ASP 3.0: A Beginner's Guide

by Dave Mercer

Paperback: 526 pages
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
ISBN: 0072127414; 1st edition (September 27, 2000)

Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) is one of the fastest growing programming segments for Web applications and e-commerce. This book servers our vast beginner audience. Great for developers regardless of experience--combines core coverage with real-world applications. Unique "learn by doing" pedagogy, not just theory as with competing books.

Book Info (Osborne): Teaches the fundamentals of ASP 3.0, with several features that facilitate learning, such as modularized linear structure, question and answer sections, projects and exercises, and chapter reviews to test new skills.

From the Back Cover: Learn the fundamentals of ASP programming by following the beginner's steps and examples in this easy-to-use guide.

Through tutorials and hands-on exercises, programming instructor Dave Mercer explains the fundamentals of ASP, including Web programming objectives, ASP scripting, object-oriented programming, Active Server Components and ADO, client/server applications, debugging, and security. If you want to get started programming in ASP right away here is the perfect self-paced learning solution for you.

This ASP 3.0: Beginner's guide is Designed for Easy Learning:
Modules - Each programming concept is divided into logical modules (chapters), ideal for linear learning
Goals - Each module opens with the specific programming skills you'll have by the end of the module
Ask the Experts - Q&A sections throughout
1-Minute Drills - Quick self-assessment sections to check your progress
Annotated Syntax - Example code annotated with commentary that points to the particular technique illustrated
Projects - Coding exercises contained in each module that build on one another, from simple to complex
Mastery checks - End-of-module reviews that test proficiency using multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and simple coding questions

Customer Reviews
Good book for a "Beginner"., November 3, 2000
Reviewer: Bob Fritz from Redmond, WA
I am a newbie but not an "idiot" or "dummy". I have a some knowledge on HTML and have used WYSIWYG tools like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Recently, I started becoming more interested in creating Active Server Pages and I found this book very useful for an ASP "beginner" like me. I found Module 2 especially helpful with the discussion on the basics of ASP and "proper coding techniques". I'm in the middle of the book(Module 7) right now and find the explanations on Ad Rotators just what I needed for one of my projects. Overall, a really useful book so far.

Not really good!, February 8, 2001
Reviewer: alvinlaw from Hong Kong
It's foucs to much on the programming basics instead of the ASP technics. I think the author should not write so much on the object that ASP provided. He should give more real examples on practical use. I don't think most users would need to use so much objects. If we are want to use objects, I think users want to read the references instead of this "beginner's guide". But the language used in this book is suitable that plain enough. And the speech is not so boring when compare to Wrox book.

Good, but..., February 25, 2002
Reviewer: John Watson from USA
I have found this book a useful complement to the Sybex IIS/VB webclasses book--this is the best description of how to use the Application object and global.asa that I have seen so far. However, the author of the Osborne book did a sloppy job of laying out the sample projects in this book--for example, frequently he doesn't even tell you what to name the files. If it weren't for this I would give the book four or five stars.

This guys is a beginner as a book writer, February 3, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Ovideo, FL United States
This book has wonderful information, however, when the author lays out an example in the book it is not labled nor is it at all complete. The author jumps around A TON! This book is Not recomended to anyone by me.

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