Upgrading to CF MX BEWARE!

About Using CF since 1998 Using CF since 1998 Not a programmer Not a programmer Not purely “technical” Not purely “technical” Developer of mostly reporting apps in CF Developer of mostly reporting apps in CF Taught Intro to CF courses at University of Maryland Baltimore County Taught Intro to CF courses at University of Maryland Baltimore County

Upgrading to CF MX Why Upgrade Why Upgrade –Ask Why? –New features of CF MX –Are they worth it? My Upgrade Tale of Woe My Upgrade Tale of Woe Lessons Learned/Recommendations Lessons Learned/Recommendations

Upgrading to CF MX Ask Why? Do IT needs require an upgrade? Do IT needs require an upgrade? What specific need is being addressed by the upgrade? What specific need is being addressed by the upgrade? Typically don’t upgrade for upgrading sake Typically don’t upgrade for upgrading sake Worst case scenario -Is downtime tolerable for your organization? Worst case scenario -Is downtime tolerable for your organization?

Upgrading to CF MX New Features Java based platform Java based platform –JRun = better performance “High End” programming features “High End” programming features –User Defined Functions enhanced tag –CFMX components –Web Services –Java custom tags –Flash Integration – i.e. Rich Clients Flash movie that runs queries Updated database support Updated database support

Upgrading to CF MX New Features –Are they worthwhile? –Depends on your applications and requirements –Realistically are you going to rewrite code to use the new features of CFMX

Upgrading to CF MX Tale of Woe Driven by development of new CF application Driven by development of new CF application Trouble adding datasource to Oracle 9i DB in 5.0 Trouble adding datasource to Oracle 9i DB in 5.0 MX resided on server MX resided on server Installed MX since driver for 9i Installed MX since driver for 9i

Upgrading to CF MX Tale of Woe… Licensing issues. Developer edition expired just prior to beginning of vacation Licensing issues. Developer edition expired just prior to beginning of vacation 3 days to acquire CFMX professional license ($500) 3 days to acquire CFMX professional license ($500) Upgraded required old S/N Upgraded required old S/N CF administrator would not allow upgrade CF administrator would not allow upgrade

Upgrading to CF MX Tale of Woe… Downtime now reaching 1 week Downtime now reaching 1 week Return to office for 3 days Return to office for 3 days Did reinstall of CFMX Did reinstall of CFMX MM support MM support Send new license key Send new license key Still didn’t work Still didn’t work again, phone call from MM staff again, phone call from MM staff

Upgrading to CF MX Tale of Woe… Success upgrading to CFMX Professional Success upgrading to CFMX Professional Alas Oracle driver requires CFMX Enterprise Alas Oracle driver requires CFMX Enterprise Call MM Staff back and beg for Enterprise SN Call MM Staff back and beg for Enterprise SN She obliges She obliges I get to leave for the beach I get to leave for the beach Total Downtime 1 week, 4 days Total Downtime 1 week, 4 days Total Cost = $500 + Enterprise upgrade Total Cost = $500 + Enterprise upgrade

Upgrading to CF MX Tale of Woe…how to avoid your own Complete Upgrade Guide from MM Complete Upgrade Guide from MM Consult with Collogues (like this group) Consult with Collogues (like this group) Read documentation from MM before taking the plunge Read documentation from MM before taking the plunge Document datasource settings Document datasource settings Consider testing upgrade on non production server Consider testing upgrade on non production server

Upgrading to CF MX Now the upside Originally upgraded for one reason Originally upgraded for one reason New features available New features available Develop better applications more quickly with better performance Develop better applications more quickly with better performance Next upgrade will be less painful Next upgrade will be less painful

Upgrading to CF MX Helpful links on Macromedia.com Helpful links on Macromedia.com Upgrade FAQ Upgrade FAQ Upgrade FAQ Upgrade FAQ Upgrade Guide Upgrade Guide Upgrade Guide Upgrade Guide Migration Resources Migration Resources Migration Resources Migration Resources –Migration guide PDF – July 2003