Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET [Paperback]

Fritz Onion (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201760398 | ISBN-13: 978-0201760392 | Publication Date: February 21, 2003 | Edition: 1

This book will provide the definitive resource for ASP.NET developers working in Visual Basic .NET, not just to the features of ASP.NET but also how to use them best. Fritz Onion looks at working examples of how Web applications are built today, and then looks at what ASP.NET offers to simplify constructing Web applications of this type. In addition to explaining how to use ASP.NET and examining why it is built the way it is, Onion also explores implementation tools not covered in any other books. He helps the reader acquire a broader understanding of the technology and how it fits in with other tools. From his experience teaching ASP.NET to working developers, Onion knows what information they need, what questions they have, and how to organize and present the material in the best way possible. As Justin Burtch, a Software Engineer at Integrated Data Systems expressed it, "This book does not try to be everything to everyone. As a result, it is able to provide both breadth and depth on the subject. Essential ASP.NET is positioned to become the seminal book on the most important advancement to web development in years."

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I am the author of DevelopMentor's Essential ASP.net course, which was first taught 2 years ago this month (Febrary 2003). This book is the culmination of refining 'the story' of ASP.net through teaching it in many classrooms over the last 2 years. I have also had the opportunity to speak at several conferences and author a number of articles on ASP.net, all of which fed into the book writing process.

My goal in writing this book was to provide a clear, concise reference to ASP.net for developers that are already comfortable with concepts in .net. I strive to explain not just how to use the various pieces of ASP.net, but also how and why they are built the way they are. In my experience, the most effective developers are the ones that truly understand the implications of the tools they use. I hope this book provides you with knowledge to become a better ASP.net developer.

From the Back Cover

"This well-conceived and well-written book has extensive knowledge and priceless experience overflowing from its pages. It captures the true essence of ASP.NET and walks the reader to a high level of technical and architectural skill."
--J. Fred Maples, Director of Software Engineering, NASDAQ.com

Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET is the Visual Basic programmer's definitive reference for ASP.NET through version 1.1. It provides experienced programmers with the information needed to fully understand the technology, and is a clear guide to using ASP.NET to build robust and well-architected Web applications.

This book begins with a discussion of the rationale behind the design of ASP.NET and an introduction to how it builds on top of the .NET framework. Subsequent chapters explore the host of new features in ASP.NET, including the server-side compilation model, code-behind classes, server-side controls, form validation, the data binding model, and custom control development. Throughout the book, working examples illustrate best practices for building Web-based applications in VB.NET.

Among the topics explored in depth are:

ASP.NET architecture

Web forms

Configuration

HTTP pipeline

Diagnostics and error handling

Validation

Data binding

Custom controls

Caching

State management

Security

Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET provides readers with the know-how needed to build more powerful, better architected Web applications with ASP.NET.

0201760398B12042002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (February 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201760398
• ISBN-13: 978-0201760392
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,850,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential ASP.NET is an EXCELLENT BOOK!!, September 5, 2003

By 

Christopher Taylor "aspmatrix" (Gilbert, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET (Paperback)

There are so many books out about ASP.NET it can be a very difficult task to choose one. To me there seems to be two types of books. One is the example intensive (at times over laden) book. The other is the "how it works" type of book. The market seems to be flooded with example intensive books, but appears light in the "how it works" type. This book is a fantastic "how it works" book. It has good examples but is not drowning in them. The book's strength is its explanations of ASP.NET core topics, and the little tips and tricks that readers will pick up along the way.

This book is well written and flows nicely. Without a doubt it is an excellent book for beginners and intermediate levels, but I would bet that even advanced users would pick up tips and tricks from the book.

Summary

Chapter 1: Architecture
This chapter explains the basic new architecture behind ASP.NET.
Compilation vs. Interpretation, Code-behind, new Page architecture, Shadow Copying, Directives, and new Intrinsic Objects (HttpRequest, HttpResponse, etc) are a few of the topics covered.

Chapter 2: Web Forms
This chapter is all about Web Forms. ViewState, HtmlControls,
WebControls, and Events are some of the items discussed. One section I liked the best was the "Day in the life of a page". It explained the step by step events that occur during a page's lifetime in a very clear and concise manner.

