How do you exit a method so that no other code is excecuted?

Displaying a message is just one form of returning. So far, I think throwing (and, possibly, rethrowing) answers Nikos101's question completely. The simplest case is as follows:

caller
=====
f();
<!--- handle failure --->

function f( ) {
<cfif REFind("^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$", arguments.field) ><!--- failure--->
<!--- throw--->
</cfif>
}

However, thowing also applies to an arbitrary sequence of function calls. To illustrate, consider the following function definitions. Suppose that f1 is reponsible for handling any failure of the Nikos101 condition. However, the failure occurs in f3.

function f1( ) {
f2();
<!--- handle failure --->
}

function f2( ) {
f3();
<!--- rethrow--->
}

function f3( ) {
<cfif REFind("^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$", arguments.field) ><!--- failure--->
<!--- throw--->
</cfif>
}

Then the throw/rethrow mechanism ensures that the failure will be propagated up the call stack to the appropriate handler, namely, f1. The functions f2 and f3 don't need to know anything about the failure.

You could also display a text message.

I still think [<cfthrow>] a bit draconian.

Not at all. <cfthrow> fits here.

Nikos101's <cfif REFind("^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$", arguments.field)>
looks to me like an exceptional condition. A precondition fails, and so the method has to abort mission. In addition, the throw (or rethrow) enables you to propagate the reason for failure to the appropriate handler.

> <CFABORT>
> or
> <CFLOCATION="safeplace.cfm">

Inside a method?

That's a bit of a grim suggestion, innit?

--
Adam

<CFABORT>
or
<CFLOCATION="safeplace.cfm">

Lots of options....

<cfreturn something>

Azadi Saryev
Sabai-dee.com
http://www.sabai-dee.com/