CFEclipse 1.2 has been released. Details on the CFEclipse site.

If you are looking for HomeSite / ColdFusion Studio VTM files for CFMX7 tags, you can download them from this downloads page.

CFEclipse is a CFML plug-in for Eclipse (the popular open-source Java IDE originally created by IBM, and now managed by the Eclipse Foundation). The CFEclipse plug-in provides Eclipse with CFML awareness and functionality (code completion, syntax highlighting, code insight, language help, CFC method outline viewing, code problem previewing, and more). I have been using it on and off for a few weeks now, and while it is definitely a work-in-progress, it is also very good (and surprisingly responsive). For more info visit http://cfeclipse.tigris.org/, and for a good getting -started overview visit http://www.dopefly.com/pages/cfeclipse.cfm.

Steve Nelson has created some really nice HomeSite (and ColdFusion Studio) add-ons. He has a documentation generator, a test generator, and several utilities specifically for Fusebox users. The full tool list is at http://www.secretagents.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=tools.listtools.

Ever since the MX 2004 announcement, lots of you have been asking about HomeSite wanting to know if that product is being upgraded too. You'll be pleased to know that HomeSite 5.5 is in the works. Information can be found at the HomeSite homepage at http://www.macromedia.com/software/homesite/, new features are listed at http://www.macromedia.com/software/homesite/productinfo/features/. HomeSite 5.5 will be available as a standalone product (priced at $99) or included with Dreamweaver MX 2004 (priced at $199). Upgrade options will be available too.

ColdFusion MX 6.1 adds a few new tags to the CFML language, and makes changes to some existing tags. If you are using HomeSite+ or Dreamweaver MX you can download tag updates so that your IDE is aware of these language changes. The updates can be downloaded from http://www.macromedia.com/software/coldfusion/downloads/ (scroll down, about half way down the page in the right column).

Want a quick (and powerful) set of search screens to work with your Verity collection? Look no further than ColdFusion Studio and its Verity Wizard. To access this Wizard select File, New, click on the CFML tab, and double click on Verity Wizard. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 4.x and 5)

ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features several new shortcut keys. One of these is CTRL-SHIFT-F5 which displays the deployment results pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features several new shortcut keys. One of these is CTRL-SHIFT-F4 which displays the thumbnail pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features several new shortcut keys. One of these is CTRL-SHIFT-F3 which displays the link verification results pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features several new shortcut keys. One of these is CTRL-SHIFT-F2 which displays the validation results pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features several new shortcut keys. One of these is CTRL-SHIFT-F1 which displays the search results pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

ColdFusion Studio's Extended File and Replace features provide powerful searching capabilities across specific files or folders, open files, or entire projects. In version 5 you can now also specify file type by specifying the extension of the files to be searched. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

One feature that was removed from ColdFusion Studio (and HomeSite) in version 5 is the Design Mode. Instead, Studio integrates with Macromedia Dreamweaver and UltraDev, both of which do a better job at interactive page design. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

If you use version control with Studio (or HomeSite) then you'll want to enable the new Source Control toolbar in the Quick Bar. The toolbar provides single click access to all major version control functions. To activate this toolbar, right click on the QuickBar and select it from the drop down list. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Have Macromedia Fireworks installed on your computer? Studio (and HomeSite) 5 will detect its presence and will then allow you to edit images in it with a simple right mouse click on an tag, the file pane in the Resource Tab, or the thumbnail view pane. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Studio (and HomeSite) 5 now allows FTP access using secure FTP connections via SSL. To connect securely go to the FTP server configuration screen (the Properties option when right clicking on an FTP server) and check the Secure (SSL) option. To configure SSL click the Configure SLL button. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Writing pages that contain non-ANSI content? Studio can now save files with alternate encoding. To enable this option open the Settings dialog, select the File Settings tab, and check the "Enable non-ANSI file encoding" checkbox. You may also display the encoding type being used in the file name tab (beneath the editor) by checking the "Display file encoding on file tabs" checkbox. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Working with lots of Studio Projects? Instead of setting deployment options every time you deploy, set default values as you see fit. To do this, go to the Settings dialog, select Projects, and then select the Deployment tab beneath it. You'll be able to set the default values to be used for all future deployments. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

There aren't many things more frustrating than losing hours of work because of system failure - and so Studio (and HomeSite) now features a Timed Auto-Backup capability. To enable this feature go to the Settings dialog, select the Auto-Backup tab, and check both the Enable Auto-Backup and Timed Auto-Backup checkboxes. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

, one of the oldest and most used CFML tags, forms the basis of much code reuse. This is a good thing, until you need to edit a CFM page and all included files - then you have to open each one manually. Studio 5 addresses this with a new feature - right click on any relative and you'll be given the option of opening the file directly. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Finding yourself accidentally dragging panes in the Resource Tab when you mean to select them? You can prevent this from happening. Simply go to the Settings dialog, select the General settings, and check the Lock Tabs checkbox. Of course, you'll need to uncheck this box if you ever actually do what to move the panes. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

Working with local and remote files, or multiple file directories? Studio (and HomeSite) 5 features two file panes within the Resource Tab (identified with a 1 and 2 on them). To activate the second file pane (the Secondary Files pane) select Resource Windows from the View menu, and then check the Files 2 option. Like all panes, the Secondary Files pane may be docked within the Resource Tab. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio 5)

The Studio (and HomeSite) Customize dialog can be used to assign keyboard shortcuts, snippet shortcuts, and VTOM script shortcuts to specified keystrokes. When assigning keystrokes pay attention to the very bottom of the dialog - as you select a key sequence the current assignment (if there is one) will be displayed there, allowing you to be sure that you are not overwriting another assignment (unless you actually want to). (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio All)

In addition to being associated with toolbar buttons, Studio (and HomeSite) VTOM scripts may be triggered in response to specified keystrokes. To assign a VTOM script to a keystroke select Customize from the Options menu, select the Script Shortcuts tab, click Add, and then specify the script and desired key sequence. (Applies to: ColdFusion Studio All)