I could be wrong, but I don't think fileExists() works with mappings. It'll work with relative paths, or with paths stored in variables, but not mappings. AFAIK, use of mappings is limited to object creation methods (new, createObject, cfinvoke, etc.).
I really wonder if you wouldn't be better off leveraging an existing framework (like FW/1) for much of what you have been working on lately. For example, I know FW/1 has support for environment control (https://github.com/framework-one/fw1/wiki/Developing-Applications-Manu al#wiki-environment-control) right out of the box. This is the direction I will be moving toward in the next iteration of my applications.
-Carl V.
