Cfdocument family of tags

dev
1

First, some details on my setup:
Virtual server with Windows Server 2016
Lucee 6.0.2.8-SNAPSHOT
Apache Tomcat 9.0.89
Java 11.0.22 (Eclipse Adoptium) 64bit

I am working with the <cfdocument> family of tags. I have found myself copying and pasting example code from others and having the code work. Meanwhile, I try to write what is seemingly the same code structure, and nothing is displayed - just a blank, full-page PDF. Specifically, I am having what seems like the most problem with the <cfdocumentitem> tags for the headers and footers.

Example of working code I found online:

<cfdocument format="PDF">
    <cfoutput>
        <!--- Section 1 --->
        <cfdocumentsection name="bookmark1">
            <cfdocumentitem type="header">
            <h1 style="text-align:center;">BIG FANCY HEADER</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
            Bacon ipsum dolor sit amet sirloin fatback #dateformat(now(), "short")#
            <cfdocumentitem type="footer">
            <h1 style="text-align:center;">Page #cfdocument.currentPageNumber# of #cfdocument.totalPageCount#</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
        </cfdocumentsection>
        
        <!--- Section 2 --->
        <cfdocumentsection name="bookmark2">
            <cfdocumentitem type="header">
            <h1 style="text-align:center;">2nd page header</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
            Bacon ipsum dolor sit amet sirloin fatback #dateformat(now(), "short")#
            <cfdocumentitem type="footer">
            <h1 style="text-align:center;">Page #cfdocument.currentPageNumber# of #cfdocument.totalPageCount#</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
        </cfdocumentsection>
    </cfoutput>
</cfdocument>

Example of my own code that generates a blank page:

<cfdocument format="pdf">
    <cfoutput>
        <cfdocumentsection name="test">
            <cfdocumentitem  type="header">
                <h1>Hello</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
             <cfdocumentitem  type="footer">
                <h1>Goodbye</h1>
            </cfdocumentitem>
        </cfdocumentsection>
    </cfoutput>
</cfdocument>

Asside from my example only having one , I cannot seem to find what the difference is between the two code blocks or why one displays output and the other does not. Can anyone spot what’s going on here?

2

Mike, it’s that the second example simply has no content BETWEEN the header and footer. Even CF returns essentially an empty page for this code.

Perhaps you expected it to offer a blank page–with the headers and footers filled in, at least. Neither engine does that, for whatever reason. If it’s intentional for you, do file a bug report or enhancement request.

Or let us know if it’s a surprise for you, to realize now you had no content between the cfdocumentitem tags. And if you meant to offer a different example, feel free.

3

Thanks, Charlie. I in fact did expect to see a header and a footer on an otherwise empty page. Where did you learn of this limitation? Is it documented somewhere, or have you come to it by experience?

It does make sense to a point, but I would have expected that at least on the first page it would be shown, even if there was no content.

Appreciate your insight.

4

Sorry: it’s that I simply tested it. :slight_smile: I see now that I forgot to mention that.

When I first just observed that difference, I then tested calling your code (on my own machine, using both engines). I ran it first as you had it, then I added a simple single line of text between the cfdocumentitem’s–and that’s when all the content showed up (body and headers).

Again, I agree that logically it would seem it should show the headers/footers regardless. But I have no dog in the fight, so again if you feel it SHOULD work then do file an enhancement request for Lucee and/or CF. :slight_smile:

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