Active Server Pages for Dummies [With *With Cheatsheet]

As a professional VB developer, I needed to learn the basics of ASP--the built in objects and the syntax of VBScript. Hatfield provides the coverage. Even though I need a more comprehensive VBScript reference at hand while I'm programming, it is the foundation acquired from the Dummies book that allows me to find what I need. The text is readable and well focused.Weaknesses: Although there are some examples in JavaScript, the preponderance of the code is in VBScript. Another shortcoming is the use of clever chapter titles, rather than descriptive titles. If you're reading from cover to cover--easy to do with Hatfield--then the titles don't really matter.Honestly, my major problem with the book is being seen with it. But then, how much of a dummy can you be if you're learning ASP.Conclusion: An excellent choice for your first book on ASP, even for stuffy "professionals."

I was wondering when will an author come out and write an ASP book that everyone can easily understand. Fortunately Dummy Series came out with this nice book. This book is a really good resource for a starter ASP programmers. The layout will prevent you to get bored of the book. The real world examples will keep your head in the book and you will enjoy while you are learning. The book covers more VbScript examples rather than JScript.The only disadvantage is, it doesnt cover very advanced subjects; but since its a dummy book it hit the target. I would get this book if I would be someone that is thinking to start ASP...

If you want to learn server side scripting in VBScript you can go pretty much anywhere. If you want to learn server side scripting in JScript then this one of the few places to go. The JScript examples aren't much but they're better than nothing and the examples all work. I knew C/C++, SQL and some client side Javascript so it seemed like a natural way to go but there is simply not much written about server side scripting in JScript. Even though most of the examples are written in VBScript, they are clear and challenging enough to get you going. One the hardest hurdles is loading the Personal Web Server. If you don't already have a favorite HTML or ASP editor try UltraEdit32 and do yourself a favor from the beginning download the Script Debugger if your using Internet Explorer. It's free and like so many other things that go into learning Active Server Pages "it's better than nothing".Overall I like the book and the humor is tolerable. If he ever wants to write another I'd be happy to provide some additional JScript examples. I know enough to get buy for now and in the end that's what I wanted. I had a project that needed to get done by the end of the year and it looks like I'll make it. Thanks to all of you who have written these reviews in the past. For the most part they have faithfully guided me to the most useful and most useable sources of information available.

ASP for Dummies was the first computer book I ever read cover to cover. I learned to do use ASP efectively with this book in less than a week!The exapmple code in the book is well written and easily portable. This book was so cool that it forced me to buy weebspace on a decent server so that I could share my ASP Pages with the world in less than a month.

Active Server Pages technology rocks! This is the easiest way to harness web database power. Turn your clients' web sites into interactive WEB APPLICATIONS today. Learn how to easily use built-in web server objects to pass data between your web pages, and to and from your server using Request, Response, Application, and Session. Discover the global.asa file which maintains your application & session objects. Learn about the built-in server component for database support, ADO, and its Connection & RecordSet objects. Brush up on your SQL commands so that you can customize your database queries. I went from non-programmer to intermediate-level ASP developer in less than a month. Find an ISP that hosts the IIS or chiliSoft ASP web server, and read these great books to learn how to get your Web APPLICATION up & running this week: ASP for Dummies --> Beginning ASP 2.0 --> Professional ASP 2.0 and ADO 2.0.