Using ColdFusion to its full potential requires a fairly broad knowledge base, which Forta helps you develop. He begins with simple database-query applications and moves on to full-featured electronic-commerce systems. He includes instructions for using the ColdFusion tools, of course, but you'll also discover tutorials and references on the ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML), SQL, and the Verity search language. Even if you've never used any language other than HTML, you'll feel comfortable learning from this book.
The illustrative examples in The ColdFusion 4.0 Web Application Construction Kit really shine. Whether you want to know how to perform a three-table join, cache queries, or do any of hundreds of other tasks, there's a code listing for you in these pages. You'll also find some plug-and-play applications, including an online store that's ready for customization and deployment. All examples appear on the companion CD-ROM with evaluation versions of ColdFusion Studio and ColdFusion Server. --David Wall