Is there a guide for dealing with DW CS3 and CF on HMS?

I have an application.cfm that has all the cfset variables for the db (dsn, user, pass).
in CF, Applications>bindings when I click the + next to the recordset I get a pop-up called Data Sources that wants me to insert the data source Data Source Name Variable (even though that is defined with a CFSET in the application.cfm).

When I do try to set up a DSN variable, the data source dropdown has only None and False, neither of which will work. Gees, what a PITA! Any help/insight appreciated.

Rick
Virginia Beach

rhkennerly,

Dreamweaver can't explicitly read the application.cfm to bind variables. You have to manually set them via the bindings button. The reason why you are seeing false in the dropdown, is probably because RDS is not enabled. In order for Dreamweaver to get a list of available data sources, it must go out to the server to get them. Thus, RDS must be enabled.

If you are trying to do this via a HostMySite Shared account, RDS is disabled for security reasons, and you will not be able to accomplish what you are looking to do. However, if you are on a VPS, you can enable RDS in the CF administrator at your own risk to solve your problem.

If you are on a VPS or your own server and its still not working, be sure you have a "Testing" site setup within Dreamweaver. It doesn't have to be an entire different website, just make the settings the same as your "Remote" site and select "Coldfusion" from the server type drop down. Also, be sure the URL is correct in both the REMOTE and TESTING sites because dreamweaver relies on those URLs to get the data you need to work with.

If I can be of anymore help, or you need something clarified, let me know.

Thanks, I wish I had your knowledge and insight. I see your excellent posts everywhere here. As you suspected, I've got three accounts on shared servers. Two had been static and the third an ASP/Access site.

I think I understand what you are saying. I've been spoiled, haven't I? I was trying to work it like a local LAN connected server/DW setup, which I've always had access to. Why have a tightly integrated pair like DW and CF and not take advantage of it?

Of course, I was setting up this way so that I could remove as many variables as possible from the equation for--supposedly--faster development, as well as not having to stand up MySql (with which I'm unfamiliar as to administration as I came out of the MS SQL world)and CF locally and deal with that , too. The MySql web interface is perplexing enough without trying to replicate everything onto another server.

Are you sure that if I went VPS I could enable RDS? The HMS site says that it's not supported. It wouldn't be so bad to open RDS, finish up development and then shut it down again, would it? Besides, none are ecommerce or secure information type sites.

I confess myself disappointed with this situation. I've already spent way too much time trying to work out the infrastructure issues when I could have just done a quick asp(x)/access job and moved on and saved myself the cost of CF hosting. Still, I'm willing to learn.

I appreciate any recommendations you might have.

I can vouch that you can enable RDS on a VPS as I have a VPS and can confirm so.

And no, its not necessarily bad to open RDS, but it is a security risk in a coldfusion shared hosting environment.

Maybe you should consider setting up a testing server locally on your internal network? a CF Developers license is free, as is an SQL Server Express License (if you ever choose that route) There are lots of tutorials out there on setting up a local webserver. That way, you don't have to shell out $189 for a CF VPS and you can have the freedom of working locally without having to FTP everything. Just be careful if you open it up wide to the internet.

You might find MySQL easier to administer with the tools from mysql (http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/) such as the MySQL Administrator. Not sure how/if they work in a shared environment, but we use them locally on all our testing servers and they make administration easy.



Stick with it, you won't be disappointed. We used to work in PHP years ago, but have since dumped PHP to go 100% coldfusion. We even rewrote client sites who where in PHP to CF at our expense for better performance and maintenance. That's how much we believe in it.

Hope these thoughts help

I've been trying to go the other way, getting away from all that testing farm business and pare down to a laptop, let HMS handle all the server stuff, which is what was appealing to me about CFM before I fell into the ISP divide of haves and havenot CF installations.

I made the decision years ago to go the development and db route instead of the overcrowded hardware and LAN route. Now I find myself drawn back into the nuts and bolts stuff.

How many sites can you host on your VPS instance? I know only one IP address, but is there a limit to the number of sites you can put on it?

I guess I'm just real disappointed that CF in the ISP environment is so flimsy and difficult when compared to a dedicated system.

Anyway, thanks.

You can host all you want on the VPS. You have full remote desktop access and admin rights. It's really dependent on how much resources your site needs. I have 3 CF sites running e-commerce and they all run excellent, as well as a dozen smaller CF sites.

And as far as the IP address goes, I have 3 IP addresses. Additional IP's are $1.00 a month.

Don't be disappointed with the ISP environment. it's the way it is for a reason. For performace wise, and security wise. HostMySite is one of the best CF Hosts in the industry. You couldn't have your websites in better hands.

Okay, I jumped for the VPS. I've followed the instructions on the TechNote referenced by MYS http://tinyurl.com/2mfpts and uncommented the two lines in web.xml referring to RDS then rebooted the machine. But where to from here?

RDS was not installed as a MSI Services service in my control panel, so the next step in the instructions is not available, start RDS and then edit the registry.

Please don't tell me that after I've gone to all the expense and trouble of switching to the CF VPS on your recommendation that you've got a license and just loaded RDS from your disc onto your VPS.

Am I missing something here?

Is your VPS running CF7 or CF8? My VPS is still running CF7 which may be your problem. I can't vouch for 8 on a VPS.

CF 8, screwed.

Just thought I'd report back. HMS is reluctant to do it, sends you all kinds of scary microsoft/kb s about the dangers, but HMS will make most of the changes you need on a VPS to run RDS, but not all the changes.

So they will hold the gun to your head, but you have to pull the trigger by modifying an ini file yourself and restarting the machine.

Took me forever to work out the dreaded and poorly documented http error 12029, but RDS is now working on my machine as far as file transfer goes.

Will begin struggling with db connections and rds after lunch. Standby.