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 ColdFusion Development on Windows NT
Welcome to the ColdFusion development center at Georgetown!

You are visiting this page because you are interested in using this powerful Web-database technology to create dynamic Web pages and Web applications. Using this tag-based server scripting language, developers can create interactive Web sites through the retrieval and insertion of data to any ODBC-compliant database. Developers should read the on-line documentation available for ColdFusion and have a good understanding of SQL (Structured Query Language).

UIS provides 2 servers for ColdFusion development. We ask that users begin development of their projects on the development server at cfdev.georgetown.edu. This environment is intended to provide space for users to practice using ColdFusion and test their applications before applying for space on the production server. UIS will provide initial consultation about your project and basic support for ColdFusion questions that may arise, but we are not able to develop projects for you or to review your SQL commands and ColdFusion markup.

UIS has created four templates for use with ColdFusion and MSaccess on these servers:  a threaded discussion forum,an image database, a document library,and an on-line quiz forum.  If you would like to use any of the above templates, please contact a member of the Internet development group and copies of the ColdFusion files and the related database will be placed in your account on CFDEV. UIS cannot provide any customization of the templates. In the event of file or database corruption, UIS can provide users with a clean copy of the template.

UIS offer a basic introductory course to ColdFusion through the UIS Training series. To register for this course, please see http://www14.georgetown.edu/training/list.cfm. UIS also recommends the following book for getting started with ColdFusion and databases:

  • "Mastering ColdFusion 4.5", Arman Danesh, et al
  • "The Coldfusion 4.0 Web Application Construction Kit (Cold Fusion 4)", Ben Forta, et al
These books can be purchased through any on-line book retailer or at your neighborhood bookstore.

For examples of ColdFusion projects developed by UIS, please see:

Obtaining an account on CFDEV

To begin experimenting with ColdFusion, you must first obtain an account on the development server. The account application is located at:
http://www14.georgetown.edu/uis/web/coldfusion/account.cfm.
Please be very specific in the project description section of the application about the scope of your project. All applications are subject to review. If you have questions about your project, a member of the Internet development group will be able to provide you with a background on the capabilities of ColdFusion and MSaccess and point you in the direction of useful tools for the development of your project. If you are signed up for "Introduction to ColdFusion" through UIS training services, please be certain to obtain an account before attending class.

Uploading Your Project to CFDEV 

Via FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
In order to use your MSAccess database with ColdFusion, you must place both the database and the ColdFusion templates into your training directory on CFDEVusing FTP (File Transfer Protocol). UIS computer labs and office computers should have Rapid Filer FTP or WS_FTP available on the Windows desktop. A shareware version of this product can be downloaded from http://tucows.erols.com/adnload/dlwsftple.html. 

The hostname you will be contacting is cfdev.georgetown.edu. You will use your username and password to gain access to CFDEV via FTP. Once you have connected, you will be placed in the training directory where you should locate a folder called yourusername. Double-clicking on this folder will give you access to your space on the server. You should place all of your ColdFusion templates and HTML files in this folder. Then you should create a separate directory called "data" where you will upload your database(s). Since this directory is accessible via the Web, we insist that all "data" directories be password restricted in order to protect your data. Please fill out the web access restrication request form. In addition, make sure you keep any administrative pages in a password protected directory as well.

Making Your Database Live

Once you have a database that you would like to start querying with Cold Fusion, complete the datasource request form to have a datasource created for your project. NOTE: We will not be able to create a datasource for you until you have published your database to the web server. You will not be able to use ColdFusion unless you do this. Once your datasource has been created, you simply execute your ColdFusion templates by accessing them on the Web at:
http://www14.georgetown.edu/training/yourdirectory/yourfile.cfm

Account Maintenance on CFDEV

Password Restricting a Directory
In order to protect your database on the CFDEV server, you should request a password be placed on the directory where your database resides. This will prevent others from accessing your database via the Web. Although the databases on the production server (data.georgeotwn.edu) are not accessible via the Web (see additional information about the production server), you may have other directories, such as adminstration tools, that need to have restricted access. Please fill out the web access restrication request form.

Requesting a New Datasource
In order to have your application function, you must request that a data source be created. If your application is already on the production server or you are applying for it to be moved there, please e-mail the Internet development group to set up a consultation. If you are still developing your application on CFDEV, you can submit the datasource request form.

Transferring Files
You may need to designate a new owner for a particular project if you are leaving the University or transferring to a new department. Please complete the web publishing access request form.

Applying for space on the production server

Once you have completed the development phase, you should review the requirements that your application must weet in order to move to the production server. All applications on the production server will have the domain name http://www14.georgetown.edu.

When your application is complete and ready to be made available to the public, you have two options:

  1. You can apply to have your application moved from your training directory to a more appropriate URL on the CFDEV server. The URLs on CFDEV will follow the the same structure as those on http://www.georgeotown.edu. If your group or organization currently has a URL on the main Web server, your URL assignment on CFDEV will mirror that. Please complete the URL request form.
  2. You can request that your application be moved to the production server. First, you should review the guidelines at http://www14.georgetown.edu/ and make certain that your application meets the requiements. Second, you should request a consultation with a member of the Internet development group. In your request, please include the current location of the application and a description of its function. Once your application has been approved, the domain name will be http://www14.georgetown.edu/.

Troubleshooting

If you experience problems with ColdFusion and access, please consult the on-line documentation. ColdFusion developers should also take advantage of the NTWEB-L mailing list. This mailing list is used for system announcements and general discussion of ColdFusion and Windows NT. If either of the ColdFusion servers appear to be unresponsive, please contact the UIS HelpDesk at help@georgetown.edu or at (202) 687-4949.
 
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