Putting it all together

1
Putting it all together

• Steve Drucker
• CEO
• Fig Leaf Software

2
Session Overview

• Addressing the Problem
• ColdFusions Role in providing the solution
• Common Application Widgets

3
Addressing the Problem

• Complexity in Software Team Coordination
• Software models business processes
• Garbage in Garbage out
• Apply Occams Razor

4
The Role of ColdFusion

• ColdFusion is the Glue that binds together
  other technologies
• RDBMS (Stored Procedures, other features)
• Client-Side JavaScript
• Dynamic HTML
• XML
• Macromedia Flash, Generator
• Server-side Java, CORBA, COM, DCOM, Active Server
  (COM)
• WAP
• Other Websites (CFHTTP, CFWDDX)

5
Common Application Widgets

• Managing Client-Side Caching
• Code Builders (SQL SPs, DatabaseBlocks)
• Importing Legacy Data
• Application Pop-up Help System
• Managing Server Timeout
• Spell Checking
• Graphing
• Cross-Tab Reporting, Export to MS Excel
• Scheduling Alerts using MS Outlook

6
Code Builders

• Fig Leafs Single Template Wizard Constructor
• Available at http//www.figleaf.com
• Creates Stored Procedures and data entry
  interfaces for managing lookup tables
• Helps coding consistency across programming teams

7
Managing Client-Side Caching

• ltMETA HTTP-EQUIV"Pragma" CONTENT"no-cache"gt
• ltMETA HTTP-EQUIV"Pragma-directive"
  CONTENT"no-cache"gt
• ltMETA HTTP-EQUIV"cache-directive"
  CONTENT"no-cache"gt
• ltMETA HTTP-EQUIV"Expires" CONTENT"0"gt
• ltCFHEADER NAME"Pragma" VALUE"no-cache"gt
• ltCFHEADER NAME"Expires" VALUE"0"gt
• ltCFHEADER NAME"cache-control" VALUE"no-cache,
  no-store, must-revalidate, max-age0"gt

8
Importing Legacy Information

• CF String functions are abysmally slow when
  dealing with large text strings (gt32K)
• CF systems frequently need to link to other
  line-of-business applications, or may be retiring
  an older mainframe system
• How to import delimited information effectively?

9
Importing Legacy Info (Cont)

• Step 1 File Upload a Delimited list (Tabs,
  preferably)
• Step 2 Add list qualifiers around the fields ()
  and write the file out to disk
• Step 3 Use the ltCFHTTPgt tag to import the file
  into a session-based CFQUERY object
• Step 4 Process the query through a multi-page
  staged process
• Step 5 Pray to whatever god you believe in

10
Application Pop-up Help

• After usability testing, you may find that some
  users consider particular screens to not be
  intuitive.
• Pop-up Help is useful
• ltCFMODULE template"application.basehref/custom
  tags/cbt.cfm datasource"application.datasour
  ce"
• personid"session.person.personid"
• cbtmoduleid"1"gt

11
Managing Server Timeout

• Provide end-users with a warning about when their
  session may time-out due to inactivity
• Particularly important for systems that
  aggressively use client-side processing

12
Managing Server Timeout
function checkTimeout() cdate new
Date() ctime cdate.getTime() myinterval
ctime - top.currenttime if
(top.appframe.location.href.indexOf("/login/index.
cfm") -1) if (myinterval gt
defaultnotification myinterval lt
defaulttimeout) showModelessDialog(
basehref '/timeoutmessage.htm',window,"statusno
helpnodialogWidth350pxdialogHeight200px")
if (myinterval gt defaulttimeout)
top.appframe.location.hrefbasehref
'/login/logout.cfm' else mydate
new Date() currenttime
mydate.getTime() window.setInterval("c
heckTimeout()", 180000)
13
Spell Checking

• Use the ltCFX_Spellgt tag (beware its not
  multithreaded)
• Put it in a JavaScript wrapper to achieve an
  interactive effect

14
Graphing/Charting

• Charting through DHTML
• Lightweight
• Charting through COM (ChartFX)
• Inexpensive, Robust
• Charting through Macromedia Generator
• For enterprise charting

15
Code Walkthrough

• ltCF_DHTMLGRAPHgt

16
Cross-Tab Reporting

• ltCF_DHTMLREPORTgt
• Complex Custom Tag using DHTML, Advanced Custom
  Tags, JavaScript, MIME

17
Scheduling Alerts in MS Outlook

• Using the ltCFCONTENTgt tag and the ICAL
  specification

18
Questions?

• Steve Drucker (sdrucker_at_figleaf.com)
• Code available on the DC-CFUG website
  (http//www.figleaf.com) - click on CFUG-Meeting
  Notes
• Dont forget about DC/Balto/Nova CFUG
• SPUG! (Thusday, Sept. 3rd DC)