Reading, Writing, and Appending to a Text File

In addition to managing files on the server, you can use CFFILE to read, create, and modify text files.

This gives you the ability to

Reading a text file

You can use CFFILE to read an existing text file. The file is read into a dynamic parameter which you can use anywhere in the application page. For example, you could read a text file and then insert its contents into a database. Or you could read a text file and then use one of the find and replace functions to modify the contents.

Note To read a text file:
  1. Create a new file in Studio.
  2. Modify the file so that it appears as follows:
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
        <TITLE>Read a Text File</TITLE>
    </HEAD>
    
    <BODY>
    Ready to read the file:<BR>
    <CFFILE ACTION="Read"
        FILE="C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\message.txt"
        VARIABLE="Message">
    
    <CFOUTPUT>
        #Message#
    </CFOUTPUT>
    </BODY>
    </HTML>
    
  3. Replace c:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\message.txt with the location and name of a text file on your server.
  4. Save the file as readtext.cfm and view it in your browser.

Writing a text file

You can use CFFILE to write a text file based on dynamic content. For example, you could create static HTML files or log actions in a text file.

Note To create a form in which to enter data for a text file:
  1. Open a new file in Studio.
  2. Modify the file so that it appears a follows:
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
        <TITLE>Put Information into a Text File</TITLE>
    </HEAD>
    
    <BODY>
    <H2>Put Information into a Text File</H2>
    
    <FORM ACTION="writetextfileaction.cfm" METHOD="POST">
        <p>Enter you name: <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="Name" SIZE="25">
        <p>Enter you the name of the file: <INPUT TYPE="text" 
    NAME="FileName" SIZE="25">
        <p>Enter your message:</p>
        <INPUT TYPE="textarea" NAME="message"cols=45 rows=6>
        </p>
        <INPUT TYPE="submit" NAME="submit" VALUE="Submit"> 
    </FORM>
    
    </BODY>
    </HTML>
    
  3. Save the file as writetextfileform.cfm in myapps under the Web root directory.
Note To write a text file:
  1. Open a new file in Studio.
  2. Modify the file so that it appears as follows:
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
        <TITLE>Untitled</TITLE>
    </HEAD>
    <BODY>
    <CFFILE ACTION="Write"
        FILE="C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\#form.filename#"
        OUTPUT="Created By: #Form.Name#
        #Form.Message# ">
    </BODY>
    </HTML>
    
  3. Modify the path C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mine\ to point to a path on your server.
  4. Save the file as writetextfileaction.cfm.
  5. View the file writetextfileform.cfm in your browser, enter values, and submit the form.

The text file is written to the location you specified.

You can use CFFILE ACTION="Append" to append additional text to the end of an existing text file, for example, when creating log files.