Array parameter, empty by default

Question

I want to pass an optional array parameter to a function. If the parameter is not specified, the array must be empty. I tried the following:

<cfargument name="time_blocks" type="array" required="false" default="[]"> 

But I get the following error:

 invalid call of the function CreateRateBlock 14th Argument (time_blocks) is of invalid type, can't cast String [] to a value of type [array] 

I also tried this:

 <cfargument name="time_blocks" type="array" required="false" default=""> 

In this case, the error is almost the same:

 invalid call of the function CreateRateBlock 14th Argument (time_blocks) is of invalid type, can't cast String [] to a value of type [array] 

I also tried removing the default attribute, but in this case the time_blocks value is null. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

[] does not work because it is just a 2-character string "[]" .

#[]# technically should work, but the older CF is not smart enough. Therefore use:

 <cfargument name="time_blocks" type="array" required="false" default="#arrayNew(1)#"> 

Answer 2

Change [] to #[]# . You are currently trying to give it the literal meaning "[]" .