Beginning ASP.NET 1.0 with C#

What you need to know

This book is for beginners who have no previous experience of ASP, C#, XML, object-oriented programming, or the .NET Framework. A little knowledge of HTML is useful, but by no means essential as all the concepts that you need in order to create dynamic ASP.NET web sites are presented and explained in full.

What you will learn from this book

This book will teach you how to build tailored ASP.NET web sites from the ground up. It covers the following broad topics (see the book's Introduction for a more detailed explanation):
* The early part of the book is dedicated to familiarizing you with the anatomy and basic functionality of HTML, XML, ASP.NET, the .NET Framework, and C#. This done, it looks at the way in which they can be used together to create flexible web sites.
* The second part of the book introduces object-oriented programming which is crucial to maximizing your benefit from .NET. Ideas are explained in detail with many programmatic examples and real-world analogies.
* Having laid the groundwork we then progress to discussing the technologies and techniques that ASP.NET can draw upon to increase its functionality. This includes ADO.NET for data source access, Web Services for inter-web site communication and the encapsulation ideas of Server and User Controls to ease code maintenance and reuse.
* The book concludes by considering the ways in which you can optimize your ASP.NET sites to increase their speed, security, and robustness; detailed advice on debugging is also included.

"ASP.NET is a logical and powerful progression for developers - it's the future for web development. This book provides the perfect platform for those moving into this exciting technology. Once you reach the end of this book, you will be prepared to confront the exciting new world of .NET web application development."
-Robin Dewson, Consultant, Lehman Brothers.

Rob Birdwell makes his home in Corvallis, Oregon along with his wife and three beautiful children. He works at HP and moonlights as a musician, composer, and songwriter. He first became interested in programming when he discovered he could make a machine play one of his musical melodies. His current interests include all facets of .NET technology and especially the C# language. His hobbies include swimming, tennis, and playing his trumpet in various ensembles.

Matt Butler is lead technical brain at Left Ear Design and specializes in .NET, Windows DNA, and Java.Matt went from being a homeless, starving jazz musician to a software architect holding numerous certifications, including MCSD, Sun Java Certified Programmer, BEA Certified Programmer (Java / Weblogic), and a few other miscellaneous certifications. He rode the wave of the .COM craze working on sizable profile-based search engines and transactional e-commerce applications using the Windows DNA architecture in return for 'stock options' and pizza.Matt's interests include all things computer oriented (especially .NET and security), math, science, physics, spoken word, composing, and improvising introspective music.You can reach .Matt at matt@biodigitalmusic.com.

Ollie Cornes has been working with the Internet and the Microsoft platform since the early 90's. In 1999 he co-founded a business-to-business Internet company and until recently was its Chief Technical Officer.Prior to that his various roles involved programming, technical authoring, network management, writing, leading development projects, and consulting. He has worked with Demon Internet, Microsoft, Saab, Travelstore, and Vodafone. Ollie holds a degree in computer science and is Microsoft certified.When he's not working he spends his time devouring books on human potential and practicing Chinese internal martial arts, meditation, and healing. He also juggles fire and knives.

Chris Goode is currently an editor in the Microsoft team at Wrox. She lives in Birmingham (that's UK, not Alabama), and has a house full of old computers. Chris started programming at the age of 10 on her Atari 65XE, and has always enjoyed spending time with as much technology as possible. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but decided that the engineering world wasn't for her. She's now back firmly in the world of computers, and finding that life at Wrox combines the fun stuff with the work stuff pretty well.

Gary Johnson is a transplanted hillbilly currently residing in Florida. He has programmed the Web since 1995 using a myriad of technologies (mostly VB/ASP/DNA type stuff prior to .NET).When not chained to the machine, he likes spending time with CoCo the dog or practicing the elusive art of photography. Gary would like to thank John, Nestor, Matt, and Daisey for their unwavering wonder and enthusiasm for the world.

John Kauffman His first publications, some 20 years ago, explained sail trimming and tactics to yacht racers. He then returned to the printed page to describe his discovery of a genomic sequence in plants that could be controlled by light.Today, he splits his time between Asia and North America where he teaches and writes for Wrox about Microsoft technologies for connecting databases to the Web. While teaching he keeps a list of students questions and mistakes, then uses that information as the basis for organizing future editions of his books. John also designed and wrote portions of Beginning ASP Databases and Beginning SQL Programming.

Ajoy Krishnamoorthy is a consultant with over five years of experience, working in Microsoft technologies such as ASP, VB, IIS, MTS, and most recently .NET. He writes regularly for leading online publications. He received a Bachelors degree in Electronics and Communication and a Masters degree in Systems and information. He is currently working for his Masters in Business Administration at Fisher College of