Converting structures/arrays to their string representations!


Converting structures/arrays to their string representations!

Posted by Luis Majano
Apr 21, 2007 00:00:00 UTC
The following is a very useful JAVA tip for ColdFusion developers. Ever wanted to log a structure or array easily into a log file or use it as a string without actually looping and parsing to a string variable? Well, you always had the method right there lurking in the misterious but powerful Java world. The all ecompassing toString() method.

Actually all java.lang.Object inerit a toString() method as you can read in the java docs.

Below is the actual info:

toString

public String toString()

Returns a string representation of the object. In general, the toString method returns a string that "textually represents" this object. The result should be a concise but informative representation that is easy for a person to read. It is recommended that all subclasses override this method.

The toString method for class Object returns a string consisting of the name of the class of which the object is an instance, the at-sign character `@', and the unsigned hexadecimal representation of the hash code of the object. In other words, this method returns a string equal to the value of:

getClass().getName() + '@' + Integer.toHexString(hashCode())

Returns:

a string representation of the object.

As you can see, this method can be very useful. So how do I use it in Coldfusion? Very easily, jeje. look below:

//Create a structure

myStruct = structNew();

myStruct.today = now();

myStruct.name = "luis majano";

myStruct.url = "www.luismajano.com";

//Convert to string

#myStruct.toString()#

And there you go ladies and gentleman!! Enjoy this quick tip!!

 


Andy Matthews

I'm really surprised that there's no parallel function to turn that string of text BACK into it's CF counterpart.

Steve Bryant

That is a great tip!

I may have use for that soon.

charlie griefer

why not just wddx?

can still store the xml to a log file, and can convert easily back to the coldfusion object from the wddx string :)

Luis Majano

Good Point Charlie!!

I think I found more use for it, when I don't care for inflating the data again. I just want to quickly flatten it.

WDDX is the way to go if you want to serialize and then deserialize to an object again.

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