Active Server Pages 2.0 for Dummies

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 378 pages
• Published by: For Dummies
• Edition: 2nd Edition September 8, 1999
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 076450603X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0764506031
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 1.4 pounds

Product Review
Active Server Pages (ASP) is the best way to create dynamic Web sites--that is, Web sites based on the contents of a database--under Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and other Microsoft Web platforms. Active Server Pages for Dummies proves that despite the initially intimidating appearance of some ASP code, the system isn't hard to learn and can be a lot of fun.

The book delivers a carefully structured introduction to ASP technology. The examples aren't all academic either--you'll find code (printed and on the companion CD-ROM) for a date-stamper, a banner-ad rotator, a guestbook, and even a near-real-time chat room and a system for managing classified ads.

Though this book includes sections on VBScript and JScript, you'll probably want to combine it with a language text if you lack familiarity with at least one of those languages. Still, the language material that's here serves as a good introduction to the basics and enables you to make sense of the scriptable ASP objects that make the technology so powerful.

Though this isn't an object reference, the author explains the capabilities of each major server component and provides example code that uses many of them. That's the strongest aspect of this book, in fact--the great example code you can learn from and adapt to your purposes. --David Wall

Topics covered: Basics of ASP, VBScript, JScript, the ASP object model, server components, database connectivity, Visual InterDev, and popular ASP applications.

Dr. Dobb's Journal
Read the entire review of this book.

The first few chapters of Active Server Pages for Dummies are a fairly generic introduction to VBScript for non-programmers, with a dash of Javascript thrown in for variety. The middle portion of the book introduces the reader to components, objects, the structure of an Active Server Page (ASP) application, and database access. The useful tips scattered through the book are convincing evidence that the author actually has some practical experience with ASP in a non-toy environment. The last section of the book and the CD-ROM contain the source code for two example ASP applications: a chat room and a classified ads server.

Aside from the obnoxious and sophomoric attempts at humor, this book is basically sound and delivers the most value among the entry-level books on ASP that I have encountered thus far. Programmers should bypass this book and go directly to Wrox Press's Professional Active Server Pages 2.0. -- Ray Duncan, Dr. Dobb's Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
As a professional VB developer, I needed to learn the basics of ASP--the built in objects and the syntax of VBScript. Hatfield provides the coverage. Even though I need a more comprehensive VBScript reference at hand while I'm programming, it is the foundation acquired from the Dummies book that allows me to find what I need. The text is readable and well focused. Weaknesses: Although there are some examples in JavaScript, the preponderance of the code is in VBScript. Another shortcoming is the use of clever chapter titles, rather than descriptive titles. If you're reading from cover to cover--easy to do with Hatfield--then the titles don't really matter. Honestly, my major problem with the book is being seen with it. But then, how much of a dummy can you be if you're learning ASP. Conclusion: An excellent choice for your first book on ASP, even for stuffy "professionals."