ColdFusion(R) MX Web Application Construction Kit (5th Edition) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Nate Weiss (Author), Leon Chalnick (Author), Angela C. Buraglia (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If you're looking to create real-world applications that solve real-world problems using ColdFusion MX as your tool, there's no better place to start than with The ColdFusion MX Web Application Construction Kit. Serving as both tutorial and reference, this all-in-one kit provides everything you need to begin creating Internet-based applications--including evaluation and developer versions of ColdFusion MX and its development environment.

Building on the tried-and-true formula of the four best-selling previous editions--but using lessons geared toward creating the next generation of Web projects--veteran author Ben Forta moves from the fundamentals of Web and database design to more complex topics like creating data-driven pages, implementing security mechanisms, and building complete applications. In the process, he covers new features in ColdFusion MX: a J2EE-based engine, a new development environment, additional debugging tools, Flash integration, business charting, XML manipulation, and more. Whether you're a recent ColdFusion convert or an old hand who's ready to learn some new tricks and best practices, you'll find answers to all your questions in the definitive and standard developer's reference--The ColdFusion MX Web Application Construction Kit.

From the Back Cover

If you're looking to create real-world applications that solve real-world problems using ColdFusion MX as your tool, there's no better place to start than with The ColdFusion MX Web Application Construction Kit. Serving as both tutorial and reference, this all-in-one kit provides everything you need to begin creating Internet-based applications--including evaluation and developer versions of ColdFusion MX and its development environment.

Building on the tried-and-true formula of the four best-selling previous editions--but using lessons geared toward creating the next generation of Web projects--veteran author Ben Forta moves from the fundamentals of Web and database design to more complex topics like creating data-driven pages, implementing security mechanisms, and building complete applications. In the process, he covers new features in ColdFusion MX: a J2EE-based engine, a new development environment, additional debugging tools, Flash integration, business charting, XML manipulation, and more. Whether you're a recent ColdFusion convert or an old hand who's ready to learn some new tricks and best practices, you'll find answers to all your questions in the definitive and standard developer's reference--The ColdFusion MX Web Application Construction Kit.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1536 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press; 5 edition (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321125169
• ISBN-13: 978-0321125163
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,329 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Must Start Here, October 2, 2002

By	J. Boothe "42 Flash Books Read" (Lakeland, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a Flash Designer with a moderate amount of ASP experience. I bought 3 CF books to begin my ColdFusion quest. This one *BY FAR* was the best written, easiest to understand, and most comprehensive!

With 1100 pages of learning and 400 pages of reference, this one is already tattered, highlighted, and dog-eared more than any book in my library.

I have to disagree with the other reviewer stating that some content should have been left to other books like basic SQL, etc... this information is invaluable if you are like me and are treading into new territory with CF.

With the code examples clearly displayed and explained, you don't need to sit in front of your computer while reading this book. You walk away understanding it without the need to load the accompanying files.

From someone who has read over 30 computer-based books in the last 18 months, I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs/wants a fast start into the world of ColdFusion MX.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hands-down the best CFMX book available, September 10, 2002

By	Water Monkey "Marc B." (Santa Clarita, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This is the third edition of the "Web Construction Kit" I have purchased (I also have copies covering CF3.0 and CF4.5). The way Ben (and Nate) lay out real-world examples helps visualize the concepts. Many of the examples in the book not only show you how to use a particular tag, but also give additional notes to enhance performance.

I am particularly impressed with the attention they give to the application.cfm file. The previous versions of this book never seemed to fully explain the many uses for the file.

So far the chapters on session scope and security have been a great help, but I am also looking forward to delving into the charts chapter.

I have yet to fully read this book, but I am impressed with the fact that almost 300 pages is devoted to using "Client-side" Java within CFMX.

For anyone wanting to learn CFMX I suggest getting this book. I also own "Inside Coldfusion MX" and Que's "ColdFusion MX Development" and while I like both books, they lack the depth in which Ben goes into with his book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible cold fusion resource!, June 12, 2004

By	Anthony W. Brown (Miamisburg, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I looked up and down for the best cold fusion book for my specfic need...to build an enterprise quality content management system. I am a registered pharmacist and self taught HTML-based web developer who wanted to take a crack at cold fusion because of I heard it was the easiest to language to learn when developing dynamic web sites. Because I only knew HTML, I found myself using PHP code snippets from open source web sites to create some dynamic attributes to my pharmacy network's website (6 pharmacies). I originally wanted to have a simple "news publisher" so I could provide updates to the other staff. I grew frustrated because I didn't "really" know PHP and debugging was near impossible since I didn't know the code. Then along came this book, recommended by my sister who is a windows application programmer. She said Ben Forte writes the most comprehensive books/tutorials on cold fusion. She was exactly correct! Without getting into the details, I worked through this book from cover to cover and completed the tutorials on the included CD. 7 months later I have created a dynamic content management system for our pharmacy network that tracks transferred medications, provides news updates, online refills to customers, a daily revenue DB application for my director (which he can search by date range), an online store with customer history available, searchable policy/procedures online, etc. All this after only 7 months!! My advise for people is to learn HTML well before delving into Cold Fusion, but if you know HTML well, you will find this book to be your web design bible rather quickly. If I can do it anyone can...The hosptital I work for is even wanting to purchase the app from me now because it's such a valuable asset to the network's infrastructure. GO BUY THIS BOOK if you want to do something like I did with whatever business/site you want. With some dedication you can achieve it and not have to look further than this book.