CFFILE ACTION = "READBINARY"  
Description

Reads a binary file (such as an executable or image file) on the server, into a binary object parameter that you can use in the page. To send it through a web protocol (such as HTTP or SMTP) or store it in a database, first convert it to Base64 using the ToBase64 function.

Note: This action reads the file into a variable in the local Variables scope. It is not intended for use with large files, such as logs, because they can bring down the server.
 
Syntax
<cffile 
   action = "readBinary" 
   file = "full_path_name"
   variable = "var_name">
 
See also

cfdirectory

 
Usage

You convert the binary file to Base64 to transfer it to another site.

 
Example

The following example reads the binary file somewhere.jpg, writes it to a different folder as somewhereB.jpg, and then displays the new file: 

<cffile action = "readBinary" file = 
"C:\inetpub\wwwroot\cfdocs\getting_started\photos\somewhere.jpg" variable = 
"aBinaryObj">
<!--- Output binary object to JPEG format for viewing. --->
<cffile action="write" file = "c:\files\updates\somewhereB.jpg" output = 
"#toBinary(aBinaryObj)#">
<!--- HTML to view image. --->
<img src="C:\files\updates\somewhereB.jpg">
ACTION  
  Required
 

Type of file manipulation that the tag performs.
FILE  
  Required
 

Pathname of a binary fine to read.

If not an absolute path (starting a with a drive letter and a colon, or a forward or backward slash), it is relative to the ColdFusion temporary directory, which is returned by the GetTempDirectory function.
VARIABLE  
  Required
 

Name of variable to contain contents of binary file.