There's a lot of information in this book, and like any book on advanced topics, most of it isn't necessarily applicable to any one company, situation, application, etc. However, learning how to extend ColdFusion with Java-based CFX was a MAJOR reason we bought this book. The CFX section is a COMPLETE waste of time. You'd think it would help a competent, experienced ColdFusion developer mount the fairly steep Java learning curve, but far from it. For instance, it completely skips instructions on how to compile the example class. Fortunately, I know how to do that -- but then the code is fraught with errors. Moreover, the coverage of the Java classes/interfaces you use to program CFXs is very shallow, and there is *no* coverage of standard Java classes (with the one exception of StringTokenizer in Java.Util).

In short, it gives you next to nothing you need to do serious CFX development. It barely even covers information on the CFX API that an experienced Java developer would need to develop CFXs.

I give the book 2 stars (instead of 1) for the breadth of information available. But in my case -- and for anyone wanting to build a middle-tier using CFX -- this book's a waste.

but not something that I was looking for. Don't have real life examples in detail.......

Much of Advanced Macromedia ColdFusion 5 Application Development will be a discussion of technologies and ideas with examples to demonstrate specific techniques. Advanced Macromedia ColdFusion 5 Application Development will also contain case studies to illustrate real-world examples of specific topics. ColdFusion 5 is a massive upgrade, and it adds lots of new features, including some designed specifically for advanced and power users. Advanced Macromedia ColdFusion 5 Application Development will address these issues and technologies, including: using clustering and fail-over technologies to ensure server uptime, using the new archive and restore features. server monitor and benchmarking, creating secure applications and integrating with existing security system, extending ColdFusion using COM/DCOM, CORBA, and the ColdFusion C and Delphi API's, using the Java integration options, customizing and modifying the client environment, writing custom tags and functions, ISP ColdFusion hosting issues, and working with XML and XSL. User Level: Advanced, 600pp

Within 1 chapter, I was already able to increase performance and get a quality return from this book. A must for every Cold Fusion Developer. It's part 2 of the Cold Fusion Bible!

The Advanced Macromedia ColdFusion 5 book by Ben Forta and his distinguished co-authors has instantly become an invaluable resource for me as well as others on my staff.

Advanced ColdFusion development is what we do and this book certainly helps keep us out of the woods when we start leveraging the new features found in Macromedia's new release of ColdFusion 5.

Great Job!!!