The previous example spawns a thread that could continue processing long after the parent page terminates. If you needed to wait for a thread to complete, you could use the following code:

<cfthread action="join" name="threadFile">

JOIN is used to wait for one or more threads to complete, and multiple thread names may be specified (as may a timeout value).

Once defined, the thread name can be accessed as a structure that exposes the following members:

• ELPASEDTIME is the amount of time since the thread was spawned.
• ERROR contains any error messages generated by the code in the spawned thread.
• NAME is the thread name.
• OUTPUT contains any generated output. This output will not be sent to the client, but parent page code can access the output that can then be used as needed.
• PRIORITY is the thread priority level (HIGH, LOW, NORMAL).
• STARTIME is the time the thread started.
• STATUS is the thread status (NOT_STARTED, RUNNING, TERMINATED, COMPLETED, WAITING).

To check that threads executed properly without errors, you could JOIN the threads, and then check STATUS to see if they completed. A status of TERMINATED means an error occurred (or that threads were explicitly terminated), in which case ERROR would provide details as to what happened.

ZIP and JAR File Access in ColdFusion 8
During the usergroup presentation at the Mid-Michigan CFUG in East Lansing, I mentioned another new ColdFusion 8 tag, one we haven't yet discussed publicly; this tag will now appear last in alphabetical CFML tag listings. <CFZIP> provides access to ZIP and JAR files, supporting the following actions:

• DELETE deletes one or more files from an archive file.
• LIST lists the contents of an archive file.
• READ reads the contents of an archived file into a variable.
• READBINARY reads the contents of a binary archived file into a variable.
• UNZIP extracts files from an archive file.
• ZIP compressed files into an archive file.

A child <CFZIPPARAM> tag is also supported as an optional way to provide file names and other attributes.

Roundup
Everyone is excited about ColdFusion 8; the blogs have been buzzing, feedback has been superb, lots of attendees expressed relief and gratitude at seeing such a compelling ColdFusion built in this new Adobe era - no complaints, no negative feedback, just real enthusiasm and excitement. The only frequently heard complaint was from users who want it now!