Using the ColdFusion Administrator
Let's take a brief look at the Administrator, and then configure the few options needed so that you can begin development. If you have logged out of the ColdFusion Administrator (or if you have yet to log in), log in now.
Creating a Data Source
One of the most important uses of the ColdFusion Administrator is to create and define data sources, which are connections that ColdFusion uses to interact with a databases. Data Sources are defined using the Data Sources menu option (it's in the section labeled Data& Services).We'll be discussing data sources in detail in Chapter 6, "Introducing SQL," so we'll postpone creating the data source needed for our example applications until we get to that chapter.
Defining a Mail Server
In Chapter 27, "Interacting with Email," you will learn how to generate email messages with ColdFusion. ColdFusion doesn't include a mail server; therefore, to generate email the name of a mail server (an SMTP server) must be provided.
NOTE
If you don't have access to a mail server or don't know the mail server name, don't worry. You won't be using this feature for a while, and omitting this setting now won't keep you from following along in the next lessons.To set up your SMTP mail server, do the following:1. | In the ColdFusion Administrator, select the Mail menu option (it's in the section labeled Server Settings); you'll see a screen like the one in Figure 3.3.Figure 3.3. The Mail Server Settings screen is used to define the default SMTP mail server and other mail-related options.[View full size image] ![]() |
2. | The first field, titled Mail Server, prompts for the mail server host (either the DNS name or IP address). Provide this information as requested. |
3. | Before you submit the form, you always should ensure that the specified mail server is valid and accessible. To do this, check the Verify Mail Server Connection checkbox lower down the page. |
4. | Click the Submit Changes button (there is one at both the top and the bottom of the screen). Assuming the mail server was accessible, you'll see a success message at the top of the screen as shown in Figure 3.4. You'll see an error message if the specified server could not be accessed.Figure 3.4. The Mail Server Settings screen optionally reports the mail server verification status.[View full size image] ![]() |
You have now configured your mail server and can use ColdFusion to generate SMTP email.
Enabling Debugging
The debugging screens are another important set of screens that you should be familiar with, starting with the Debugging Settings screen, shown in Figure 3.5. To access this screen, select Debugging Settings (it's in the section labeled Debugging & Logging).
Figure 3.5. The Debugging Settings screen is used to enable and display debug output.
Chapter 10, "Creating Data-Driven Pages."
NOTE
When you do turn on debugging, you should turn on all the options on this page except for the first. That one is used for performance monitoring and is actually not a debug option at all.Now go to the Debugging IP Address screen shown in Figure 3.6. To get to it, select the Debugging IP Addresses option; it's also in the section labeled Debugging & Logging. This screen is used to define the IP addresses of clients that will receive debug output (this will make more sense in later chapters, I promise). Ensure that the address 127.0.0.1 is listed; if it's not, add it. If you don't have a locally installed ColdFusion (and are accessing a remote ColdFusion server), add your own IP address, too: type it and click the Add button.
Figure 3.6. The Debugging IP Address screen is used to define the IP address that will receive generated debug output.
Chapter 17, "Debugging and Troubleshooting," covers the debugging options in detail.
Viewing Settings
The final screen I'd like to show you is the Settings Summary screen. As its name implies, this reports all ColdFusion settings, including all defined data sources. To access this screen, select the Settings Summary menu option; it's in the Server Setting section. ColdFusion Administrator will read all settings and then generate a complete report like the one in Figure 3.7. Settings are also linked, allowing quick access to the appropriate screens if changes are to be made.
Figure 3.7. The Settings Summary is a report of all ColdFusion Administrator settings.
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