Today I have been browsing the ColdFusion 9 online documentation to get an idea of what new improvements have been included in this update. This is just a brief overview, with links but I will not cover anything in great detail.
New Tags
This tag has been available in other CFML engines for some time now. It enables you to resume a <cfloop> allowing you to simplify conditional statements ( <cfif><cfelse></cfif> ) within loops.
Using Adobe Flash, this tag creates a dialog enabling users to upload multiple files to the ColdFusion server.
Adds an interesting new option to the functionality of exception handling tags (<cfcatch> and <cftry>). Currently when you execute a <cfcatch> the code will abruptly halt. While if the <cfcatch> fails, the code will continue. If you include the <cffinally> your code </cffinally> tag, ColdFusion will execute the code enclosed within, whether the <cfcatch> was triggered or ignored.
Is an expansion of the <cfmail> range of tags enabling you to communicate with IMAP e-mail servers. IMAP does have some advantages over the more popular POP3 e-mail services, which might be worth looking into.
Lets you quickly and easily incorporate Google Maps onto your pages. All you need to provide is a Google map API key and an address or coordinates of a location. While the <cfmapitem> enables you to place markers onto those maps.
Is an Adobe Flash based, video player that only plays locally stored or online FLV (Flash video) files.
Pops up customizable, message box within the web browser can be used for user notifications.
Another often requested feature, this brings up an AJAX based dialog to indicate the progress of a task. You use this in combination with the ColdFusion.ProgressBar functions; then enclose them within a page to set the start and end points for the bar.
An interesting tag that lets the ColdFusion server interact with Microsoft SharePoint servers. SharePoint is a system for user collaboration and content management systems.
One of the big, new features for ColdFusion 9, this tag enables allows full interaction with Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files. This tag, I would image would be very helpful for developers who deal with small businesses.
