CFML functions and variables

The following table describes other CFML functions and variables in ColdFusion MX that differ from ColdFusion Server 5:


Function	Status	Issue	For more information
ArrayAvg(), ArrayMin(), ArrayMax(), ArraySum()	Changed	Returns "0" when used with an empty array. ColdFusion 5 returns infinity (`1.#INF`).	See `ArrayAvg()`, `ArrayMin()`, `ArrayMax()`, and `ArraySum()` in CFML Reference.
AuthenticatedContext(), AuthenticatedUser(), IsAuthenticated(), IsAuthorized(), IsProtected()	Obsolete	ColdFusion MX is based on a completely different security model than ColdFusion 5.	See the "Application Security" chapter in Developing ColdFusion MX Applications with CFML.
DateDiff()	Changed	In ColdFusion 5, there is one less second in a minute when calculating a negative difference. For example, it returns 60 seconds between `03:44:23` and `03:45:23`, but -59 seconds between `03:45:23` and `03:44:23`. ColdFusion MX calculates negative differences correctly, so if your application contains code that adjusts the ColdFusion 5 results, you might have to change it.	See `DateDiff()` in CFML Reference.
DeleteClientVariable()	Changed	Returns False when the variable does not exist. ColdFusion 5 ignores the function call.	See `DeleteClientVariable()` in CFML Reference.
GetBaseTagList()	Changed	Returns prefixed custom tags found in the tag stack in the format `x:tag`, where `x` is the prefix that you specified.	See `GetBaseTagList()` in CFML Reference.
GetLocale()	Changed	When the locale has not been explicitly set using `SetLocale()`, `GetLocale()` returns the default locale of the client computer's operating system. In ColdFusion 5, `GetLocale()` returns English(US) when the locale has not been explicitly set.	See `GetLocale()` and `SetLocale()` in CFML Reference.
GetTempDirectory()	Changed	(Windows) Returns the temporary directory for the embedded Java application server, instead of the temporary directory for the Windows operating system, as in ColdFusion 5.	See `GetTempDirectory()` in CFML Reference.
IsArray()	Changed	Returns True with a QueryColumn argument. You can change the value of an array element, but you cannot add or remove an element.	See "QueryColumn object", and `IsArray()` in CFML Reference.
IsWDDX()	Changed	Returns No for arrays and other complex values. ColdFusion 5 returns an error. (Both versions accept a basic value, such as a string, number, logical value, or date and time value. )	See `IsWDDX()` in CFML Reference.
Len()	Changed	When calculating a length, a string-processing function processes an ASCII 0 (NUL) character and continues to process subsequent characters of the string, if any. In ColdFusion 5, these functions did not process any subsequent characters of the string after processing the ASCII 0 (NUL) character.	See `Len()` in CFML Reference.
ListSetAt()	Changed	No longer changes the first delimiter in the list to the first delimiter specified in the function.	See `ListSetAt()` in CFML Reference.
ListSort()	Changed	In a descending sort with `textnocase`, `ListSort()` returns elements in a different order than in ColdFusion 5.	See "Using ListSort() in ColdFusion MX".
LSCurrencyFormat()	Changed	Returns a negative number when passed a negative number.	See "Localization".
		With the `local` argument, returns the currency in the locale's standard format, such as £ for pounds in the English(UK) locale.
		With the `international` argument, returns the currency with its international currency code, such as AUD for the Australian dollar.
LSIsDate()	Changed	Supports `full` `date` and `full` `datetime` as parameters, which include the name of the day.
LSParseDateTime()	Changed	For English (US) locales, the following date mask format is obsolete in ColdFusion MX: `23:15:16 4 Sept.` `1998`. Use a Java standard date format instead.
REFind REReplace() REFindNoCase() REReplaceNoCase()	Changed	Excludes questionable punctuation, such as +, $, and =, in the `[[:punct:]]` class of regular expression functions.	See `REFind()`, `REReplace()`, `REFindNoCase()`, and `REReplaceNoCase()` in CFML Reference.
		Recognizes accented letters in the appropriate character classes, such as :upper:, :lower:, :alpha:, and so on.
		Does not allow the backslash character (\) in a regular expression, even if it is inside a character class []. You must escape it by prefixing an additional backslash (\\). (ColdFusion 5 does not require you to escape a backslash in this case.)
REReplace(), REReplaceNoCase()	Changed	In replacement strings, the following character pairs now represent case conversion codes: \E, \l, \L, \u, and \U. If your ColdFusion 5 application has a replacement string with one of these character pairs, escape it by prefixing it with a backslash (for example, \\u). To include special characters for backrefs (\1), prefix them with an additional blackslash (for example, \\1). To include a real backref, prefix an additional backslash (for example, \\\1). For case conversion codes, additional blackslash prefixes alternate between escaping the code and not. For backrefs, they always escape.	See `REReplace()` and `REReplaceNoCase()` in CFML Reference.
StructKeyList	Changed	Returns struct keys in the order they are created, not in alphabetical order like in ColdFusion 5. If you need sorted struct values or keys, you can use the `StructSort` and `StructKeySort` functions.	See `StructKeyList()` in CFML Reference.

Note: The date pivot point for calculating the century in a two-digit year has changed from ColdFusion 5, affecting the results from date functions. For more information, see "Date pivot point for two-digit years".

The ColdFusion section of the Macromedia website contains the most current compatibility information. For more information, go to http://www.macromedia.com/coldfusion.

Migrating ColdFusion 5 Applications
Migrating ColdFusion 5 Applications

CFML functions and variables

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