Macromedia Studio 8 [Electronic resources] : Training from the Source نسخه متنی

Defining a Data Source in the ColdFusion Administrator

In this task, users running ColdFusion locally via Apache, Internet Information Server (IIS), or as a standalone Web server will define a data source from within the ColdFusion administrator.

If you're on a Macintosh or Windows machine and your remote site is on a network (or FTP) server other than your computer, the good news is that you don't have to worry about defining a data source. The bad news is that someone will have to do it for you. If you're using ColdFusion over a network on a computer other than your own, you'll need to tell that server administrator that you need a DSN created, with the name dante, that the database is called dante.mdb, and that it's a Microsoft Access database. You'll also need to tell your administrator where the database file is located. (Most server administrators store database files outside of the Web root for security, so ask your server administrator where you should put the database.) Finally, ask your administrator for the Remote Development Services (RDS) password that will enable you to access your data source while you're developing. RDS gives Dreamweaver (and HomeSite) access to the ColdFusion server, which enables you to use the Dreramweaver environment to look in your database, write server behaviors, build queries, and perform other operations that depend on information from the server. She or he will know how to take it from there.

If you're not running ColdFusion locally, skip the rest of this section and go bug your network administrator. After the administrator has you set up, skip ahead to the section of this lesson entitled "Building the Registration Form."

Note

Regardless of your configuration, make sure you've copied the database to the Web server. You or your network administrator will need to browse to the database as part of creating the DSN, and you can do that only if the database is there.

If you're running ColdFusion locally through IIS or as a standalone Web server, please read on. Because the specific steps vary slightly for the databases on Windows and Macintosh, we'll list the steps separately for each platform.

Defining a Data Source: Windows

This page is your interface to ColdFusion server management. Through this page you'll create DSNs, set caching and session management, and perform any number of server management tasks.

This is the password you chose when you installed ColdFusion.

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The Data Sources link takes you to a screen where you can create ColdFusion DSNs.

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Several data sources are automatically installed when you install ColdFusion, so don't be surprised if you see several listed on this screen. They're used for the tutorials that ship with ColdFusion. The tutorials are a good resource to help you improve your ColdFusion skills, and should be helpful after you finish this book (if not sooner).

Remember, a data source comprises a unique name, a driver, and a path to the database. In this step, you're taking care of two out of three of these requirements.

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If you put dante.mdb in a different directory, navigate to it there.

In this step, you're completing the third part of the DSN: the path to the database file. When you're finished, you're returned to the Data Sources screen. The difference is that this time the dante DSN is displayed in the list of installed DSNs. The word "OK" should appear under Status, indicating that the DSN is created and ready to use.

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You're finished creating the ColdFusion DSN, and your site is now fully ready for action.

Defining a Data Source: Macintosh

This page is your interface to ColdFusion server management. Through this page you create DSNs, set caching and session management, and perform any number of server management tasks.

This is the password you chose when you installed ColdFusion.

[View full size image]

The Data Sources link takes you to a screen where you can create ColdFusion DSNs.

[View full size image]

Several data sources are automatically installed when you install ColdFusion, so don't be surprised if you see several listed on this screen. They're used for the tutorials that ship with ColdFusion. The tutorials are a good resource to help you improve your ColdFusion skills, and should be helpful after you finish this book (if not sooner).

Remember, a data source comprises a unique name, a driver, and a path to the database. In this step, you're taking care of two out of three of these requirements.

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JDBC URL:

jdbc:pointbase:dante,database.home=/Applications/ColdFusionMX7/db

Driver Class:

com.pointbase.jdbc.jdbcUniversalDriver

Driver Name:

pointbase

User Name:

PBPUBLIC

Password:

PBPUBLIC

At the end of the JDBC URL, enter the path to your database file. If you put dante.dbn in a different directory, put the path to it there.

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When you're finished, you're returned to the Data Sources screen. The difference is that this time the dante DSN is displayed in the list of installed DSNs. The word "OK" should appear under Status, indicating that the DSN is created and ready to use. If there's an error message, you can verify the data source by clicking the green checkmark icon in the Actions column to the left of the Data Source Name.

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You're finished creating the ColdFusion DSN, and your site is now fully ready for action.