Spry is a JavaScript-based framework that provides AJAX-powered dynamic web content. There are other Javascript libraries available to accomplish similar results (such a JSON, jQuery, etc.). The Spry library is produced by Adobe Labs, and, as of this writing, is in 1.6.1 release. (SPRY at Adobe Labs.) Although SPRY can be used with other server technologies, such as PHP, ASP.net, etc., Spry seems to employ techniques that are especially intuitive to the ColdFusion developer.

The Spry parts of this tutorial series (Parts I & II) just scratched the surface of working with Spry. However, they should have given you the basic concepts in a simplified manner, allowing you to go much deeper on your own. When you download Spry you get not only the necessary library, but many examples, as well as Spry widgets to accomplish many interesting effects. These can be invaluable in learning to use Spry.

In Parts I & II, we constructed a simple Picture Gallery with clickable thumbnails that then revealed full-size pics (and some with further detail). The Spry techniques used XML and its source was a static, hand-coded XML file.

In Parts III & IV, we will use ColdFusion techniques to create our XML source. Unless your data rarely changes, creating XML dynamically is a more practical approach than hard coding. (These latter techniques are not special for Spry, but can be used any time you want ColdFusion to produce XML, whether for something like Spry, direct output to a web page, or Flash/Flex applications.)

Keith Dodd got into web development as a second career following 30 years in public education, with 19 as a middle school principal. With help from friends and a lot of reading, he got into ColdFusion (version 3) and in 2003 was certificated as an Advanced ColdFusion MX Developer. In recent years, he has worked with Flash and the integration of Flash with ColdFusion (with a lot of help from CMX resources). He is just starting to delve into Flex.

The ColdFusion and Spry Series:
ColdFusion and Spry: Part 1
ColdFusion and Spry: Part 2
ColdFusion and Spry: Part 3
ColdFusion and Spry: Part 4 Coming Soon ...