- •Table of Contents
- •Preface
- •What is ASP.NET?
- •Installing the Required Software
- •Installing the Web Server
- •Installing Internet Information Services (IIS)
- •Installing Cassini
- •Installing the .NET Framework and the SDK
- •Installing the .NET Framework
- •Installing the SDK
- •Configuring the Web Server
- •Configuring IIS
- •Configuring Cassini
- •Where do I Put my Files?
- •Using localhost
- •Virtual Directories
- •Using Cassini
- •Installing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
- •Installing SQL Server Management Studio Express
- •Installing Visual Web Developer 2005
- •Writing your First ASP.NET Page
- •Getting Help
- •Summary
- •ASP.NET Basics
- •ASP.NET Page Structure
- •Directives
- •Code Declaration Blocks
- •Comments in VB and C# Code
- •Code Render Blocks
- •ASP.NET Server Controls
- •Server-side Comments
- •Literal Text and HTML Tags
- •View State
- •Working with Directives
- •ASP.NET Languages
- •Visual Basic
- •Summary
- •VB and C# Programming Basics
- •Programming Basics
- •Control Events and Subroutines
- •Page Events
- •Variables and Variable Declaration
- •Arrays
- •Functions
- •Operators
- •Breaking Long Lines of Code
- •Conditional Logic
- •Loops
- •Object Oriented Programming Concepts
- •Objects and Classes
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Classes
- •Constructors
- •Scope
- •Events
- •Understanding Inheritance
- •Objects In .NET
- •Namespaces
- •Using Code-behind Files
- •Summary
- •Constructing ASP.NET Web Pages
- •Web Forms
- •HTML Server Controls
- •Using the HTML Server Controls
- •Web Server Controls
- •Standard Web Server Controls
- •Label
- •Literal
- •TextBox
- •HiddenField
- •Button
- •ImageButton
- •LinkButton
- •HyperLink
- •CheckBox
- •RadioButton
- •Image
- •ImageMap
- •PlaceHolder
- •Panel
- •List Controls
- •DropDownList
- •ListBox
- •RadioButtonList
- •CheckBoxList
- •BulletedList
- •Advanced Controls
- •Calendar
- •AdRotator
- •TreeView
- •SiteMapPath
- •Menu
- •MultiView
- •Wizard
- •FileUpload
- •Web User Controls
- •Creating a Web User Control
- •Using the Web User Control
- •Master Pages
- •Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
- •Types of Styles and Style Sheets
- •Style Properties
- •The CssClass Property
- •Summary
- •Building Web Applications
- •Introducing the Dorknozzle Project
- •Using Visual Web Developer
- •Meeting the Features
- •The Solution Explorer
- •The Web Forms Designer
- •The Code Editor
- •IntelliSense
- •The Toolbox
- •The Properties Window
- •Executing your Project
- •Using Visual Web Developer’s Built-in Web Server
- •Using IIS
- •Using IIS with Visual Web Developer
- •Core Web Application Features
- •Web.config
- •Global.asax
- •Using Application State
- •Working with User Sessions
- •Using the Cache Object
- •Using Cookies
- •Starting the Dorknozzle Project
- •Preparing the Sitemap
- •Using Themes, Skins, and Styles
- •Creating a New Theme Folder
- •Creating a New Style Sheet
- •Styling Web Server Controls
- •Adding a Skin
- •Applying the Theme
- •Building the Master Page
- •Using the Master Page
- •Extending Dorknozzle
- •Debugging and Error Handling
- •Debugging with Visual Web Developer
- •Other Kinds of Errors
- •Custom Errors
- •Handling Exceptions Locally
- •Summary
- •Using the Validation Controls
- •Enforcing Validation on the Server
- •Using Validation Controls
- •RequiredFieldValidator
- •CompareValidator
- •RangeValidator
- •ValidationSummary
- •RegularExpressionValidator
- •Some Useful Regular Expressions
- •CustomValidator
- •Validation Groups
- •Updating Dorknozzle
- •Summary
- •What is a Database?
