Better Debugging with CF

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Better Debugging with CF

• By Douglas Smith
• Teratech
• July 11, 2000

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Ways to Debug in CF

• Standard CF Debug features have some benefits and
  limitations. This is the text you see at the
  bottom of the page when you turn on debug in the
  CF Administrator
• Custom, hand-coded Debugging
• Output text and variables in the code
• Can be a hassle to comment in/out as needed
• Use variables to turn debug text on/off as needed
• Use OnRequestEnd.cfm and dyanamic display

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ColdFusion Debuging

• Controlled by IP Address
• Advantages/features
• Displays CF Query results
• Displays execution time (and detailed!)
• Can be turned off for specific pages
• Limitations
• No application variables
• No Client or Session Variables
• No Cookie variables
• Can affect page/table layout, depending on HTML
  design

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Custom Debugging

• Output variables and conditions inside code.
  Generally must always be commented out before
  publication.
• My Advice - Dont do this. Set a debug variable,
  and turn on and off code with the variable. This
  way, you will control the debug text better
  inside of complicated code in a more professional
  and systematic way. Also very good for modules.
• For exampleltCFSET DebugTruegtltCFIF Debuggt
• ltcfoutputgtMyVar is MyVarltbrgtlt/cfoutputgt
• lt/cfifgt

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An Enhanced Debugging Tool

• See the handout
• Use OnRequestEnd.cfm
• Displays application, session and client
  variables dynamically. As soon as they are
  created, they show up.
• Debug display can be user specific, instead of IP
  specific.
• Can display based on IP Domains
• Can display CGI and other custom variables, and
  even page variables, as needed

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Warnings

• Always checkout your HTML layout with debugging
  turned off, since it can affect page and table
  width, depending on HTML design.
• Debug text can cause problems with CFCONTENT
  pages. Should turn off for these pages, or have
  two modes HTML display and then a
  content/download display.

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Download Source

• http//www.cfug-md.org/
• Send questions (and your comments/ideas for
  improvements) to douglas_at_teratech.com