SAMS Teach Yourself - in 21 Days

Mastering ASP 2.0

The role of Active Server Pages (ASP) technology is to make it easier to construct sophisticated, interactive Web sites that are characterised by their dynamic nature.

However, there is a considerable amount of learning to complete to become proficient in ASP. But that's where the recently published book, SAMS Teach Yourself Active Server Pages 2.0 in 21 Days can help.

Written in a tutorial style, and conveniently divided up into three manageable weeks' worth of work, the book covers everything from the fundamentals of ASP 2.0 through to an explanation of sophisticated user interaction techniques that use, for example, HTML forms, Java, ActiveX, etc.

The days in week 1 of the text focus on topics such as the basics of ASP and the various parts of an ASP application; different techniques for user interaction over the Web; the construction of Web forms and the subsequent validation and processing of data returned via those forms; along with the use of scriptlets (self-contained code components) to improve code re-use in ASP applications, to facilitate alterations, to ease distribution, and so on.

In week 2, the emphasis is on the more advanced topics covering Web database application development; the deployment of ASP objects and components; and the use of "cookies" to capture and then retain information between sessions. (A consequence of visiting some Web sites is to have odd-looking files automatically deposited on your hard disk. Known as cookies, the contents of these files are used on subsequent visits for customisation purposes, for example, to display only those details previously requested.)

The final week is for those readers who want to really maximise their use of ASP. Topics covered include the construction of custom ASP components using Microsoft's Visual Basic programming language; the steps involved in the development of complex client/server applications; and ASP security issues and concerns.

Each day concludes with a "Workshop" section consisting of a quiz and a set of exercises. These have been designed to both test and broaden your understanding of the material covered that day. They also provide opportunities for some practical experience as well. For example, in some cases, you are requested to alter the code in an application, while n others, the task may involve creating an ASP script. (Note: the book's companion Web site contains all the source code and sample applications used throughout the text in a format ready for downloading onto your machine.)

For anyone serious about learning the ins and outs of ASP, SAMS Teach Yourself Active Server Pages 2.0 in 21 Days offers a comprehensive tutorial. However, be prepared for a solid workout because there is a lot of material to be covered in the three weeks.

Sanjaya Hettihewa
SAMS Teach Yourself Active Server Pages 2.0 in 21 Days
ISBN: 0 672 31333 2
724 pages plus companion Web site
Published by SAMS Publishing
Distributed in Australia by Prentice Hall
RRP: $79.95

Graduating to XML

As in all areas of computing today, the technologies associated with the World Wide Web are also constantly changing.

And that's clearly evident with the ongoing evolution of tools, standards, and languages specifically designed to develop increasingly more powerful Web sites.

A prime example of one of the newer languages is XML, a contraction for Extensible Markup Language. XML has been devised to overcome the shortcomings of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), which, so far in the short history of the Web, has been the language traditionally used to construct Web pages.

However, keeping up to date with the latest technological advances is not always easy. An effective way is to get hold of books that break up the subject matter into digestible chunks.

For instance, for anyone wanting to understand the impact that XML is already having on Web development, and which is likely to significantly increase in the near future, one such book is SAMS Teach Yourself XML in 21 Days.

Its 21 days of information have been conveniently organised into three weeks, with the first week concentrating on the basics of XML; the second week covering the more powerful aspects of XML authoring; while the third and final week discusses how to process XML and HTML code.

The manner in which this book has been structured makes it possible for readers to pick out their own starting point, depending on their previous XML experience.

For example, those already familiar with the basics could proceed straight to the lessons contained within Week 2. The topics covered there include XML objects and entities; the creation of XML links; the advanced addressing capabilities available in the language; viewing XML in both Microsoft Internet Explorer and other browsers; and so on.

SAMS Teach Yourself XML in 21 Days is practical. It contains plenty of code fragments that are used to explain the theory being discussed. Additionally, each day concludes with a set of exercises enabling you to test out your newly acquired XML knowledge.

Another appealing feature of the book is its appendix of XML resources, especially online resources. These consist of the addresses of Web sites (with brief summaries) that cover XML applications, standards, information sources, software companies, and so on.

To find out more about XML (even if you're a complete novice), or to expand your existing knowledge, take a look at SAMS Teach Yourself XML in 21 Days.

For convenience, a companion Web site contains all the code and working samples that have been used throughout the text.

Simon North and Paul Hermans
SAMS Teach Yourself XML in 21 Days
ISBN: 1 57521 396 6
580 pages plus companion Web site
Published by SAMS (a division of Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Distributed in Australia by Prentice Hall
RRP: $59.95

Reprinted from the July 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia