Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Alan Simpson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764583603 | ISBN-13: 978-0764583605 | Publication Date: December 12, 2005

• Visual Web Developer Express Edition is a low-cost, entry-level version centered around pre-built projects that new developers can easily deploy and customize for their own sites
• Explains how to harness "drag-and-drop" tools that build on the popularity of ASP.NET, offering Web designers an easy introduction to the new Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Framework
• Shows novice Web developers step by step how to create powerful ASP.NET Web applications
• Explains how to access databases through Data Source controls, design site navigation, build interactivity, and much more

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition on CD-ROM

• Start developing terrific Web sites today with Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition!
• Master drag-and-drop tools to make Web site design faster and easier
• Get the hang of implementing database-driven Web applications
• Learn how to design effective site navigation and Web interactivity
• Add new skills to your toolbox by learning how to build rich Web sites

A For Dummies exclusive!

Special Getting Started CD-ROM includes

• More than 8 hours of video-based training showing how to create Web applications using VB and C#
• Special videos on ASP.NET 2.0 from Wintellect
• Club Site Starter Kit
• Time Tracker Starter Kit
• Other resources including ASP.NET 2.0 QuickStart Tutorials

A unique resource available only with this book! Everything you need to create your first eye-popping Web site with Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition is right here!

From the Back Cover

Create and deploy cool Web effects and applications

Add custom features and designs to take your Web site to the next level

Tired of spending countless hours writing code for your Web pages? Wouldn't you like to create a dynamic, data-driven site using simple drag-and-drop? This handy guide will show you how! From planning to deployment, Alan Simpson walks you through all stages of Web site development utilizing a quicker, easier, and more intuitive visual approach.

Discover how to:

• Create a consistent look with master pages
• Configure a site for membership
• Support personalization and themes
• Build applications using VB and C#
• Publish your site

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (December 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764583603
• ISBN-13: 978-0764583605
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alan Simpson is the author of over 115 computer books on all sorts of topics: Windows, databases, Web-site design and development, programming, and network administration. His books are published throughout the world, in over a dozen languages, and have sold millions of copies. Though definitely in the techno-geek category, we let him contribute anyway because sometimes people like that come in handy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good primer but depth of coverage limited, February 1, 2006

By 

Patrick Flanagan (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

First, let me say that this book is well written; the writing is clear, the the organization is good and it moves at a comfortable pace. All of which makes it a good primer on developing simple web sites with VWD 2005 Express.

My reservations about this book are related to its usefulness. Simpson states that the purpose of the book is to present "all you need to know (just to get in the game)" and I think the book falls somewhat short of that goal. It does provide a good breadth of coverage but the depth of coverage is not enough to let a reader move from this book to actually creating web sites.

That said, I would recommend the book to "newbies" (to use Simpson's term) who are looking for a gentle introduction to web development before taking on the more ambitious books on the subject (or trying to make sense of VWD's help files). And personally, as an experienced developer in other environments, I found it an enjoyable way of getting a head start on the tools before working through the more advanced books on the subject.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy First Steps To Using VWD, June 16, 2006

By 

G. Mead "Ged Mead" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

To many people this book will be very helpful because it fills a very useful purpose in a particular niche market.

One of the much trumpeted advantages of ASP.NET 2.0 is that the amount of code required to produce useful, usable basic applications has been dramatically reduced. Combining that with the whole mountain of new and easy-to-use features via the Visual Web developer 2005 Express Edition (VWD for short), it becomes possible to create starter applications with almost no code of your own.

This book is based on that ability. It homes in on those built-in features that enable complete novices to create basic websites. It covers all the basics, including Master Pages, CSS Styles, Themes, Navigation, validation, some of the ASP.NET controls, and a short SQL Server crash course.

Two CDs are bundled with the book. The first contains a copy of VWD itself and the second CD contains a range of video tutorials from the LearnVisualStudioNet site plus some useful links to videos from Wintellect and various other online resources.

This book is aimed at readers with no previous experience of creating web pages or developing web sites.
Its advantage is that it sticks firmly to the "low road" in that the author hasn't felt the need to (in his own words) " ... wander off into irrelevant product comparisons or advanced topics ..."

If you are a beginner in this field and want to get a feel for the basics of creating web pages and websites before delving into the more complex areas of .NET coding then this relatively small, relatively inexpensive book should meet that need perfectly.

Of course, it is unlikely to be your only web development book if you plan to move beyond the very basic projects, but what it does cover it covers very comprehensively and very clearly. Again, the author is totally clear in what he sets out to do. He says: "Another key ingredient of this book is its coverage of things that most other resources assume you already know. In fact it's Okay if you don't already know
them. Everybody has to start somewhere and website development is tricky enough without having to fight a feeling of being left out. You won't get 'Sorry, you didn't learn our secret language umpteen years ago when we did so you can't play."' Here, just about everyone gets to play."

My verdict: For its target audience it succeeds admirably in its aim to help beginners build dynamic data-driven web sites.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies, March 10, 2006

By 

Jefferey F. Darnault (Miami, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

In my view this is an excelent book for those who are absolute beginners such as myself. This book shows you the way on how to navigate the application once you understand how it all works you be amazed how powerfull this application is in the design of data driven websites.