ASP.NET Cookbook [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Geoffrey T. LeBlond (Author), Michael A. Kittel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Developers who want to create dynamic, data-driven web sites running on Microsoft web servers have long relied on Active Server Pages (ASP). ASP.NET is Microsoft's latest evolution of ASP. While ASP.NET has a lot in common with its predecessor, this new technology takes advantage of object-oriented programming to dramatically improve developer productivity and convenience. Using the .NET Framework and Microsoft's new object-oriented languages, ASP.NET brings the same rapid drag-and-drop productivity to web applications that the Visual Basic programming language brought to Windows applications. ASP.NET also introduces web services, which allow developers to expose the functionality of an application via HTTP and XML, so that clients on any platform can access it via the Internet. ASP.NET is not a simple upgrade of ASP. It s a quantum leap ahead. There are many benefits to using ASP.NET, and one major drawback: the time developers must devote to mastering this new Web application technology. The ASP.NET Cookbook provides a wealth of plug-and-play solutions to problems commonly encountered when developing ASP.NET web applications and services in the popular problem-solution-discussion Cookbook format. The coding solutions in ASP.NET Cookbook appeal to a wide range of developers, from the inexperienced to the expert. For every problem addressed in the book, there's a worked-out solution or recipe a short, focused piece of code that web developers can insert directly into their applications. Developers can save hours by using just a single one of over 100 recipes included in this invaluable cookbook.

But the ASP.NET Cookbook provides far more than just a wide range of cut-and-paste code solutions. Each recipe is followed by a discussion including tips, tricks, and possible pitfalls--so developers can learn to adapt the problem-solving techniques to a myriad of similar situations. Each recipe provides an immediate solution to a pressing problem, while simultaneously allowing developers who prefer to a hands-on learning style with the experience they need to master ASP.NET. This ultimate ASP.NET code sourcebook will quickly earn the dog-eared corners and coffee rings that mark a web developer's most valued resource.

About the Author
Michael Kittel has nearly 30 years experience in the software industry. He has been working with Microsoft technologies for more than 10 years and with ASP.NET since the alpha release of 1.0. He has been the system architect and led the development of applications for Lexis-Nexis, Plow & Hearth, ReturnBuy, and many others. Michael has a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer certification and is currently a senior consultant at Dominion Digital, Inc. (www.dominiondigital.com), a firm that specializes in helping companies envision and achieve maximum business value from investments in technology.

Geoff LeBlond is the co-author of Using 1-2-3, the first computer book that sold over 1 million copies. Geoff is the author of numerous computer books, and was the developer of Oriel, an early scripting language for Microsoft Windows. More recently, Geoff has been focusing his attention on developing web applications using ASP and ASP.NET.

Product Details

• Paperback: 650 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 1st edition (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596003781
• ISBN-13: 978-0596003784
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #736,679 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is how to learn ASP.NET, March 15, 2005

By	ueberhund "ueberhund" (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews

When I picked up a copy of the ASP.NET Cookbook, I was expecting to find a couple of very simple "recipes" and a couple of more complex ones. What I found was a book that goes through everything you need to know to go from a beginning ASP.NET developer to a really advanced developer. I was very surprised with how complete and thorough this book is in helping developers become advanced ASP.NET developers.

This book assumes that you have some knowledge of ASP.NET. The first chapter takes off immediately with a discussion on datagrids. If you pick up this book without a basic knowledge of how to even create an ASPX page, you'll be lost. If that is the case, go for one of O'Reilly's other ASP.NET books like Programming ASP.NET or ASP.NET In A Nutshell. If you already have that groundwork, then you'll find this book to be a natural picking-up point.

After a very thorough discussion on tabular data (nearly 180 pages), the authors take the reader through data validation (with server validation controls), forms (which include tasks like getting the Enter key to work like the submit button), and user controls. At this point, the book really starts to shine. The authors begin a discussion of custom controls, which is both very interesting and very useful for the growing ASP.NET programmer. The remainder of the book (which is still quite a bit of content), goes over such useful (and slightly more advanced) concepts like maintaining state, how and why to modify web.config, error handling, performance tuning, web services, and caching.

Like I mentioned, I was surprised at both the depth and breath of content covered in this book. O'Reilly does list this book in their "cookbook" series and can certainly be used in that way. However, I think many readers will find it quite easy and useful to read this book from cover to cover. I would highly recommend this book for all levels of ASP.NET developers. The authors have done a very good job of including content that all levels of developer will benefit from.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book rocks. Great value., November 17, 2004

By	M. D. "straight dope" (NYC) - See all my reviews

Had the book only a day before it paid for itself. The code examples are excellent, and the authors are well aware of best practices. This is not a bunch of hack recipes, but recipes to build durable, production code.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good book., September 7, 2004

By	bitmngr (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

I haven't read all of the recepies. However, at the moment I am very happy with this book.

The chapter on input validation is really well done. It is easy to start with what the book offers and extend it to something else.

The chapters on error handling and tracing are also very good.

This book has clear examples and good code. I am happy with it.