settings per application, rather than server-wide. In truth, this is doable right now, just install multiple instances of ColdFusion an each instance gets its own CF Admin and own settings. But, if that is not an option, then Scorpio will help, as I explained last night in Seattle.
ColdFusion MX7 introduced Application.cfc as an alternative to Application.cfm. Application.cfc does everything that Application.cfm does, and added important new features (like methods that get executed OnSessionStart and OnSessionEnd). To set application settings using Application.cfc, variables are set in the THIS scope. THIS.name to set the application name, THIS.sessionManagement to enable session state management, and so on.
In Scorpio, Application.cfc and the THIS scope can be used to define per application settings. For example, THIS.mappings is a structure which contains the currently defined ColdFusion mappings. To set a mapping you just modify that structure like this:
<cfset THIS.mappings["MyStuff"]="c:\inetpub\MyStuff">
Or like this:
<cfset StructInsert(THIS.mappings, "MyStuff", "c:\inetpub\myStuff")>
To set the Custom Tag path you can update THIS.customtagpaths which is a simple ColdFusion list. You can set the path like this:
<cfset THIS.customtagpaths="c:\inetpub\wwwroot\ben\tags">
Or use ListAppend() to add a path, like this:
<cfset THIS.customtagpaths=ListAppend(customtagpaths, "c:\inetpub\wwwroot\ben\tags")>
You get the idea. It's clean, simple, and highly intuitive.
Which means you now have yet another reason to use Application.cfc.
Adobe and Carahsoft are hosting a 1/2 day seminar in D.C. entitled "The Future Of ColdFusion". The event is May 17th (the morning after the
D.C. CFUG presentation), and I'll be presenting along with Tim Buntel and Adam Lehman. Unlike the CFUG presentations, this one is a little more oriented towards execs and technical decision makers, so you may want to bring your boss. Breakfast will be provided. Space is limited, and
registration is required.
Flex Component Kit for Flash CS3 has been posted to Labs. This kit allows you to create interactive and animated content in Flash CS3, and then use that content in your Flex apps. This way the designers on your team get to use Flash, the coders get to use Flex, and everyone gets to contribute to the development process.
Last night's presentation in Seattle went very well, and the enthusiastic crowd reinforced what we already knew - that CF8 (Scorpio) is exactly what customers want. I am now in Adobe's San Francisco offices, venue for the next stop on the
Scorpio Usergroup tour. If you are in the area, please drop by this evening!
