# CFASSOCIATE

The CFASSOCIATE tag allows sub-tag data to be saved with the base tag. This applies to custom tags only.

### Syntax

    <CFASSOCIATE BASETAG="tagname"
        DATACOLLECTION="collectionname">

#### BASETAG

Specifies the name of the base tag.

#### DATACOLLECTION

Optional. Specifies the name of the structure in which the base tag stores sub-tag data. The default is AssocAttribs.

### Usage

Call this tag within a sub-tag to save sub-tag data in the base tag.

ColdFusion saves sub-tag attributes in a structure whose default name is AssocAttribs. Use the DataCollection attribute to specify a non-default structure name. Specify a non-default structure name when the base tag can have multiple sub tags and you want to segregate sub-tag attributes.

If the custom tag uses an attribute collection, the attributes passed in the attribute collection are saved as independent attribute values, with no indication that they were grouped together in a structure within the custom tag.

### Example

    <!--- Find the context --->
    <CFIF thisTag.executionMode is "start">
      <!--- Associate attributes
          This code occurs in a custom tag's
          sub tag. --->
      <CFASSOCIATE BASETAG="CF_TAGBASE">

      <!--- Define defaults for attributes --->
      <CFPARAM NAME="attributes.happy" DEFAULT="Yes">
      <CFPARAM NAME="attributes.sad" DEFAULT="No">
    ...