Build Your Own ASP.NET 2.0 Web Site Using C# & VB [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Cristian Darie (Author), Zak Ruvalcaba (Author) "It's being touted as the "next big thing..." (more)
Key Phrases: zak ruvalcaba, helpdesk page, eonfig file, Import Namespace, Web Data Administrator, Jessica Ruvalcaba (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Learn how to build impressive ASP.NET 2.0 Websites in both C# and VB from scratch.

Using a practical step-by-step approach, the authors introduce the ASP.NET framework, teach you about database design, and walk you through obtaining, installing and configuring all the freely available software you need to use ASP.NET 2.0. They then show you how to build several real world Web-based applications that you can put to use instantly in your projects.

Readers will learn how to:

Develop a fully functional Corporate Intranet with a dynamic navigation menu

Create an email newsletter system using ASP.NET 2.0

Build web forms using web controls, validation controls, and rich controls

Program in both C# and VB

Handle unforseen errors gracefully using a range of error handling techniques

Secure applications using form authentication

Use code-behind to streamline code.

This book doesn't force you to choose an ASP.NET language in advance - all code examples are presented in both C# (pronounced see-sharp) and VB. You can choose which one you want to use, and follow-it throughout the book. Best of all, this book doesn't assume any prior programming knowledge!

What The Reviewers Say...

"This is a very well written book and an excellent overview and introduction to developing websites in C#/VB.NET on ASP.NET 2.0." - About.com

"This is the kind of book most of the developers will be looking for not only to learn the technology faster but also to create and develop a real application in a short span of time." - ASP Alliance

"This is not your grandfather's ASP.NET 2.0 tutorial. It is not condescending, pretentious, stodgy, or deadly boring; rather, it is fresh, fun, even exciting; and, it does not take itelf too seriously. The topics flow logically from one to the next. The layout is approachable. The writers' tone is friendly. And, the writing style makes the material very accessible. I have yet to find a better book for Web development novices." - C# Online .NET

About the Author
Cristian Darie is a software engineer with experience in a wide range of modern technologies, and the author of numerous books, including his popular ASP.NET tutorial book, his AJAX and PHP book, and his forthcoming SEO book for PHP developers. Cristian is studying distributed application architectures for his PhD, and is getting involved with various commercial and research projects. When not planning to buy Google, he enjoys his bit of social life. If you want to say "hi," you can reach Cristian through his personal website at http://www.cristiandarie.ro.

Zak Ruvalcaba holds a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from the National University in San Diego. He has developed Web applications for such companies as Gateway, HP, Toshiba, and IBM. Previous books by Zak Ruvalcaba include The 10 Minute Guide to Dreamweaver 4 (Que Publishing) and Dreamweaver MX Unleashed (Sams Publishing).

Product Details

• Paperback: 712 pages
• Publisher: SitePoint; 2 edition (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975240285
• ISBN-13: 978-0975240281
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,993 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Microsoft > Development > Visual Basic > C#
  #48 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Web Development > Web 2.0
  #88 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Microsoft > Development > Visual Basic > .Net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ASP.NET Development Book, August 15, 2004

By	Andrew Sutton "Shandy, vbCity Leader, Microso... (Sri Lanka) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Build Your Own ASP.NET Website Using C# & VB.NET (Paperback)

This is the first Sitepoint book I have read and the second on ASP.NET.

The book requires that you have either Windows 2000, XP or 2003 installed and requires .NET Framework Redistributable (1.1 is the version the book is written for but most examples should work in v1.0), .NET Framework SDK, IIS (Or Cassini) Web Server, a modern web browser (e.g. IE v5.5+) and an editor. (Anything from notepad to Visual Studio will be sufficient). Access (JET), MSDE and SQL Server are the databases used in the examples. Instructions are included in the book on how to install and configure IIS and how to install MSDE and Access and how to attach the example database.

No previous knowledge of ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, IIS nor databases is required. However you will need to be familiar with HTML before reading the book.

The format of each chapter is a brief, single paragraph introduction, then straight into the subject matter with a brief summary at the end. Throughout the chapters there is a liberal sprinkling of figures and tables and extensive code examples, nearly all of which are in both C# and VB.NET. During the course of the book a complete intranet application is developed which includes a helpdesk, employee store, newsletter archive, employee directory, address book and admin tools.

Pros
Extensive code samples
A complete intranet application is developed within the book.
Superb range of subject matter.
Liberal use of figures and tables.
Excellent layout.
A good tool for learning both C# & VB.NET.

Cons
Topics covered in each chapter are not listed at the beginning of each chapter.
If you are just a VB.NET or C# programmer the duplication of code examples in both VB.NET & C# may prove to be annoying and a waste of space.

Conclusion
My own opinion is that this is not the book for a casual hobbyist but aimed more towards at least a semi-professional developer. You will get more than a basic grounding in ASP.NET but will have to put in a fair bit of effort to extract everything the book has to offer. But what a lot it has to offer. The range of material covered is excellent. Of the many highlights the chapters on Datagrids & DataLists and Datasets were particularly impressive. The author's enthusiasm for ASP.NET shines throughout the book and his narrative style kept many of the duller topics interesting. The pace of the book is never pedestrian and sometimes quite frantic but always leaving you wanting even more.

At the end of the book you should feel confident to develop your own ASP.NET web sites in either C# or VB.NET. This book is another welcome addition to my bookshelf.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for beginners and intermediate .NET developers, April 14, 2005

By	Santosh Tiruvan (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build Your Own ASP.NET Website Using C# & VB.NET (Paperback)

If you are looking at learning ASP.NET by hard coding then use this book. If you are looking at developing ASP.NET applications by using all the functionalities of VS.NET then go for ASP.NET KickStart by Stephen Walther.

For beginners I would suggest going for this book since it lets you get into the code which is very essential in understanding how things work in the .NET framework in general and ASP.NET programming in particular.

For intermediate developers (from other fields like Java, Classic ASP etc.) who already know the basics of Web programming and would like to know VS.NET in detail should go for Stephen Walther's book.

This book scores a point more in my opinion since it walks you through building an Intranet application while teaching you to program in ASP.NET.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great starting point for ASP developers moving UP!, April 15, 2004

By	Marty R. Milette (St. Petersburg, Russia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build Your Own ASP.NET Website Using C# & VB.NET (Paperback)

As an experienced developer with dozens of web sites developed in traditional ASP, I was delighted finally find a decent 'getting started' book for ASP.NET, VB.NET and C# that I could use myself, and share with my Microsoft-oriented students.

Anyone making the leap from ASP to .NET knows how difficult it is to find a resource that covers enough introductory information to get started, while still presenting more advanced and useful topics -- but this is the one!

Although this book won't make you an ASP.NET guru overnight (NO book can!) -- it will certainly get you far enough up the learning curve to start producing some useful and functional code which may be reused and enhanced later as you skills and competence grow.

This new release -- as for all other SitePoint books I've read -- has proven a pleasure to read, and a joy to use in the real world. Great work!