The way I learned to use a GIF pipe was that you send data using URL variables and get responses using cookies (which means the return data is restricted by cookie limitations like size and number of cookies.) The client code has a timed loop that watches for the cookie to be returned and then parses out the data.
To learn how they work, I built a GIF pipe JS library to use on our corporate web site to validate ZIP codes on a form. When someone enters a ZIP code, the GIF pipe calls a CF template on my server that uses CFHTTP to query the USPS for a city and state, which are then returned to populate the matching form fields. Admittedly, this is fairly trivial but it has potential for many other uses. I just haven't had time to look into it. Chris Lofback Sr. Web Developer TRX Integration 28051 US 19 N., Ste. C Clearwater, FL 33761 www.trxi.com > -----Original Message----- > From: S. Isaac Dealey [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 1:41 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: RE: Gif Pipes > > > The image as a data pipe trick is a means of accomplishing a > request from > the server without reloading the page, usually using > javascript to change > the src attribute of the image. As just one example: > > A billing form with a credit card number field might have an > image data pipe > which requests a page from the server to determine if the > card number is > valid such as > > <input type="text" name="cc" onblur="validatecc();"> > <img name="validatecc" src="spacer.gif"> > > <script> > function validatecc() { > document.images.validatecc.src > = "validatecc.cfm?ccno=" > + document.myform.cc.value; > } > </script> > > When the page finishes processing, it uses cfcontent to > display an image > which may be the spacer if the number validated okay, or a > warning message > if the card failed the validation routine. > > I believe with some browsers you can also get javascript > functionality from > the page called through the image, but I've not really worked > with image > data pipes personally, so I can't give any real specifics. > > > s. isaac dealey 954-776-0046 > > new epoch http://www.turnkey.to > > lead architect, tapestry cms http://products.turnkey.to > > certified advanced coldfusion 5 developer > http://www.macromedia.com/v1/handlers/index.cfm?ID=21816 > > > > > What is it you achieve in doing this to display images? :) > > > Shawn Regan > > pacifictechnologysolutions > > 15530-B Rockfield Blvd. Suite 4 > > Irvine, CA 92618 > > 949.830.1623 > > w w w . p t s 1 . c o m > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Thane Sherrington [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 7:24 AM > > To: CF-Talk > > Subject: Re: Gif Pipes > > > > At 10:12 AM 20/11/02 -0500, Tipton Josh (orl1jdt) wrote: > >>Can someone please point me in the direction on information > for creating, > >>implementing, and using gif pipes. > > > It's fairly simple. You create a link like this: > > > <IMG src="http://www.mysite.com/mypage.cfm";> > > > Then you create the file mypage.cfm with whatever you want > in it and end > > it > > with. > > > <cfcontent type="image/gif" file="placer.gif" deletefile="No"> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
