Binary data (also referred to as a binary object) is raw data, such as the contents of a GIF file or an executable program file. You do not normally use binary data directly, but you can use the cffile tag to read a binary file into a variable, typically for conversion to a string binary encoding before transmitting the file using e-mail.
A string binary encoding represents a binary value in a string format that can be transmitted over the web. ColdFusion MX supports three binary encoding formats:
| Encoding | Format |
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Base64 |
Encodes the binary data in the lowest six bits of each byte. It ensures that binary data and non-ANSI character data can be transmitted using e-mail without corruption. The Base64 algorithm is specified by IETF RFC 2045, at www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2045.txt. |
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Hex |
Uses two characters in the range 0-9 and A-F represent the hexadecimal value of each byte; for example, 3A. |
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UU |
Uses the UNIX UUencode algorithm to convert the data. |
ColdFusion provides the following functions that convert among string data, binary data, and string encoded binary data:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
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Converts a string that contains encoded binary data to a binary object. |
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Converts binary data to an encoded string. |
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Converts a string to binary data in a specified character encoding. |
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Converts a binary object to a string in a specified character encoding. |
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Converts string and binary data to Base64 encoded data Macromedia recommends using the |
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Converts Base64 encoded data to binary data. Macromedia recommends using the |
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Converts most simple data types to string data. It can convert numbers, date-time objects, and boolean values. (It converts date-time objects to ODBC timestamp strings.) Macromedia recommends that you use the |