Beginning ASP Databases (Programmer to Programmer)
Beginning ASP Databases (Programmer to Programmer) by John Kauffman, K. Spencer and Thearon Willis
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Number of Pages:
- 825
- ISBN:
- 1861002726
- Product Group:
- book
- Publisher:
- WROX Press Ltd
- Publication Date:
- Sept. 1, 1999
- BooksForGeeks.com ID:
- 911
As a tutorial, Beginning ASP Databases offers an entry point to one of the most crucial aspects of Microsoft oriented web development--database integration with Active Server Pages. In Beginning ASP Databases, a trio of authors covers the basics of working with databases from ASP--especially using ActiveX Database Objects (ADO).
The book is quite substantive in content but is written in a somewhat light-hearted style that makes readers new to the technology comfortable. The authors begin with a discussion of the benefits of ASP and ADO and then explain how to configure the technology on the various flavours of Windows. From there, they show how to access databases using ADO, demystify how it all works and focus on several key areas including debugging, SQL and stored procedures.
Plenty of code examples are included and each is captioned well with step-by-step explanations. Exercises and quizzes also complement the material. Throughout the book the authors identify some quite useful techniques to employ and traps to watch for--nuggets of knowledge that will set new ASP programmers on the right track. A lengthy case study ties it all together with a real world example.
If you're planning on building web sites on the Microsoft platform, ASP/ADO database access knowledge is essential. This fine guide offers a smooth way to get up to speed. --Stephen W Plain, Amazon.com
Topics covered: ADO/OLE DB architecture, SQL, record sets, databases and cookies, error handling, Command object, stored procedures, irregular data handling, performance testing and tuning.
Reviews for Beginning ASP Databases (Programmer to Programmer)
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Don't let the beard scare you
Rated out of 5 stars, September 12th, 2008
After landing a job working on an intranet where everything is ASP, and not knowing the first thing about it, I had to learn fast. This book taught me a lot, and even enabled me to show the old hands one or two things they knew nothing about.
I've got a shelf full of Wrox titles, many of which start off simple enough but lose me before halfway. This book is different though, if you actually 'try out' the 'try it outs' by typing them in (instead of just downloading them), and follow the excellent line-by-line explanations that follow every example, you will quickly become familiar with the techniques required to make ASP work for you. The end of chapter exercises are perfect for reinforcing all what you've just learned.
Great credit must go to the author, as this is probably the first technical book that I have read cover-to-cover and have, on the whole, understood everything.
On a technical note, in every example the author uses DSN, and quite often relies on implicit connections. If you have trouble with this - as I did - then use an explicit connection (see page 188) and OLEDB instead, e.g.:
Set objConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
objConn.Provider = "Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"
objConn.Open "C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\db\Sailors.mdb"
Set objRS = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
objRS.Open "People", objConn
instead of:
Set objRs = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
objRs.Open "People", "DSN=sailors" -
Great ASP & Access Database Book!
Rated out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2005
This book teaches you more about programming with Access Databases than ASP! But if thats what your after, than this book is what you need!Before i read this book, i knew nothing about using access with ASP. Now i can Display, update, delete, add and search records using ASP with databases. If your looking to build dynamic web sites such as content managment, guest books, message boards etc.. this is what you want. On every page, there is a clear description and any code is broken down into sections so you can clearly understand it! This book explains how you can use access with ASP. It also explains how to use other basic ASP functions such as sessions, cookies, Objects, SQL statments, POST, GET and Security features.
If you are new to ASP, you may find it a little hard to understand. But if you Know the basics of ASP you should find this easy!
If you are serious about Web Programming, i would look into buying a SQL database book aswell as Access is slow when there are more than 2 people connected to the database! But all - in - all, this book is great! I mostly use this book as a reference when building new web applications!
10/10!
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Ok introduction to ASP databases, but very long winded
Rated out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2001
I bought this book after reading Wrox's "Beginning Active Server Pages 3.0" thinking it would expand on the three chapters on databases. After wading through a few chapters, I began to realise that I was learning very little more. "Beginning ASP Databases" doesn't go into much more depth but seems to explain things much less concisely. I may be mistaken, but it also uses wildly different programming conventions than other similar Wrox titles, making the example code more difficult to follow. I would recommend "Beginning Active Server Pages 3.0" as a clearer, more concise introduction to ASP databases, even though it only devotes three chapters to the subject. -
OK, but long-winded
Rated out of 5 stars, June 12th, 2001
This isn't a book for those in a hurry to learn. Just the size of it is offputting enough. There are some good explanations within, but other books (e.g. Sams) hit the mark a lot quicker!! -
Excellent resource book for ASP Databases
Rated out of 5 stars, May 12th, 2001
Taught me all I was looking for, i.e. how to link ASP pages to databases. The book recommends prior knowledge of ASP scripting, but it is so comprehensive that you don't need to know it beforehand (I didn't). It guides you through setting up Microsoft Personal Web Server, linking it to your Access Database, and constantly points out the main pitfalls encountered in each process. Overall, very good value, but it's a shame there was no CD with the source code included.