If you are using centralized queries (CFCs or a 'framework' type system), you can utilize the 'as' operator in SQL on your selects. This would help with future programmers coming in and not getting confused.
Eg. Select givenname as first_name, sn as last_name Where .... Just a thought. William -- William E. Seiter Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Go to: www.winninginthemargins.com Enter passkey: goldengrove Web Developer / ColdFusion Programmer http://William.Seiter.com -----Original Message----- From: Dawson, Michael [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 6:37 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Inconsistent Variable Names Across Data Sources No one has any comments? -----Original Message----- From: Dawson, Michael [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 6:19 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Inconsistent Variable Names Across Data Sources We have several data sources such as Active Directory, home-built databases and purchased databases. Each of these data sources may have different conventions for similar data elements. For example, Active Directory uses "givenName" and "sn". Our main business system uses "FIRST_NAME" and "LAST_NAME". While another database may use "FirstName" and "LastName" or "firstName" and "lastName". Knowing that you can't change the schemas for many common data sources, do you make any attempt to use consistent variable names in your CFM pages? In other words, do you alias all of your data elements so that your CF code only uses one naming convention? m!ke. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;160198600;22374440;w Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/message.cfm/messageid:299340 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4