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How to setup the CFEclipse Scribble Pad

ColdFusion

I have been under the impression that everyone using CFEclipse was fully aware of the Scribble Pad, but after discussions with a few people this past week, I found that a number of people had no idea it existed.  

In case you have no idea what I am talking about, the Scribble Pad is a very cool little tool built into CFEclipse that allows you to test code without it being part of any other project or without having to create some 'test.cfm' file anytime you want to test a piece of code independently. 

The way I like to set up the Scribble Pad is to give it its own project space, but in it does allow you to point it to any project.  Here are the steps I take to set it up:

First, create a new CFML Project named Scribble. It should be noted that you can actually make your scribble pad point to any project, but I like to keep it separate and in its own space.

Now create a file in that project named Scribble.cfm.  As with the project, the name can be anything you like but it makes good sense to make it easy recognizable.

Now we have to tell CFEclipse to use that project/file for the Scribble Pad. Click on Window --> Preferences on the menu bar.  Then under the CFEclipse submenu, click on Scribble pad.

In the "File name to use as scribble pad." box, enter Scribble.cfm.

In the "Project to use for scribble pad." box, enter Scribble.

In the "URL to scribble file." box, enter the full "http://...." path to that template.

Click OK and you are ready to use it.  Now when you are in the CFEclipse perspective you can click on the Scribble Pad icon below:


When the Scribble Pad launches you can enter any CFML code and run it in the browser below the editor.

Now, go delete all those 'test.cfm' templates!
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ColdFusion
Scott Stroz said:
 
tahnx! Great info. I wondered what it was for but never asked anyone who might know.
 
posted 662 days ago
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doug sims said:
 
I don't see that nifty icon toolbar w my cfeclipse setup. Does anyone know where the option may be found? I am on Eclipse 3.1 w Bleeding Edge CFELCIPSE, But I never remember seeing the icon toolbar. I even "reset my perspective"

Thanks for blogging this though,
Doug
 
posted 662 days ago
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Doug, even if you are in the CFEclipse perspective you have to be actively editing a CFM file to see it. Otherwise that menu bar is grayed out. Is that possibly what you are seeing?

FWIW, this is not a terribly new feature. It was certainly around before the current release of CFEclipse, so the version is likely not an issue.
 
posted 662 days ago
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doug sims said:
 
Thanks Dave, That was sort of the problem, except that another editor (aptana js editor) had stolen the file association and even in CFEclipse perspective, it was opeining in aptana.
Now I see all the juicy buttons.
 
posted 662 days ago
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Man, I bet that affected more than just your buttons. Good deal!
 
posted 662 days ago
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fro said:
 
Awesome post Dave! I had no idea that the Scribble Pad existed. My test.cfm files are gone.
 
posted 662 days ago
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Dan said:
 
If you do not see the toolbar button or you are like me there is always the shortcut, by default it is F8. Nice Article Dave!
 
posted 431 days ago
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WinBiLL said:
 
It’s very good article. Great site with very good look and perfect information. I like it too.
 
posted 305 days ago
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