Web Applications with Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 MCSD Training Kit (Dv-Dlt Fundamentals) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Microsoft Corporation (Author) "This chapter will discuss Web solution design principles, architectural concepts, various development models and resources, and available development technologies..." (more)
Key Phrases: data command object, server scriptlets, following example code shows, Visual Basic, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Visual (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Aimed at Microsoft Certified Software Developer (MCSD) students, Web Applications with Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 MCSD Training Kit offers preparation for the 70-152 examination. Since it concisely encapsulates the technologies related to Visual InterDev development, it also serves as a crash course for seasoned developers interested in moving to the Microsoft development platform.

The book is structured as a self-paced course that uses formal lessons and exercises to illustrate all concepts. A companion CD-ROM includes all of the media and pages you'll need to build the core sample application--the Chateau St. Mark Hotel site. Brief videos give the reader quick overviews of exercises before they dive in, and separate Solution and Partial folders contain complete and "in progress" file sets, respectively.

This is a fast-paced book with brief overviews of each new feature and minimal line-by-line explanation during the exercises. The numbered exercise instructions precisely guide the reader through the construction of new pages and scripts, but it's really up to the student to dive into the code and become intimately familiar. One nice convention of this Microsoft Press series is a table in the front that lists the various skills necessary for completing the targeted exam and pointers to related exercises in the book. If the MCSD applicant draws a blank on RDS right before the examination, for example, this table will point him or her to the right section for cramming.

While this book sports the look and feel of a textbook, a reader who diligently follows the lessons will finish the guide with a solid understanding of Web development the Microsoft way. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: Web development process, Dynamic HTML, Document Object Model (DOM), Active Server Pages, COM components, ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), Remote Data Service (RDS), Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), Security issues, mail service integration, FrontPage Search Bot and Index Server, and multimedia integration.

Product Description
This official Microsoft training kit delivers comprehensive preparation for MCP Exam 70-152-an elective exam on the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) track. Through a self-paced system of lessons and hands-on labs, students learn how to analyze, design, build, and implement Web-based solutions using Microsoft Visual InterDev version 6.0. The training helps build competency in critical skill areas defined by the MCSD program: analyzing business requirements, defining technical architecture, developing the conceptual and logical design, designing a user interface and user services, deriving the physical design, establishing the development environment, creating user services, creating data services, testing, deployment, and Web site management. Self-assessment questions and complete model application on CD-ROM supplement and extend the learning experience. By the end of the course, students have applied real-world development skills to the creation of a full-featured data-driven Web application-and they're ready for the MCP exam.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 550 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (February 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735609675
• ISBN-13: 978-0735609679
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #484,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good training resource for the test, April 24, 2000

By	Karthik Ravindran "karthik_ravindran" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

70-152 is a test that at a high level comprises of 2 main categories of questions. These are the development & implementation oriented [ ASP, ADO, MTS, HTML, DHTML, FP Server extensions, Web Security etc.. ] questions, and the web application/project analysis and design oriented questions. The splitup of questions [ based on the test that I took ] is roughly around 70%-30%, 70 being the programming/development questions. This book does a damn good job in covering this portion of the test and gives a reaonable high level overview of the stuff that you need to know to address the analysis and design oriented questions. There is no book [ and no amount of text book reading ] that can teach you how to answer the questions in the latter section. The ability to get the A&D questions right totally depends on the extent to which one has understood and applied the MSF model in a real time project. One needs to agree with and think using the Microsoft mindset to get them right.

The book was almost right on target in dealing with the programming/implementation aspects [ FP Server extensions though has not been dealt with the required depth .. ] addressed by the exam. If you are a web developer who has real world experience using the Microsoft web and component technologies then this book is all you need to get you through the test.

The exam covers a wide range of technologies and the VI specific questions [ stuff about the IDE and menu commands ] constitute a small fraction. Focus on MTS, ASP, HTML, and ADO to tackle the Programming questions. Get a feel for the VI IDE and make sure that you get some hands on with using the tool to create and manage local/master mode web projects, and ASP/HTML pages. You will need to do some additional reading on the FP Server extensions as it appears on quite a number of the questions.

Use the book as a study tool and your hands on real word experience with Microsoft Technologies as your main strength to take and pass this exam.

Microsoft certification exams do not focus on the ability of a candidate to recollect text book information. They are more focussed towards real world application of the MS tools and technologies in accordance with the Microsoft mindset.

I am giving this book 4 stars [ and not 5 ] mainly because the accompanying CD ROM does not contain a single Demo/Practise test and there are no chapter end exam like questions either. This is a major draw back in the book... but not so much a factor [ especially for a candidate experienced with MS web and component technologies ] so as to overshadow its strengths.

One final point...If you do not have any hands on real world experience with the Microsoft Web/component technologies and Visual Interdev then DO NOT TAKE THIS TEST. Unlike some other tests like 'Networking Essentials' there is no way by which one can get a paper certification by taking this test. The New Track MCSD exams are challenging and definitely do test a candidate's overall technology knowledge in addition to mere product proficiency.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Expected Delivery, February 4, 2000

By	"stpaulsapprentice" (Ada, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This book will do the trick for a good overview of Interdev and distributed applications. It touches on MTS, SQL, DHTML, and ASP. However, as with all the other MOC Training Kits, don't rely on this book to give you exam success. For a more thorough look at VID, check out the Microsoft "Mastering..." series. If you're expecting to pass the exam with this book, then I give it two stars. If you're just looking for an overview of distributed programming/Internet applications, I give it three stars.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good job orienting, will need to supplement, September 13, 2000

By	Liesl Santkuyl (Tacoma, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a hard book to be happy about. On one hand, this is probably the best (possibly the only decent) book available to help with 70-152. On the other hand, coverage of test topics is crippling weak in level of detail. The best to be said about this book is that it does introduce you to most of the test topics, so at least you have of some idea of what topics will be tested.

Since detail is weak, you will need to supplement study. Besides this book, I bought the Transcender practice test. Here is what worked for me: First, I read the entire book (skimming areas I felt particularly confident in already). Then I repeated three times (for each of the Transcender simulations): take simulation test, re-read book section for those I got wrong, and, if still unsure, follow Transcender's recommended reading. Transcender does a good job of explaining answers and recommending reading, often from MSDN. Incidentally, I failed all three Transcender simulations by 200 to 100 points, but passed the real exam on the first attempt by 140 points.

I should add that I have been doing software development for eleven years and web development for nine months. I spent at least a month preparing for this exam. I found it to be a hard exam because it covers so many topics.

So, although I do not think this is a great book, I still recommend it. It will do a good job of orienting you to test materials. In all fairness, many of the topics are complete books onto themselves. So I guess limited detail is to be expected. Unless you are already well versed in Microsoft web development, I do not expect this book alone will make the grade. However, I found this book to be a good resource when used in cooperation with the Transcender simulations.