Programming | | Notes on what in the heck is ASP .NET?:
What in the heck is ASP .NET? Active Server Page (ASP .NET) allows programmers to write program logic that dynamically constructs a web page that uses HTML and Visual Basic .NET scripting code. The ASP.NET page framework is provided to implicitly make the associations of an event to an event handler for you. Using the page framework allows you to easily create a user interface that reacts to user actions. For example, ASP.NET allows you to set up event handlers in server code for events that are passed from the browser to the server and back again. This type of web application allows the web page to return to the server to complete any event or processing steps. Assume the user is interacting with a Web Forms page that contains one button server control. The user clicks the button control and an event is raised that is transmitted via an HTTP post to the server where the ASP.NET page framework interprets the posted information and associates the raised event with an appropriate event handler.

The Life Cycle of a Web Forms Page: In general, the life cycle for a Web Forms page is similar to that of any Web process that runs on the server. Certain characteristics of Web processing — information passed via HTTP protocol, the stateless nature of Web pages, and so on — apply to Web Forms pages just as they do to most Web applications. However, the ASP.NET page framework performs many Web application services for you. For example, the ASP.NET page framework captures information posted with the Web Forms page, extracts the relevant values, and makes the information accessible via object properties. It is important to understand the sequence of events that occurs when a Web Forms page is processed.

Round Trips: The browser presents the user with a form, and the user interacts with the form, causing the form to post back to the server. However, since all processing that interacts with server components must occur on the server, this means that for each action that requires processing, the form must be posted to the server, processed, and returned to the browser. This sequence of events is referred to as a round trip.

Imagine a business scenario: A user enters an order and you want to confirm sufficient inventory for the order, so your application posts the page to the server at an appropriate point in the user's order-entry process. A server process examines the order, performs an inventory lookup, perhaps takes some action defined in business logic (such as modifying the page to indicate an error), and then returns the page to the browser for the user to continue.

To get a better way how ASP .NET works is to contect to a programming web page. If your web address request has an extension (.aspx) then this will be an ASP .NET web page. A map on the web server tells it that the ASPX extension is handled by ASP .NET. In an ASP .NET web page, most user actions — such as clicking a button — result in a round trip. For that reason, the events available in ASP.NET server controls are usually click-event types. Take note, not all Hosting sites support ASP .NET. If the server that is being used does not support ASP .NET then you will not beable to see the ASP .NET controls. You can find a list of hosting sites that support ASP .NET at: http://www.asp.net.

Visual Studio .NET vs Web Matrix: As you may know, you can create ASP .NET applications though Microsoft Visual Studio .NET environment. Not only can you create web pages, but create also any kind of application that Microsoft .NET can be used to create. In addition, your PC or computer will need to complete many tasks to have the Visual Studio .NET environment open and save any ASP .NET applications.

The computers in your classroom should have this installed but, if you wish to program in ASP .NET you might need the down load file. But, if you do not have Visual Studio .NET environment at home you can use the free download Web Matrix that is made by Microsoft. Web Matrix is a comparatively simple tool that focuses on only one task creating ASP .NET Web pages. In short, Visual Studio .NET environment is a professional tool and Web Matrix is a much simple tool for folks who just want to create a commercial Web site. If you wish to download Web Matrix or gather more information the following is the web page will link you to downloading the software: (Web Matrix link to download program)

Online training: In addition to completing the example problems in this unit, you will be asked to link to another web site for further reading and reviewing design and development concepts. The web site is Microsoft ASP.NET QuickStarts Tutorial which is shown below.

Getting Started: You need to read and review the Getting Started section in the Microsoft ASP.NET QuickStarts Tutorial web page. You will need to click on the three links in the Getting Started section. These links will just introduce you to ASP .NET.

Click on the above link (which will take you to this page) or complete the review through the window below. Then click on Start the ASP.NET QuickStart.Tutorial

Teacher's Comments: In this unit you will be guided to learn, develop, and use new ASP .NET structures. You have been taught (in Programming) already the basic window application environment. You will continue to review more structures while moving forward with new web design concepts.