Customer Reviews

Microsoft® Visual Web Developer(TM) 2008 Express Edition Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft))

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you're new to Visual Web Developer, you probably really need a book like this. It's a shame that this book is so terribly edited, because it could have been a great introduction to the software.

I have a programming background and am familiar with many current web technologies but my usual development platform is coldfusion. We are transitioning to .net so I bought this book to help make the jump from Dreamweaver to Visual Web Developer.

The errors in this book just defy belief. Many of the instructions in the follow along projects simply do not work as written and when you compare the code in the book to the sample files on the CD you will see that often they are very different.

These errors range from simple to more complex and appear throughout the book. Here are just two examples from Chapter 9. (And both from the same stage of the project.)

(In Chapter 9, Page 182)
From step #3 - "Drag the DataView control from the Toolbox.." only there is no 'DataView' control it is actually 'DetailsView' that you need to drag and drop.

(In Chapter 9, Page 183)
From step #6 - After having you change a single Behavior property it tells you... "That's all there is to configure. Click Run." Except there's actually three more properties that are not in an obvious place which need to be changed in order for the application to function as it's described and shown in the diagrams.

I think if this book gets an updated second edition, it could be good. As it currently exists, it's use-able, but only if you have a good head for solving problems and come from a programming background. The true novice is likely to get frustrated very quickly.

It's been years since I worked on Web Pages, so I figured this book would be a good reentry point for someone at the beginning level. While I agree that this book is defintely geared more towards the novice, I don't think it's a good entry point for someone who has never worked with websites before. I found that the author makes a lot of assumptions of knowledge as he went along.

For example, the "who this book is for" blurb says it's for beginning web programmers, but then the author proceeds to use objects like tables and with minimal to no discussion on how the HTML for a table is laid out, how the row & column tags are nested in the HTML code, etc.

As I mentioned, I have worked with HTML in the past, so the first 4 chapters went smoothly, but after that there are way too many errors and omissions in the text and code examples. Even the samples provided on the accompanying CD vary (sometimes wildly) from the code listings and screenshots in the book. In a few places the author assumes you should instictively know what he is trying to get you to do, but for a new person that would not be true.

I ultimately managed to get the examples and exercises to work, but not without a lot of hair-pulling and banging my forehead on the keyboard.

If you're truly new to coding web pages/sites, this book is useable, but not by itself - you'll need some kind of HTML primer to go with it or you'll be lost very quickly.

Hopefully a second edition will be far more robust. I could see this book being a turn-off to an aspiring web developer.

This book is poorly written and near impossible to follow. I'm sorry I bought this book.

This is the most frustrating beginner book I have encountered. I agree completely with the first three reviewers. I have some C# and VB.NET experience but have avoided ASP.NET for the most part. I bought this book to work through before hitting ASP.NET Step By Step assuming it would function as a decent primer. I was wrong.

The book is poorly edited and makes too many assumptions. The premise of the book is to leave you with a usable website at the end; however, it is very difficult to finish the project without going to outside sources. I have carefully worked through one of the chapters 3 times now and have still not been able to get it to work. Since this book is a project based concept, where chapter B builds on chapter A, and so on, I cannot proceed until the current chapter's functionality is achieved. In my opinion, this design is another flaw of the book.

I wish I could get my money back. Actually, I'd just prefer a better book on the subject.

This book has two issues which to me make it not a book worth buying. (Unfortunatly I already did!) 1. The webpage example that he shows you how to make is a very dated looking webpage and does not reflect current trends in web development. 2. (the big issue) is that his code does not work. He will tell you to type some code, problem is, the code doesn't work.

FYI: I am an IT professional (and am wanting to learn some web development), and was able to figure my way through about half of the book, but do not think it was worth it, and I gave up on it. I've ordered another book that had better reviews.

If you are considering buying this book, my suggestion is to look somewhere else.

This book is full of errors.
The code does not work.
I have already worked through the VB and C# step by step books and have to say there were excellent. This book is not even close and is not fit to sit alongside the other books i have mentioned.
Very angry.
Just want a book that is fit for purpose.

The book is fairly well written, however, there is a difference of opinion on their chapter on using Master Pages. If you use their code(download code), it works, if you're like me and like to type in the code as well as create the project to see how it's done, it doesn't work the way they describe it to work. Otherwise, the book is a great intro book to the technology. To learn Visual Web Developer 2008, or any other version as a matter of that fact, I would buy the book again.

I was at first excited to start developing asp web sites so, as in the past with other project I chose a MicrosoftPress book because they are well written and have great content. I breased through the first six chapters only to find that the Virtual Earth integration, chapter 7, was out of date. Version 6.2 is the current supported version and since they have changed the API no matter what you do you can not get it to stay in the defined table.

That didn't deture me too much the web changes fast so on to the next chapter.

Chapter 8 has you linking SQL tables! Way cool!!! But if you don't stop and continue on to chapter 8 you will run into some odd issues because they omit the fact you must refresh the database table prior to creating your qureys. The methods will not show up otherwise.

Chapter 9 Listing 9-5: DataSourceID="ObjectDataSource1" be sure to add DataKeyNames="ToDoId" at the end of the line or it won't work at all. And again the omit the database table refresh. AsloDataView is DetailsView, pg 182, and step 6 be sure to choose DataSource from the dropdown; select the DataSource ObjectDataSource1 and check off Emable Inserting from the Add new To-do table. Getting very frusturated!!!!!!

Chapter 10 was a breath of fresh air, it was fine.

Chapter 11 however... Don't bother, Microsoft discontinued the[...]site back in August 24th 2009.

Chapter 12 was fine.

Chapter 13 well, I skipped it, I do this every day.

The book is OK for someone that already has some experience programming. I think a book for beginners should include, near the beginning, a portion about commenting, and how to write readable code by indenting, seperating blocks of code, capitalization, using meaningful names (lblLastName instead of Label1) etc. I'm pretty sure I would have become frustrated and given up if I hadn't had some prior C++ training. I learned a lot from the book, it's just that I have found other books a lot better for beginners.