- •Creating your First Database
- •Creating a New Database Using Visual Web Developer
- •Creating Database Tables
- •Data Types
- •Column Properties
- •Primary Keys
- •Creating the Employees Table
- •Creating the Remaining Tables
- •Executing SQL Scripts
- •Populating the Data Tables
- •Relational Database Design Concepts
- •Foreign Keys
- •Using Database Diagrams
- •Diagrams and Table Relationships
- •One-to-one Relationships
- •One-to-many Relationships
- •Many-to-many Relationships
- •Summary
- •Speaking SQL
- •Reading Data from a Single Table
- •Using the SELECT Statement
- •Selecting Certain Fields
- •Selecting Unique Data with DISTINCT
- •Row Filtering with WHERE
- •Selecting Ranges of Values with BETWEEN
- •Matching Patterns with LIKE
- •Using the IN Operator
- •Sorting Results Using ORDER BY
- •Limiting the Number of Results with TOP
- •Reading Data from Multiple Tables
- •Subqueries
- •Table Joins
- •Expressions and Operators
- •Transact-SQL Functions
- •Arithmetic Functions
- •String Functions
- •Date and Time Functions
- •Working with Groups of Values
- •The COUNT Function
- •Grouping Records Using GROUP BY
- •Filtering Groups Using HAVING
- •The SUM, AVG, MIN, and MAX Functions
- •Updating Existing Data
- •The INSERT Statement
- •The UPDATE Statement
- •The DELETE Statement
- •Stored Procedures
- •Summary
- •Introducing ADO.NET
- •Importing the SqlClient Namespace
- •Defining the Database Connection
- •Preparing the Command
- •Executing the Command
- •Setting up Database Authentication
- •Reading the Data
- •Using Parameters with Queries
- •Bulletproofing Data Access Code
- •Using the Repeater Control
- •More Data Binding
- •Inserting Records
- •Updating Records
- •Deleting Records
- •Using Stored Procedures
- •Summary
- •DataList Basics
- •Handling DataList Events
- •Editing DataList Items and Using Templates
- •DataList and Visual Web Developer
- •Styling the DataList
- •Summary
- •Using the GridView Control
- •Customizing the GridView Columns
- •Styling the GridView with Templates, Skins, and CSS
- •Selecting Grid Records
- •Using the DetailsView Control
- •Styling the DetailsView
- •GridView and DetailsView Events
- •Entering Edit Mode
- •Using Templates
- •Updating DetailsView Records
- •Summary
- •Advanced Data Access
- •Using Data Source Controls
- •Binding the GridView to a SqlDataSource
- •Binding the DetailsView to a SqlDataSource
- •Displaying Lists in DetailsView
- •More on SqlDataSource
- •Working with Data Sets and Data Tables
- •What is a Data Set Made From?
- •Binding DataSets to Controls
- •Implementing Paging
- •Storing Data Sets in View State
- •Implementing Sorting
- •Filtering Data
- •Updating a Database from a Modified DataSet
- •Summary
- •Security and User Authentication
- •Basic Security Guidelines
- •Securing ASP.NET 2.0 Applications
- •Working with Forms Authentication
- •Authenticating Users
- •Working with Hard-coded User Accounts
- •Configuring Forms Authentication
- •Configuring Forms Authorization
- •Storing Users in Web.config
- •Hashing Passwords
- •Logging Users Out
- •ASP.NET 2.0 Memberships and Roles
- •Creating the Membership Data Structures
- •Using your Database to Store Membership Data
- •Using the ASP.NET Web Site Configuration Tool
- •Creating Users and Roles
- •Changing Password Strength Requirements
- •Securing your Web Application
- •Using the ASP.NET Login Controls
- •Authenticating Users
- •Customizing User Display
- •Summary
- •Working with Files and Email
- •Writing and Reading Text Files
- •Setting Up Security
- •Writing Content to a Text File
- •Reading Content from a Text File
- •Accessing Directories and Directory Information
- •Working with Directory and File Paths
- •Uploading Files
- •Sending Email with ASP.NET
- •Configuring the SMTP Server
- •Sending a Test Email
- •Creating the Company Newsletter Page
- •Summary
- •The WebControl Class
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Standard Web Controls
- •AdRotator
- •Properties
- •Events
- •BulletedList
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Button
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Calendar
- •Properties
- •Events
- •CheckBox
- •Properties
- •Events
- •CheckBoxList
- •Properties
- •Events
- •DropDownList
- •Properties
- •Events
- •FileUpload
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •HiddenField
- •Properties
- •HyperLink
- •Properties
- •Image
- •Properties
- •ImageButton
- •Properties
- •Events
- •ImageMap
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Label
- •Properties
- •LinkButton
- •Properties
- •Events
- •ListBox
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Literal
- •Properties
- •MultiView
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Events
- •Panel
- •Properties
- •PlaceHolder
- •Properties
- •RadioButton
- •Properties
- •Events
- •RadioButtonList
- •Properties
- •Events
- •TextBox
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Properties
- •Validation Controls
- •CompareValidator
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •CustomValidator
- •Methods
- •Events
- •RangeValidator
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •RegularExpressionValidator
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •RequiredFieldValidator
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •ValidationSummary
- •Properties
- •Navigation Web Controls
- •SiteMapPath
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Events
- •Menu
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Events
- •TreeView
- •Properties
- •Methods
- •Events
- •HTML Server Controls
- •HtmlAnchor Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlButton Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlForm Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlGeneric Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlImage Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlInputButton Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlInputCheckBox Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlInputFile Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlInputHidden Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlInputImage Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlInputRadioButton Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlInputText Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlSelect Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •HtmlTable Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlTableCell Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlTableRow Control
- •Properties
- •HtmlTextArea Control
- •Properties
- •Events
- •Index
Chapter 5: Building Web Applications
The project will open. This time, the root entry in Solution Explorer will be http://localhost/Dorknozzle/ instead of c:\WebDocs\Dorknozzle\, as Figure 5.25 indicates.
