Active Server Pages for Dummies [Paperback]

Bill Hatfield (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies | Publication Date: February 1998

Active Server Pages (ASP) technology is now of importance to Web masters, IT professionals and programmers who are familiar with HTML and languages such as Visual Basic, JavaScript, Perl and C++. The open development environment provided by Active Server Pages gives developers the flexibility to combine HTML, scripts and ActiveX server components to create Web-based applications. With ASP, developers can create Web pages that allow site visitors to view personalized and regularly updated informtion. In this guide, readers will find complete information on using ASP's open application environment - incorporating scripting languages and using ActiveX server components that can be written in anything from COBOL to Visual Basic to Java. The book includes information on how to incorporate database files into an ASP application. Readers will find out how to use ASP for business solutions, such as extending sales and customer service to the Web and providing access to corporate databases to any browser on an intranet. There is also a section on how to use Web tools in conjunction with ASP. The enclosed CD includes sample scripts, ActiveX server components and sample Active Server Pages. Databases, images and other files that can be tied together with ASP technology are also included.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Active Server Pages (ASP) is the best way to create dynamic Web sites--that is, Web sites based on the contents of a database--under Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and other Microsoft Web platforms. Active Server Pages for Dummies proves that despite the initially intimidating appearance of some ASP code, the system isn't hard to learn and can be a lot of fun.

The book delivers a carefully structured introduction to ASP technology. The examples aren't all academic either--you'll find code (printed and on the companion CD-ROM) for a date-stamper, a banner-ad rotator, a guestbook, and even a near-real-time chat room and a system for managing classified ads.

Though this book includes sections on VBScript and JScript, you'll probably want to combine it with a language text if you lack familiarity with at least one of those languages. Still, the language material that's here serves as a good introduction to the basics and enables you to make sense of the scriptable ASP objects that make the technology so powerful.

Though this isn't an object reference, the author explains the capabilities of each major server component and provides example code that uses many of them. That's the strongest aspect of this book, in fact--the excellent example code you can learn from and adapt to your purposes. --David Wall

Topics covered: Basics of ASP, VBScript, JScript, the ASP object model, server components, database connectivity, Visual InterDev, and popular ASP applications. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

Read the entire review of this book.

The first few chapters of Active Server Pages for Dummies are a fairly generic introduction to VBScript for non-programmers, with a dash of Javascript thrown in for variety. The middle portion of the book introduces the reader to components, objects, the structure of an Active Server Page (ASP) application, and database access. The useful tips scattered through the book are convincing evidence that the author actually has some practical experience with ASP in a non-toy environment. The last section of the book and the CD-ROM contain the source code for two example ASP applications: a chat room and a classified ads server.

Aside from the obnoxious and sophomoric attempts at humor, this book is basically sound and delivers the most value among the entry-level books on ASP that I have encountered thus far. Programmers should bypass this book and go directly to Wrox Press's Professional Active Server Pages 2.0. -- Ray Duncan, Dr. Dobb's Journal -- Dr. Dobb's Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc; Bk&CD-Rom edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764501909
• ISBN-13: 978-0764501906
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,570,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book, even for professional dummies, March 26, 2000

By 

Dr. Robert C.A. Goff, MCSD, MCSE, MCDBA "Coun... (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Active Server Pages for Dummies (Paperback)

As a professional VB developer, I needed to learn the basics of ASP--the built in objects and the syntax of VBScript. Hatfield provides the coverage. Even though I need a more comprehensive VBScript reference at hand while I'm programming, it is the foundation acquired from the Dummies book that allows me to find what I need. The text is readable and well focused.

Weaknesses: Although there are some examples in JavaScript, the preponderance of the code is in VBScript. Another shortcoming is the use of clever chapter titles, rather than descriptive titles. If you're reading from cover to cover--easy to do with Hatfield--then the titles don't really matter.

Honestly, my major problem with the book is being seen with it. But then, how much of a dummy can you be if you're learning ASP.

Conclusion: An excellent choice for your first book on ASP, even for stuffy "professionals."

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To VB or Not To VB... That is the question?, December 23, 1999

By 

J. Esteban (Lakewood, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Active Server Pages for Dummies (Paperback)

If you want to learn server side scripting in VBScript you can go pretty much anywhere. If you want to learn server side scripting in JScript then this one of the few places to go. The JScript examples aren't much but they're better than nothing and the examples all work. I knew C/C++, SQL and some client side Javascript so it seemed like a natural way to go but there is simply not much written about server side scripting in JScript.

Even though most of the examples are written in VBScript, they are clear and challenging enough to get you going. One the hardest hurdles is loading the Personal Web Server. If you don't already have a favorite HTML or ASP editor try UltraEdit32 and do yourself a favor from the beginning download the Script Debugger if your using Internet Explorer. It's free and like so many other things that go into learning Active Server Pages "it's better than nothing".

Overall I like the book and the humor is tolerable. If he ever wants to write another I'd be happy to provide some additional JScript examples. I know enough to get buy for now and in the end that's what I wanted. I had a project that needed to get done by the end of the year and it looks like I'll make it.

Thanks to all of you who have written these reviews in the past. For the most part they have faithfully guided me to the most useful and most useable sources of information available.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for Beginners, February 1, 2000

By 

kerim ozbakirci - See all my reviews

This review is from: Active Server Pages for Dummies (Paperback)

I was wondering when will an author come out and write an ASP book that everyone can easily understand. Fortunately Dummy Series came out with this nice book. This book is a really good resource for a starter ASP programmers. The layout will prevent you to get bored of the book. The real world examples will keep your head in the book and you will enjoy while you are learning. The book covers more VbScript examples rather than JScript.The only disadvantage is, it doesnt cover very advanced subjects; but since its a dummy book it hit the target. I would get this book if I would be someone that is thinking to start ASP...