ColdFusion 2018 Hotfixes: Did They Break Query of Queries?
Problem: Reports emerged that ColdFusion 2018 hotfixes 12 and 13 caused issues with the "query of queries" functionality. Developers encountered errors or unexpected behavior when using nested queries within their ColdFusion applications.
Simplified: Imagine you're trying to create a complex report. You might want to first gather data from one table, then use that data to filter information from another table. This process is called a "query of queries" in ColdFusion. Some developers reported that after installing hotfixes 12 and 13, this process stopped working correctly.
What Happened:
Here's a simplified example illustrating the problem:
// Query 1: Get a list of product IDs
query1 = queryNew("SELECT productID FROM products");
// Query 2: Retrieve details for specific products
query2 = queryNew("SELECT * FROM productDetails WHERE productID IN (#query1.productID#)");
In this example, the #query1.productID# within query2 references the productID column from the first query. Before the hotfixes, this would work correctly. However, after installing hotfixes 12 and 13, developers reported errors or unexpected results.
Analysis & Clarification:
The root cause of the issue was a bug introduced in the hotfixes that affected how ColdFusion handled data within nested queries. While the exact details of the bug remain undisclosed, it likely involved a change in how the queryNew() function parsed data from the first query.
Solutions:
Fortunately, Adobe acknowledged the issue and released subsequent hotfixes to address this problem. If you're encountering difficulties with your "query of queries" after installing hotfixes 12 or 13, consider the following:
- Update to the latest version: Adobe has addressed this bug in later hotfixes. Ensure you are running the most recent version of ColdFusion 2018.
- Rollback or reinstall: If updating isn't possible, you might consider rolling back to a previous version of ColdFusion or reinstalling the software completely.
- Alternative solutions: If direct "query of queries" isn't feasible, explore alternative approaches like using ColdFusion's
cfquerytag with nested queries or using a custom function to handle data retrieval and filtering.
Additional Value:
Understanding how ColdFusion handles "query of queries" can be vital for building complex applications. While hotfixes 12 and 13 introduced a temporary issue, learning from this experience highlights the importance of staying updated with the latest software releases and being aware of potential bugs that may arise.
References:
Note: Specific details regarding the exact bug and its resolution may be available through the Adobe ColdFusion Community Forums and official documentation.