Figure 5.25. Solution Explorer displaying an HTTP location
Visual Web Developer knows how to investigate your IIS location and display its contents automatically in the Solution Explorer. If the folder contents are changed outside of Visual Web Developer, you’ll need to right-click the root node and select Refresh Folder to refresh Visual Web Developer’s display of the directory’s contents.
Core Web Application Features
Let’s continue our exploration of the key topics related to developing ASP.NET web applications. We’ll put them into practice as we move through the book, but in this quick introduction, we’ll discuss:
Web.config
Global.asax
user sessions
caching
cookies
Web.config
Almost every ASP.NET web application contains a file named Web.config, which stores various application settings. By default, all ASP.NET web applications are
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Web.config
configured in the Machine.config file, which contains machine-wide settings, and lives in the C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\version\CONFIG directory.
For the most part, you won’t want to make any modifications to this file. However, you can override certain settings of the Machine.config file by adding a Web.config file to the root directory of your application. You may already have this file in your project; if you don’t, you can add one by accessing File > New File…, then selecting Web Configuration File from the dialog that appears.
The Web.config file is an XML file that can hold configuration settings for the application in which the file resides. One of the most useful settings that Web.config controls is ASP.NET’s debug mode. If you’re using VB, you can enable debug mode by opening Web.config and editing the compilation element, which looks like this:
File: Web.config (excerpt)
<!--
Set compilation debug="true" to insert debugging symbols into the compiled page. Because this affects performance, set this value to true only during development.
Visual Basic options:
Set strict="true" to disallow all data type conversions where data loss can occur.
Set explicit="true" to force declaration of all variables.
-->
<compilation debug="false" strict="false" explicit="true" />
Enabling debug mode is as simple as changing the value of the debug attribute to true. The other attributes listed here were added by Visual Web Developer to offer a helping hand to VB developers migrating from older versions. For example, strict="false" makes the compiler forgive some of the mistakes we might make, such as using the wrong case in variable names.
If you’re using C#, you’ll need to create the Web.config file yourself. Go to File > New File…, then select Web Configuration File from the dialog that appears, and click Add. This will create the default Web.config file, which will contain the following section:
File: Web.config (excerpt)
<!--
Set compilation debug="true" to insert debugging
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Chapter 5: Building Web Applications
symbols into the compiled page. Because this affects performance, set this value to true only during development.
-->
<compilation debug="false" />
Once again, set debug to true to enable ASP.NET’s debugging features.
Web.config can also be used to store custom information for your application in a central location that’s accessible from all the pages of your site. For example, you might want to store the email address of someone in your technical support team so it can be changed easily, so you might take the approach shown here:
File: Web.config (excerpt)
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="SupportEmail" value="support@dorknozzle.com" /> </appSettings>
</configuration>
This way, whenever you need to display or use an email address for technical support within the site, you can simply read the SupportEmail key using the WebConfigurationManager class. And, if you wanted to change the email address you used for technical support, you’d just need to change this setting in
Web.config.
Another aid for VB users, the default Web.config file generated by Visual Web Developer contains a number of namespace references:
File: Web.config (excerpt)
<pages>
<namespaces>
<clear/>
<add namespace="System"/>
<add namespace="System.Collections"/>
<add namespace="System.Collections.Specialized"/> <add namespace="System.Configuration"/>
<add namespace="System.Text"/>
<add namespace="System.Text.RegularExpressions"/> <add namespace="System.Web"/>
<add namespace="System.Web.Caching"/>
<add namespace="System.Web.SessionState"/> <add namespace="System.Web.Security"/> <add namespace="System.Web.Profile"/>
<add namespace="System.Web.UI"/>
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Web.config
<add namespace="System.Web.UI.WebControls"/>
<add namespace="System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts"/> <add namespace="System.Web.UI.HtmlControls"/>
</namespaces>
</pages>
We can use classes from these namespaces in our code without needing to reference them in every file in which they’re used. As you can see, Visual Web Developer tries to offer an extra level of assistance for VB developers, but users of C# (or any other language) could also add these namespace references to Web.config.
You’ll learn more about working with Web.config as you progress through this book, so if you wish, you can skip the rest of these details for now, and come back to them later as you need them.
The Web.config file’s root element is always configuration, which can contain three different types of elements:
configuration section groups
As ASP.NET and the .NET Framework are so configurable, configuration files could easily become jumbled if we didn’t have a way to break the files into groups of related settings. A number of predefined section grouping tags let you do just that. For example, settings specific to ASP.NET must be placed inside a system.web section grouping element, while settings that are relevant to .NET’s networking classes belong inside a system.net element.
General settings, like the appSettings element we saw above, stand on their own, outside the section grouping tags. In this book, though, our configuration files will also contain a number of ASP.NET-specific settings, which live inside the system.web element.
configuration sections
These are the actual setting tags in our configuration file. Since a single element can contain a number of settings (e.g. the appSettings element we saw earlier could contain a number of different strings for use by the application), Microsoft calls each of these tags a “configuration section.” ASP.NET provides a wide range of built-in configuration sections to control the various aspects of your web applications.
The following list outlines some of the commonly used ASP.NET configuration sections, all of which must appear within the system.web section grouping element:
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