Does ColdFusion have a short syntax for creating a struct?

Question

Is there any "short" syntax for creating a struct in ColdFusion? I'd like to replace this verbose code:

<cfscript>
  ref = StructNew();
  ref.Template = "Label";
  ref.Language = "en";
  stcML = GetPrompts(ref);
</cfscript>

with something more like a JavaScript object:

<cfscript>
  stcML = GetPrompts({ Template: "Label", Language: "en" });
</cfscript>

Is there anything like this?

Answer 1

In ColdFusion 8 and above you can create a structure like this:

ref={template="label", language="en"}

Answer 2

Coldfusion 8 has a struct literal notation:

<cfset objData = {
  Key1 = "Value1",
  Key2 = "Value2"
} />

However, there are a few strings attached:

• bennadel.com: "Learning ColdFusion 8: Implicit Struct And Array Creation"
• barneyb.com: "ColdFusion Struct Literals Fail Again"
• barneyb.com: "CF8 Structure Literal Gotcha"

Answer 3

In Railo 3 and above you create like this:

• Struct: struct(a:1,b:2,c:3,d:"aaa")
• Array: array(1,2,3,"aaa")
• Query: query(col1:array(1.1,1.2,1,3),col2:array(2.1,2.2,2,3))

Answer 4

You could use cfjson. Add the component to a scope you're using (e.g. the request scope):

<cfobject name="request.json" component="cfc.json">

and call it like:

<cfset aStructure = request.json.decode('{ Template: "Label", Language: "en" }')>

Answer 5

If your attempts to simplify struct syntax in CF8 run into nesting and/or inline deficiencies you can use this deceptively simple function:

<cfscript>
    function nStruct(){
     return arguments;
    }
</cfscript>

You can then use this syntax:

<cfdump var="#nStruct(
    a=1,
    b=nStruct(
     c=2,d=3
    )
)#" />