How ColdFusion Works with Other Macromedia Studio Products

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With the release of Studio, Macromedia has created new systems of integration among its products. ColdFusion's closest allies are Dreamweaver and Flash.

Integration with Dreamweaver

Because ColdFusion doesn't have a design interface of its own, most developers turn to Dreamweaver as the tool of choice. Within the Dreamweaver GUI, Macromedia has added several wizard-like functions that automate otherwise tedious ColdFusion tasks. For example, with the click of a Dreamweaver button or two, you can generate ColdFusion SQL queries, insert code to send e-mail from a template page, display the contents of a database, or build a basic form to input data into a table.

Because Dreamweaver supports both design and code views, it's ideal as a ColdFusion development tool. Those who come to ColdFusion from a designer's background can take advantage of Dreamweaver's timesaving functions within a graphic interface; veteran ColdFusion developers will find all the features to which may have grown accustomed in ColdFusion Studio.

Integration with Flash

Savvy Web developers have been using Flash and ColdFusion together for several years. The combination of Flash's ability to create sophisticated Web interfaces and ColdFusion's ability to handle complex programmatic tasks make it possible for individuals and small teams to quickly design sites that would take months or years with other tools. With the introduction of Studio, developers have a new set of tools that allow Flash and ColdFusion to talk to each other and exchange data. For example, using Flash Remoting Services, the contents of a complex ColdFusion query can easily be sent to a Flash movie, where they can be displayed dynamically. Variables generated by a ColdFusion template can be passed off to Flash ActionScript for processing in real time.

In addition, Studio has introduced the concept of the ColdFusion Component, essentially a chunk of program code in which both input and output can be shared between ColdFusion templates and Flash movies.



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Macromedia Studio MX Bible
Macromedia Studio MX Bible
ISBN: 0764525239
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 491

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