ASP Web Development
With Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Reviews Coordinator Golden Triangle PC Club April 2007 General Overview If you’d like to create your own dynamic web pages using the ASP server model, then let this book be your guide! Whether you're just starting out with Dreamweaver and want to learn about ASP, or you're already proficient with Dreamweaver and want to begin programming dynamic websites, this book will broaden your website programming skills. You'll learn Dreamweaver's ASP server behaviors and many best practices for developing with the CSS and XHTML web standards. You'll also absorb the basics of working with databases and the SQL language, and look closely at both Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server. With this book as your guide, you will be able to create dynamic websites quickly, with Dreamweaver's built-in tools. You will also acquire a solid foundation in coding ASP by hand. Table of Contents The ten (10) chapters include the following: CHAPTER 1 Introducing Dreamweaver MX 2004 CHAPTER 2 Web Standards in Dreamweaver CHAPTER 3 Accessibility and Dreamweaver MX 2004 CHAPTER 4 Introducing ASP CHAPTER 5 Databases Overview CHAPTER 6 The Application Panel CHAPTER 7 Code Reuse in Dreamweaver CHAPTER 8 Dreamweaver MX 2004 Extensions CHAPTER 9 Debugging and Error Handling CHAPTER 10 Final Case Study INDEX Target Readers This book will teach you everything you need to know to create your own dynamic web pages using the ASP server model. Whether you are just starting out with Dreamweaver and want to learn about ASP, or you are already proficient with Dreamweaver and want to begin programming dynamic Web sites, this book will help you develop your web site programming skills. In the book, the authors explain Dreamweaver's ASP server behaviors and introduce many best practices for developing with the CSS and XHTML web standards. Then they tie it all together and show you how to make your site accessible using Dreamweaver's built-in tools. They also teach you the basics of working with databases and the SQL language, looking specifically at both Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server. Along the way, you will acquire a solid foundation in hand-coding ASP. The book gathers information and knowledge gained from the combined years of experience of the authors and presents this information in an easy-to-follow format. Using the book as a guide, you will quickly grasp the ASP server model within Dreamweaver, and you will be creating your own dynamic Web site in no time. Book Contents 456 pages; about the authors; acknowledgments; introduction; figures; sample code; index Authors Rachel Andrew Rob Turnbull Alan Foley Drew McLellan About the Authors Rachel Andrew runs her own web solutions company in the UK, www.edgeofmyseat.com, the company web site also being home to various "web standards"-focused articles and Dreamweaver extensions. Rachel is a member of the Web Standards Project on the Dreamweaver Task Force, and she hopes to encourage best practices in the support and use of W3C standards in Dreamweaver. Rachel also writes CSS and Accessibility tutorials at www.dmxzone.com. When not writing code, or writing about writing code, Rachel spends time with her daughter, tries to encourage people to use Debian GNU/Linux, studies with the Open University, and enjoys a nice pint of beer. Rob Turnbull is the senior developer for Lighthouse, an established new media design and marketing company based in Shrewsbury, England. Clients across Europe, from small businesses to blue-chip companies, provide an increasing workload, which includes the development of SQL Server database-driven websites, multimedia presentations, interactive CD-ROMs, promotional videos and DVDs, and 3D artwork in both animated and still form. Rob's personal website, www.robgt.com, is primarily focused on offering help and guidance to fellow Dreamweaver users, including tutorials and links to helpful resources and some useful extensions. Alan Foley is an assistant professor of instructional technology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he teaches graduate classes in the College of Education. Alan holds a Ph.D. in educational technology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. His current research interests include web accessibility and pedagogy, and accessible multimedia production. Prior to completing his Ph.D., Alan was a high school English teacher. While teaching, he was introduced to the world of instructional technology and web design. He has taught web design in a variety of educational and corporate settings, and consults for schools and universities on accessibility and usability issues. Drew McLellan has been involved in web design and development since 1996. Starting originally as a hand-coder, Drew quickly saw the great productivity benefits that could be brought by a visual editor with the arrival of Dreamweaver 1.2. Since then, Drew has been pushing the boundaries of Dreamweaver through its solid HTML-based methodology and powerful extensible architecture. With literally tens of thousands of his Dreamweaver extensions in use around the globe, Drew has established a firm seating within the center of the online Dreamweaver community and can be found on a daily basis teaching and aiding fellow developers in Macromedia's news forums. Drew also helps out at the Web Standards Project www.webstandards.org as a Dreamweaver expert, focusing on the issues surrounding web standards in Macromedia's flagship HTML editor. As a Team Macromedia volunteer, Drew is a committed Dreamweaver user and enjoys nothing more than being able to share his knowledge and experience of the product with fellow developers. ISBN March 2004 - First Edition ISBN 10: 1-59059-349-9 ISBN 12: 978-1-59059-349-3 List Price $39.99 Retail $20.00 eBook Price About Apress Apress is a publishing company devoted to meeting the needs of programming professionals. Apress' unique approach to computer book publishing grew out of conversations between Dan Appleman and Gary Cornell, Apress' founders, who believe that too many programming books are of such low quality that they are a complete waste of time. Computer professionals need quality books that are not just rehashes of documentation. The "A" in Apress stands for The Author's Press, and their books have "The Expert's Voice." Apress acquires manuscripts of the highest quality by attracting the best authors and technical experts that the world has to offer. Apress makes authors partners in the publishing process, doesn't impose a "house style" on authors, and doesn't make them conform to a series that straightjacket's them. Apress also makes sure that authors are treated equitably. Another key feature of the Apress approach to publishing books is taken from the software industry. Apress treats the technical review process as seriously as the best software companies treat the quality assurance process. Apress is convinced that the innovations listed above make it possible for them to produce the highest quality books, recruit the highest quality authors, and publish titles that information technology professionals need and want. The Apress management team ensures that the distribution and fulfillment of Apress titles is second to none, and that the capital is available to move aggressively and take advantage of any publishing opportunities that arise. To accomplish this, Apress has entered into a partnership with Springer-Verlag, one of the world's most respected publishing houses. Springer-Verlag is convinced that Apress will be the publisher of quality trade computer paperbacks in the years to come. Apress will continue to publish titles of the highest quality, and has compiled a team of authors that reads like a veritable "Who's Who" list of the computing industry. The company founders have published over 200 software titles by leading software professionals, all of whom have "The Expert's Voice." Publisher Contact Cheryl Martinez Marketing Coordinator Apress 2560 Ninth Street, Suite 219 Berkeley, California 94710 510-549-5930 ext. 129 FAX 510-549-5939 cheryl@apress.com www.apress.com