Spectra Tips and TricksSpectra Tips and Tricks

Tips for Spectra First ContactTips for Spectra First Contact

Coding TipsCoding Tips

Q&AQ&A

Spectra Pre-RequisitesSpectra Pre-Requisites

Structures: Everything’s a structureStructures: Everything’s a structure Custom TagsCustom Tags

• Passing data in/outPassing data in/out• Modular codeModular code

Conceptual understanding of WDDXConceptual understanding of WDDX Request Scope (thread safe)Request Scope (thread safe)

Request ScopeRequest Scope

What is Spectra?What is Spectra?

Content Object Database (CODB): Content Object Database (CODB): An object-based data storage built in An object-based data storage built in relational tables.relational tables.

Tags to interact with CODBTags to interact with CODB• 200+ Tags in about 20 groupings200+ Tags in about 20 groupings

Webtop: A fancy Spectra applicationWebtop: A fancy Spectra application• Admin interfaceAdmin interface• User interfaceUser interface

Three Parts of SpectraThree Parts of Spectra

ContentObject DatabaseContentObject Database

Spectra: the same but Spectra: the same but differentdifferent

DB Design and Spectra Object Design DB Design and Spectra Object Design are similar enough to be familiar but are similar enough to be familiar but different enough to be potentially different enough to be potentially confusingconfusing

GainsGains• Fast for getting complete objectsFast for getting complete objects• Linking data with methodsLinking data with methods

LossesLosses• Flexible relational accessFlexible relational access

Spectra vs ColdFusionSpectra vs ColdFusion

Spectra IS ColdFusionSpectra IS ColdFusion ALL of ColdFusion functionality is ALL of ColdFusion functionality is

available within Spectra available within Spectra applicationsapplications• CF TagsCF Tags• FunctionsFunctions• Database connectionsDatabase connections

Spectra: All or Nothing?Spectra: All or Nothing?

Spectra is not right for all applicationsSpectra is not right for all applications• Highly relational data should not be Highly relational data should not be

moved into Spectra Content Object moved into Spectra Content Object databasedatabase

Spectra is not right for all parts of an Spectra is not right for all parts of an application.application.

Spectra and ColdFusion togetherSpectra and ColdFusion together• HR.com Resource CenterHR.com Resource Center

Spectra: More PlanningSpectra: More Planning

Spectra apps require more up front Spectra apps require more up front planning than straight CF apps planning than straight CF apps because:because:• Spectra apps are (usually) biggerSpectra apps are (usually) bigger• Spectra apps live in an existing set of Spectra apps live in an existing set of

servicesservices

Chicken and the EggChicken and the Egg

To competently plan a Spectra app, To competently plan a Spectra app, you need to have built a Spectra appyou need to have built a Spectra app

Two solutions:Two solutions:• Find someone who has been through it Find someone who has been through it

to help get up to speedto help get up to speed• Iterate over the design and Iterate over the design and

construction of your first Spectra construction of your first Spectra applicationapplication

Security is a problem Security is a problem

Allow time to configure and test Allow time to configure and test (2 - 3 weeks)(2 - 3 weeks)• Don’t turn on security caching in Don’t turn on security caching in

developmentdevelopment Use a workaround insteadUse a workaround instead Spectra 2 will likely address this Spectra 2 will likely address this

issueissue

Minimize CFLocking (CF Minimize CFLocking (CF Tip)Tip)

Server, application and session Server, application and session scope variables need to be locked scope variables need to be locked (read and write)(read and write)

Use the new duplicate() functionUse the new duplicate() function <cflock name="AppName" type=”readonly"><cflock name="AppName" type=”readonly"> <cfset request.app = <cfset request.app =

duplicate(application)>duplicate(application)> </cflock></cflock>

Use the Application ScopeUse the Application Scope

Put needed items in Application Put needed items in Application Scope (and transfer to Request Scope (and transfer to Request scope) such as:scope) such as:• Lookup valuesLookup values• User-defined TypeIDsUser-defined TypeIDs• Property namesProperty names• Application-specific translation dataApplication-specific translation data

– HR.com HRID and nodeIDsHR.com HRID and nodeIDs

Plan MetaData CarefullyPlan MetaData Carefully

Spectra 1.01 provides minimal Spectra 1.01 provides minimal tools for changing Metadata once tools for changing Metadata once usedused

Use possible alternatives to Use possible alternatives to Metadata carefully as Metadata Metadata carefully as Metadata will be important for future will be important for future Personalization upgradesPersonalization upgrades

SQL Searching StrategiesSQL Searching Strategies

cfa_contentObjectFind is slow for cfa_contentObjectFind is slow for SQL lookups with medium size SQL lookups with medium size datasetsdatasets

Uniquely name all SQL searchable Uniquely name all SQL searchable propertiesproperties

Use a Custom Tag to directly search Use a Custom Tag to directly search Properties tableProperties table

Spectra 2 MAY address thisSpectra 2 MAY address this

SearchingSearching

Spectra Debug TagSpectra Debug Tag

<cfset request.cfa.mode.debug = true>

<cfif request.cfa.mode.debug> <cfa_tagDebugBegin></cfif><cfif request.cfa.mode.debug><cfif request.cfa.mode.debug> <cfa_tagDebugEnd> <cfa_tagDebugEnd></cfif></cfif>

<cfa_tagDebugOutput><cfa_tagDebugOutput>

Debug OutputDebug Output

Number of iterations:cfa_contentobject: 2cfa_contentobjectget: 2 cfa_contentobjectgetmultiple: 1 cfa_contentobjectinvokemethod: 2 cfa_objecttypeget: 2

Tag tree:

cfa_contentobject / time: 250 ms / vars: labels='Blackman, Samuel G.'; oids='3E8004F7-5DA0-11D4-94FE00D0B7752E0A';

cfa_contentobjectinvokemethod / time: 234 ms

cfa_contentobjectget / time: 15 ms

cfa_objecttypeget / time: 15 ms

cfa_contentobjectgetmultiple / time: 47 ms

Wrap UpWrap Up

Spectra is a ColdFusion Application Spectra is a ColdFusion Application that is great for Content that is great for Content Management and related servicesManagement and related services

Use it as one of several available Use it as one of several available toolstools

Plan for the time to get through Plan for the time to get through the initial learning curvethe initial learning curve

FREE . . . . . FREE . . . . . FREE . . . . . FREE . . . . . FREEFREE

Spectra Spectra ConsultationConsultation- By phone- By phone- In your office- In your office

www.wwstudios.comwww.wwstudios.com