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Explanation of how to populate a complex matrix table using the Macromedia ColdFusion markup language. Also refer to database, SQL, query, format, CFLOOP, loop, maximum rows, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Populating a Matrix Table with ColdFusion

by Ron Kurtus (26 December 2002)

Taking information from a database and linearly populating the rows of a table is relatively simple in Macromedia ColdFusion. It is more difficult to populate a table that is a matrix, with both columns and rows. The method is similar to populating a simple table, except that you, must define the number of rows and then loop through the matrix.

Questions you may have include:

• How is a simple table populated?
• How do you populate a matrix?
• What does the output look like?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Simple table

The method to simply populate the rows of a table in a given sequence is:

<CFQUERY NAME="list" DATASOURCE="xyz" DBTYPE="ODBC">
select * from table_name
order by seq_no
</CFQUERY>

<TABLE>
<CFOUTPUT QUERY="list">
<TR> <TD>#seq_no#: #name#</TD></TR>
</CFOUTPUT>
</TABLE>

This is pretty straightforward.

Populate matrix

To populate a matrix table of 3 columns by a number of rows determined by the amount of data you have, you first make the same query as in the simple case. The data in this table is ordered by a sequence number. You could also order the data by ID value.

<CFQUERY NAME="list" DATASOURCE="xyz" DBTYPE="ODBC">
select * from table_name
order by seq_no
</CFQUERY>

Define number of rows

Find the number of records in your table. Then set the maximum rows as the integer of the number of records + 2, divided by 3. If the number of columns was 5, the maximum rows would be the integer of the number of records + 4, divided by 5.

<CFSET max_seq = #set_count.recordcount#>
<CFSET max_rows = INT((#max_seq# +2)/3)>

Loop through matrix

First set a variable x = 0. Loop through the number of rows and then the columns.

<CFSET x = 0>

<TABLE>
<CFLOOP INDEX="seq_no" FROM="1" TO="#max_rows#">
    <TR>
    <CFLOOP INDEX="sequence" FROM="1" TO="3">
        <CFSET x = x + 1>
        <CFQUERY NAME="populate" DATASOURCE="xyz">
        SELECT * FROM logo_info
        WHERE sequence = #x#
        ORDER BY sequence
       </CFQUERY>
       <TD>
       <CFOUTPUT QUERY="populate"> #seq_no#: #name#</CFOUTPUT>
       </TD>
    </CFLOOP>
    </TR>
</CFLOOP>
</TABLE>

Output

The output table would look something like:

This is an example where the maximum rows is the integer of (7 + 2)/3 = 3

Summary

You can populate a table that is a matrix, with both columns and rows, by defining the maximum number of rows, looping through the rows, plus looping through the columns for each row.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Maintain a healthy attitude toward your work

Resources

The following resources provide information on this subject.

Websites

ColdFusion Resources

Books

Top-rated books on ColdFusion

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What is ColdFusion Studio?

2. What is needed to display ColdFusion pages on the Web?

3. What is a major application of ColdFusion?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in ColdFusion Development. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Populating a Matrix Table with ColdFusion