It's also worth mentioning that another trick (instead of GIF pipe) is to use a 0x0 pixel iframe and JavaScript to make your .cfm call. I've used a hidden iframe to validate zip codes myself. This only works in IE though.
Finally, another trick is to use a hidden frame in a frameset. For example top frame 100% bottom frame *. -Novak ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lofback, Chris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 10:59 AM Subject: RE: Gif Pipes > 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 This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting.