Chapter 3: Configuration
This is an excellent chapter that discusses the new XML based
configuration in ASP.NET. Web.Config, Machine.Config, and
configuration hierarchy are examined. processModel and other elements are also discussed.

Chapter 4: HTTP Pipeline
This chapter goes over the HTTP Pipeline, and all the actions that take place each time a requests comes in. It goes into great coverage of how that request is routed through the architecture. It also goes over Context, Applications, Custom Handlers, and a few other related topics. This is a great chapter.

Chapter 5: Diagnostics and Error Handling
This chapter shows us how to get out of the classic response.write method of debugging ASP apps by examining the new diagnostic and error handling capabilities of ASP.NET. Page Tracing, Application-level Tracing, Error Handling, and Unhandled Exceptions are all discussed.

Chapter 6: Validation
This is a chapter that explains form validation (client and server-side), validation control architecture, and the validation controls.

Chapter 7: Data Binding
This chapter starts by explaining the fundamentals of binding data to controls, and then goes into IDataReader Binding, DataSet Binding, and picking when to use a DataSet vs DataReader. The chapter ends by discussing templated controls (DataGrid, Repeater, and DataList).

Chapter 8: Custom Controls
This is the largest chapter of the book (69 pages). This chapter
covers custom control fundamentals, state management consideration when designing custom controls, composite controls, and user controls. Designer integration with VS.Net as well as validation and data binding within custom controls is also covered. This is an excellent chapter.

Chapter 9: Caching
This chapter discusses the new caching opportunities that exist in ASP.NET. Output caching and how it works is discussed. The
VaryByParam attribute is also examined, as well as page fragment
caching. The chapter also covers data caching, and consideration and guidelines for using it.

Chapter 10: State Management
Application state, session state, cookie state, and view state are all covered in this chapter. I think this is a great chapter because it discusses the pros and cons of each type of state, which will help developers be able to determine which type of state management would be best for their specific situation. Good discussion, with great insights.

Chapter 11: Security
A short chapter on security ends the book. Server and client

authentication start the chapter out, and then we go into ASP.NET security. The authentication and authentication elements in the web.config file are both discussed, as is role-based authentication. System identity is the last topic discussed.

I give this book a 9 out of 10. It would be a great addition to any developer's library. There is also another version of the book with examples in C# for you semicolon worshipers. Well done!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for VB.NET programmers, April 13, 2003

By 

William Addington "William Addington" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET (Paperback)

I have over 35 books on ASP.NET. If there is ONE BOOK you should get, it is this one. The approach is both unique and authoritative. Although the code examples are in VB.NET, I write only in C# and did not find this to be a handicap. It covers topics not covered in any other ASP.NET books, walking you through both ASP.NET architecture and application implementation details. The architecture discussion is important as it gives you insight into the RIGHT way to accomplish something in ASP.NET.

For example, I had a requirement that in classic ASP would have required "including" some code on every page and a reference to that code or (more dangerous) writing a C++ ISAPI filter. The architecture discussion wasn't a step by step "you have this specific problem, here is how to solve it", even better it gave me the information to solve it myself by creating a request filter in global.aspx.cs (in about 5 minutes!!).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Precise and Informative, September 9, 2003

By 

Mallik Govula "geek to the core" (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential ASP.NET with Examples in Visual Basic .NET (Paperback)

I have about 5 books (mostly ebook format) on ASP.Net from the step by step to advanced and Fritz's book is an eye opener. Most of the ASP.NET books fail to mention why some quirks/details with ASP.Net the way they are. EAN is like a pointer and half way through the book, I had so many 'aha' moments that I was left wondering WHO IS THIS guy? Don't expect explanations about variables and such (go refer ASP.Net Web Developers Gude pub. by Syngress) and thankfully so. You will have a better understanding of ASP.Net by the end of the book than syntax which you would be thankful for when you start writing ASP.Net applications in real world. I have yet to finish the book but I couldn't wait to put in my 2 cents about this book. A definite must on your bookshelf (www.safaribooksonline.com)!!!