IE8, CF8 Ajax and jQuery

I noticed a post on Dale Fraser's blog about IE8 breaking the DHTML/AJAX built-in features of Coldfusion 8. I decided a while back to stick with doing AJAX calls and DHTML using jQuery instead of using the new tags in CF8 - and I'm glad I did as my code still works in IE8.

The jQuery library really is an impressive bit of work as is actively supported and developed. I was never a fan of the javascript code that CF generates, although that is a personal thing as a visitor to a site isn't really going to care as long as it works!

I also like the way that jQuery makes it quite easy to write accessible sites that use javascript to enhance rather than rely on javascript. I don't feel like I have that level of control with the CF generated code.

Oh, and Raymond Camden is using jQuery on ColdFusionBloggers.org which is a pretty good endorsement!

• Posted in:
• jQuery
• ColdFusion

4 comments

1. John,
   
   I'm curious because I'm at a frustration point right now with some of the new CF ajax implementation.
   
   Do you use the cfajaxproxy code because I find that to be extremely useful.
   
   Comment by Michael Brennan-White – May 23, 2008
2. Another good reason why CF's javascript/ajax/gui functionality should be avoided. Coding this stuff yourself using the wide choice of 3rd party libs/frameworks means you can quickly and freely keep your code base up to date and compatible with the latest browsers. Plus you get more regular bug fixes and new features. Why wait for CF9.
   
   Comment by Gary F – May 24, 2008
3. @Michael,
   
   I don't use the cfajaxproxy tag as I find it just as easy with jQuery. As I always use jQuery, then I don't want to have to use two different javascript frameworks on my sites (I think the cfajaxproxy tag uses the Yahoo YUI library). I also like to have all my javascript in external files or at the bottom of the HTML page. I've blogged about calling cfcs using jQuery and EXT2 if you're interested.
   
   @Gary,
   
   I totally agree with you about benefiting from using the latest version of the various javascript frameworks out there. As you say, why wait for CF9!
   
   Comment by John Whish – May 27, 2008
4. I have an existing application. Its for doctors and technologists who are applying for accreditation. There are a lot of terms that are used and the client wants the terms linked to a pop up that has a definition. Now, I can set up a CFC to grab the term's definition and return it to an ajax call from CF and link the term to it, that's no problem. The problem is, I don't want to go through each page, and then again when the content is changed and manually link any recognized words to the JS function that executes the remote call to the CFC. Do you know of a way, perhaps with jQuery or the built-in CF stuff, to, after each page loads, scan the text for any recognized words (this list can be retreived from another CFC call for all the words we "know of") and then link to it using the pop-up bubble?
   
   Comment by contenidos del casino virtual – April 16, 2009