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M
Mamilossa
Participant
January 10, 2011
Answered

Internal Server Requirements

  • January 10, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 882 views

I am the Noob of Noobs when it comes to ColdFusion, so please bare with me.  I'm the administrator of a section on company's intrAnet.  All sections are on our internal server, and mostly all the sections still use FrontPage as their web program.  However, I use Dreamweaver from CS4.  All our sections of the intrAnet are "Static" websites.  Due to the huge amount of content my section has (150+ HTML menu pages and 5000+ PDF, HTML, Excel, and Word files), we are strongly considering switching to a "Dynamic" website, which should make managing the huge content much easier.  This is why I'm looking to ColdFusion.  I have not experience with ColdFusion, but from what I understand this would be program to solve our many problems, like populate menu pages, when called upon, with the related files, while using some sort of MetaData file (not sure if I'm using the right terms, again, Big Noob here).  If ColdFusion, is the tool for us, which I believe it is, I will be getting training on the use of the program.  But first, I need to know if our server will be able to allow ColdFusion to work or what we will need to make it ColdFusion ready.

Here are some details that I think are important...

Everyone on our network uses PCs, no Macs.

Most everyone uses IE 7 or 8, a few maybe use FireFox or Chrome.

The site I manage is strickly IntrAnet, the intErnet site is completely seperate.

The content of the section I manage must reside on the server, PCs are only used to make changes to the content.

Dreamweaver CS4 is currently used.

All programs and/or software must be purchased, and have a licence. We are on a strict watchful eye of what programs we use on our computers and servers.

So, I would like to know what programs and/or software are needed to make this happen?  ColdFusion? What else? (Remember, we have no programs at the moment to support the type of website we want)

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dave Watts

You'll need a web server capable of running ColdFusion (which you probably already have). You'll need a database server, which, ideally, will be a separate machine - you may already have one of these in your environment. Check with your organization's IT for this.

You'll need the ColdFusion software. You probably don't need the Enterprise version unless you're using Oracle for your database server. If you don't have a database server, you'll need database server software. There are various free database server software platforms you can use, as well as commercial non-free database server software platforms.

That's all you really need, as far as material assets go. Developers can use existing copies of Dreamweaver, or free editors of practically any sort. Developers specializing in ColdFusion might prefer using ColdFusion Builder, which is a non-free editor available from Adobe.

But the most important thing you'll need is to actually learn how all this stuff works. This is not a trivial thing. I recommend that you get some training. Of course, as a ColdFusion trainer, maybe I'm a bit biased, but development is pretty complicated even when you use ColdFusion (which is designed to be as simple as possible).

My company is a reseller for Adobe ColdFusion, and we also provide onsite and remote training using Adobe-authorized training materials. Feel free to respond to me directly if you're interested in either of those, and I'll be happy to help you out. Of course, there are lots of other vendors who can help you with both of those.

Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software

http://www.figleaf.com/

http://training.figleaf.com/

2 replies

ilssac
ilssac
Inspiring
January 10, 2011

Yes ColdFusion would happily do all you indicate you want it to do.  Of course, it is not the only thing that would do this.  But I think I speak for most on this list that it does it very well and faster then most, especially if you are NOT a programmer or web developer yet.

All you technically need is a single ColdFusion application server installed on the computer that hosts your web server (91.37% of ColdFusion is installed on the same box as the web server, though that is not required).

Now to develope the CFML code to run on that ColdFusion application server so that it will dynamically create HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Images, PDFs, Spreadsheets, and much more.  You can use any editor you like.  DreamWeaver is popular, Eclipse with CFeclipise or ColdFusion builder is popular.  But Notepad will create the code just fine.  You just forgo all the nice hints and wizards with a basic text editor.

Hope that helps.

P.S. 98.76% of statistics are made up on the spot.

M
MamilossaAuthor
Participant
January 10, 2011

I feel very comfortable with Dreamweaver and Flash.  I'm sure ColdFusion Builder will give me the same feeling.  I caught on HTML fairly easily, so I think that CFML should be similar.  I looking to go to the same instructor that I had for Dreamweaver.  What helped alot during my training is that I got a special one on one training tailered to our needs.

D
Community Expert
Dave WattsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 10, 2011

You'll need a web server capable of running ColdFusion (which you probably already have). You'll need a database server, which, ideally, will be a separate machine - you may already have one of these in your environment. Check with your organization's IT for this.

You'll need the ColdFusion software. You probably don't need the Enterprise version unless you're using Oracle for your database server. If you don't have a database server, you'll need database server software. There are various free database server software platforms you can use, as well as commercial non-free database server software platforms.

That's all you really need, as far as material assets go. Developers can use existing copies of Dreamweaver, or free editors of practically any sort. Developers specializing in ColdFusion might prefer using ColdFusion Builder, which is a non-free editor available from Adobe.

But the most important thing you'll need is to actually learn how all this stuff works. This is not a trivial thing. I recommend that you get some training. Of course, as a ColdFusion trainer, maybe I'm a bit biased, but development is pretty complicated even when you use ColdFusion (which is designed to be as simple as possible).

My company is a reseller for Adobe ColdFusion, and we also provide onsite and remote training using Adobe-authorized training materials. Feel free to respond to me directly if you're interested in either of those, and I'll be happy to help you out. Of course, there are lots of other vendors who can help you with both of those.

Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software

http://www.figleaf.com/

http://training.figleaf.com/

Dave Watts, Eidolon LLC
J
Joshua_Cyr
Participating Frequently
January 10, 2011

What Dave says is solid. I wonder if you are asking for a CMS and not the

underlying technology.

In other words, you should learn ColdFusion, and it can do exactly what you

need. But you also need to build the actual code to manage the pages and

documents. It may be that you can buy a CMS or find an open source CMS for

ColdFusion that will provide a lot of what you need already.

Joshua

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