Data Handling - Hands On 11

gistfile1.md

In this hands on, we are going to generate an XML sitemap that is formatted for use with Google Sitemaps.

Tags Used: <cfxml>, <cfoutput>, <cffile>

Functions Used: toString

1. Create a new file in the /www/ folder called generateSitemap.cfm.
2. On line 1, create an open <cfxml> tag and provide the following attribute:
   • variable: xmlSiteMap
3. After the opening <cfxml> tag enter the following code:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <urlset xmlns="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap/0.90">
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/about.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/resume.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/portfolio.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/contact.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/blog.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
   </urlset>	
   

4. After this code, enter a closing </cfxml> tag.
5. Your code should look similar to this:

   <cfxml variable="xmlSitemap">
   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <urlset xmlns="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap/0.90">
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/about.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/resume.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/portfolio.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/contact.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
     <url>
       <loc>http://www.myWebsite.com/blog.cfm</loc>
       <priority>0.5</priority>
     </url>
   </urlset>	  
   </cfxml>	
   

6. After the closing </cfxml> tag, create an open <cfoutput> tag.
7. On the line after the <cfoutput> tag, write #toString(xmlSiteMap)#.
8. After the toString line of code, write a closing </cfoutput> tag.
9. Open up a browser and navigate to /www/generateSiteMap.cfm.
10. View the source of the page and you will see the generated XML.
11. Return to your code editor and remove the <cfoutput> tags and their contents.
12. After the closing </cfxml> tag, create a <cffile> tag with the following attributes:
    • action: write
    • file: #expandPath('./sitemap.xml')#
    • output: #toString(xmlSiteMap)#
13. Your code should look similar to this:

    <cffile action="write" file="#expandpath('./sitemap.xml')#" output="#toString(xmlSitemap)#" />	
    

14. After the <cffile> tag, create a <p> tag. Provide the text "File created!" and place a closing </p> tag after the line of text.
15. In your browser, reload the /www/generateSiteMap.cfm page and confirm that you see the message "File Created!"
16. Navigate to /www/sitemap.xml and confirm that the XML file was created and that all your XML nodes are displayed.