Introduction
In Adobe ColdFusion, building simple and interactive forms is made easy with built-in tags such as <cfform> and <cftextarea>. This tutorial demonstrates how to create a basic text area input form using these ColdFusion tags. The example focuses on capturing user input, specifically an address, and displaying it dynamically upon submission. This simple tutorial helps developers understand how to integrate basic ColdFusion form functionality into their web applications.
The use of ColdFusion tags like <cftextarea> and <cfinput> streamlines form creation and provides additional validation and customization options, making it a powerful tool for web developers looking to enhance user experience with minimal effort.
Understanding the Structure
The example begins with a basic HTML structure where the title and metadata are set up using standard HTML tags. The body section contains the form components that are defined using ColdFusion's server-side tags. In ColdFusion, server-side tags allow developers to define forms with ease, offering automatic handling of form validation and processing.
A simple header introduces the form to the user with a styled message. The title and design elements use inline CSS, giving a quick and easy way to customize the appearance of the form.
Conditional Form Output
The form checks if the user has submitted data by evaluating the presence of a SubmitAddress variable using the IsDefined() function. This ensures that the form output only appears after the user submits their input. If the condition is true, ColdFusion's cfoutput tag is used to display the submitted address back to the user in a customized, stylized format. This dynamic handling of user data illustrates how ColdFusion processes server-side logic and updates the web page in real time.
Creating the Form
The form itself is wrapped inside a ColdFusion <cfform> tag, which is essential for handling form data submission. The form method is set to POST, ensuring that the submitted address is processed securely. This tag also facilitates easy integration of additional attributes, such as validation and formatting options.
Inside the form, a table layout is used to present the form fields in an organized manner. The first row consists of a header labeled "Address Submit Form," styled with bold colors to highlight the section. The subsequent row introduces the input field for the address, using the ColdFusion <cftextarea> tag.
Using the cftextarea Tag
The <cftextarea> tag is the core element of this tutorial. It creates a text area where users can input multiline text, such as their address. This tag allows developers to set a variety of attributes to customize the input field, including setting the required attribute, a custom validation message, and inline styles for fonts, colors, and sizes.
The textarea is styled with a background color of wheat, a cursive font, and large italicized text. This showcases how easily ColdFusion allows developers to adjust the appearance of form elements directly within the server-side code.
Handling Form Submission
Once the user fills out the address field, they can submit the form using the ColdFusion <cfinput> tag. This tag is used to define the submit button, which is also highly customizable in terms of size, font, and color. Upon clicking the button, the form sends the data to the server for processing.
The <cfinput> tag, like the <cftextarea>, allows developers to include validation, which helps ensure that users provide the necessary input before the form is processed. If the address field is left blank, the required validation will trigger, preventing form submission and prompting the user to complete the required field.
Summary
This simple tutorial demonstrates how ColdFusion makes form handling straightforward by using its powerful <cfform> and <cftextarea> tags. Developers can quickly build interactive web forms that capture user input, process it dynamically, and provide real-time feedback. The use of server-side ColdFusion logic in combination with customizable HTML elements allows for flexibility in design and functionality.
Overall, ColdFusion’s form-building features, as shown in this example, simplify the development process while maintaining the ability to create visually appealing and functional forms. By leveraging ColdFusion’s tags, developers can focus more on their application's logic and less on the complexities of form validation and styling.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<title>cftextarea tag: how to use simple text area in coldfusion</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2 style="color:SaddleBrown; font-style:italic">cftextarea example: how to use</h2>
<hr width="350" align="left" color="SaddleBrown" />
<br />
<cfif IsDefined("Form.SubmitAddress")>
<cfoutput>
<h3 style="color:OrangeRed;">
Your Address: #Form.Address#
</h3>
</cfoutput>
</cfif>
<cfform name="TextAreaTest" method="post" format="html">
<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="Orange">
<tr>
<td colspan="2" bgcolor="DeepPink" style="color:Snow; font-size:large" align="center">
Address Submit Form
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="color:RosyBrown; font-weight:bold">
Address
</td>
<td>
<cftextarea
name="Address"
required="yes"
message="Address required."
style="background-color:Wheat; color:RosyBrown; width:250px; height:25px; font-size:large; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; font:'Comic Sans MS', cursive"
/>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="right">
<cfinput
name="SubmitAddress"
type="submit"
value="Submit"
style="height:45px; width:150px; font-size:large; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold; color:OrangeRed;"
>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</cfform>
</body>
</html>
