User Guide

Chapter 14: Managing Files on the Server 227

Reading, Writing, and Appending to a Text File

In addition to managing files on the server, you can use CFFILE to read, create, and

modify text files.

This gives you the ability to

• Create log files.

• Generate static HTML documents.

• Use text files to store information that can be brought into Web pages.

Reading a text file

You can use CFFILE to read an existing text file. The file is read into a dynamic

parameter which you can use anywhere in the application page. For example, you

could read a text file and then insert its contents into a database. Or you could read a

text file and then use one of the find and replace functions to modify the contents.

To read a text file:

1. Create a new file in Studio.

2. Modify the file so that it appears as follows:

<HTML>

<HEAD>

</HEAD>

<BODY>

Ready to read the file:<BR>

4 <CFFILE ACTION="Read"

4 FILE="C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\message.txt"

4 VARIABLE="Message">

#Message#

</CFOUTPUT>

</BODY>

</HTML>

3. Replace c:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\message.txt with the location and name of a

text file on your server.

4. Save the file as readtext.cfm and view it in your browser.

Writing a text file

You can use CFFILE to write a text file based on dynamic content. For example, you

could create static HTML files or log actions in a text file.