ASP 3.0 Programmer's Reference

by Richard Anderson, Dan Denault, Brian Francis, Marco Gregorini, Alex Homer, Craig McQueen, Simon Robinson, John Schenken

Perfect Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Wrox Press Inc
ISBN: 1861003234; 1st edition (April 15, 1999)

The ASP 3.0 Programmer's Reference is a well-organized compilation of essential information about the latest version of Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP). It covers ASP development on the Windows 2000 platform and includes full coverage of the various new Microsoft technologies at the disposal of an ASP 3.0 developer.

In addition to the expected documentation of the ASP objects, the book provides overviews of a wide array of related objects and architectures that developers need to know about. These topics are peripheral to the actual ASP architecture, yet they are valuable for experienced ASP programmers.

At the heart of the book is the documentation of the ASP object model. Each object is introduced briefly, followed by coverage of each property and method it supports. Provided are code examples for nearly every method and property, but often only a couple of lines illustrating usage. There're no needlessly fluffy examples here.

Although its title implies a narrow focus, this book provides much more than a simple language reference. ASP developers will find it useful time and again as they explore the new features of the vast Microsoft development architecture.

Topics in ASP 3.0 Programmer's Reference covered:
• ASP intrinsic objects
• Scripting objects
• Active Server Components
• ADO
• ADOX
• DNA 2000 application architecture
• Performance testing
• Collaboration Data Objects for Windows 2000
• XML
• Data shaping Security

Book Description: ASP 3.0 Programmer's Reference relates to ASP 3.0 as included with Windows 2000. However, because ASP is now a core part of so many Web-oriented features within Windows, this book covers a far wider area than just the ASP syntax, properties, methods and events.

Windows 2000 is a big operating system, in other words, it is functionally rich and bundled with numerous applications and services that enable you and your applications to do lots of different things with very little effort. For example, with Windows 2000 you can use IIS5 as your web server, you can use Active Directory to share enterprise-wide information, you can Message Queue Services to create applications that can work in a disconnected or a connected mode etc. Therefore, a properly equipped ASP programmer needs to have more than just ASP reference material close at hand to function effectively in this environment. ASP 3.0 Programmer's Reference also covers Components, Active Directory, XML, ADO, Messaging and Collaboration Services, VBScript, JScript and much more making it the complete ASP programmer's desktop companion.

From the Publisher: This book has been selected by the editors of Wrox Press to be part of the Wroxbase website.

Online discussion of the topics in this book available at Wrox's P2P site.

ASP is now the pivotal technology used by hundreds of thousands of today's web sites worldwide. Based upon the technique of combining HTML with server side scripting to create web pages dynamically, ASP along with IIS provide a significant amount of infrastructure and services that are needed to create simple or advanced intranet, internet and extranet web applications with rich user interfaces and functionality.

About the Author: Brian Francis is a Senior Developer with NCR's Human Interface Technology Center in Atlanta, Georgia. At the HITC, Brian is responsible for prototyping and developing advanced applications that apply superior human interfaces as developed at the Center. His tools of choice include Visual Basic, Visual C++, Java, and all of the Microsoft Internet products. Brian has developed and deployed Multimedia Kiosk applications, Computer-based Training applications, and other advanced user interface prototypes for the past three years.

Alex Homer lives and works in the idyllic rural surroundings of Derbyshire, UK. His software company, specializes in office integration and Internet-related development, and produces a range of vertical application software. He has worked with Wrox Press on several projects.

John Schenken is currently Software Test Lead on the Visual Basic Server Enterprise Team for Microsoft. He was previously Test Lead for the Microsoft Script Debugger that shipped with Windows NT Option pack and is still responsible for it in Windows 2000. He has programming experience involving MSMQ, SMTP, NT Event Log, NT Perf Counters, ASP, business objects and ADO (basically wide experience writing end-to-end web applications involving business objects).

Dean Sonderegger is responsible for the technology and development of products at Ultraprise Corporation based in Sterling, Virginia. He's worked with Active Server Pages since its inception and specializes in internet-based commercial application development.

Customer Reviews
Excellent ASP reference, June 7, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from Winston-Salem, NC
As with most Wrox books, this book contains far more than most ASP programmers will ever need--although it is not for the beginner. There is in depth coverage of nearly every aspect of ASP programming. I use this book daily.

Thorough Coverage and Clear Simple Code Examples, June 7, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from Seattle, WA
If you have a little programming experience, this is an excellent source to get started with ASP. Objects, methods and properties are clearly and concisely explained, and their use is well illustrated with (very) short snippets of code. You can quickly find out just about anything you need to know about ASP-- which is exactly what a reference should provide. Each of the chapters is well-organized and easy to navigate. The appendices are also very useful. I judge my programming books by how often I resort to them, and I use this one all the time because the answers I need are always there.

I would have given the book five stars if the index had been a little more friendly to non-ASP programmers. Though the index has entries for all ASP objects, it's not very useful unless you already know the name of the object you are looking for. For example, try looking up "array" in the index, as you might naturally do, coming from any other programming language. It's not there. A simple note in the index like "see dimensions" would be helpful. Bottom Line: This book has all the info you need to write just about any ASP program you'd ever need to write, and it's well worth the money.

Extravagant Reference, November 1, 2001
Reviewer: mayling from Los Angeles, CA USA
If you are intermediate to advance ASP Programmer, don't buy others book. Enough to have this book. Excellent reference.

Must have ASP reference, July 19, 2001
Reviewer: DANIEL W MALTES from Cornwall, NY USA
Let's face it, no ASP programmer can remember it all, so having a handy-dandy reference book that cuts to the chase is a must. This book does just that, and then some. I turn to it all the time(mostly because I can't stand the MS online doc). A great companion to this book is Proffesional Active Server Pages 3.0, goes into more depth and more examples. Also, Beginning ASP Databases was very helpful. Using mostly these four books, I've been able to develop several full blown, database driven ASP web sites.

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