Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 and Databases

by John Kauffman; Bradley Millington

• ISBN13: 9780471781349
• ISBN10: 0471781347
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-08-01
• Publisher: Wrox

Summary

Combining both VB.Net and C# coverage in one book, this guide focuses on using ASP.NET 2.0 for solving business dynamic Web site challenges in a logical progression, from connecting to a database to displaying information to changing data Covers the fundamentals of connecting Web pages to databases, techniques for creating data objects and events, and ways to handle data errors Features tricks and traps for displaying data in grids, lists, and trees Goes beyond the usual basic techniques to discuss the best practices and pitfalls that can occur in real-world scenarios with SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Access, and the new SQL Server Express Edition

Author Biography

John Kaufman (Ogdensburg NY) is a trainer and writer working in Asia and North America specializing in connecting databases to the web. While teaching he keeps a list of student questions and mistakes and uses that information as the basis for future material in books. John authored best-seller Beginning ASP Databases and coauthored several other best-sellers including Beginning Active Server Pages 3. Bradley Millington (Redmond, WA) is a Microsoft Program Manager for the Web Platform and Tools Team with primary responsibility for the database controls in ASP.NET. He is a well-known frequent speaker at Microsoft technical conferences including TechEd and PDC.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction to ASP.NET 2.0 and ADO.NET

Overview of the .NET Technologies

Introduction to the .NET Framework

Introduction to ASP.NET

Introduction to ASP.NET 2.0

Introduction to ADO.NET

Review of ASP.NET 1.x and ADO.NET for Data Access

ASP.NET 2.0 and Data Access

Review of Terminology

Requirements for Using ASP.NET 2.0

A Web Server

The .NET Framework Version 2.0

An Editor to Create Web Pages

A Database Management System

Setup for This Book

Install Visual Web Developer Express, SSE, and the ASP.NET Development Server

Download This Book's Files

Create the Practice Web Site

Install the Sample Databases

Demonstrations

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Connecting to an Access Database

Introduction to Microsoft Access and the JET Database Engine

Pros and Cons of Using Access in Web Applications

Connecting to a Microsoft Access Database in Visual Web Developer

Using an AccessDataSource Control

Variations in Select Statements

Variations in MDB File Location

Managing MDB File Permissions

Handling Access Connection Failures Gracefully

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Connecting to SQL Server and SQL Server Express

Introduction to SQL Server and Connection Strings

Preparing to Use a SQL Server Database

Specifying Connection Strings

Using the SqlDataSource Control

Understanding Security in SQL Server

Authentication Options in SQL Server

Authentication with SQL Server Express

Database Rights with SQL Server Express

Authentication Requirements for the SqlDataSource Control

Storing the Connection String in the web.config File

Manually Adding a Connection String to the web.config File

Encrypting Connection Strings

Choosing between DataSet and DataReader

Discovering the Schema of an Unfamiliar Database

Handling Failures with SqlDataSource

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Connecting to Other Relational Databases

Introduction to Connections with Providers

Understanding the Relationship between Layers of Connectivity Software

Understanding Supported ADO.NET Providers

Using ADO.NET Providers in ASP.NET 2.0

Connecting to an Access MDB File When a Password Is Used

Connecting to Oracle Database

Connecting to MySQL

Syntax for an ODBC Connection to MySQL

Connecting to Excel

Connecting to Other Databases

Exploring Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Displaying Data in Tables

Displaying Data in ASP.NET 2.0

Review of Data-Bound and Data Source Controls

Types of Data-Bound Controls

Introduction to the GridView Control

Capabilities of the GridView Control

GridView Rendering Elements

Connecting a GridView to Data

Drag and Drop Fields from Data Explorer

Drag and Drop Controls from the Toolbox

Customizing the GridView's Columns

Selecting Columns in the Edit Columns Dialog Box

Types of Column Fields

Using the AutoGenerateColumns Property of the GridView

Handling Null Field Values

The DetailsView Control

DetailsView Rendering Elements

Connecting the DetailsView to Data

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Customizing the Appearance of Tables

Customizing the Appearance of an Entire Table

Setting the BackColor and a BackImageUrl

Font and ForeColor

Height and Width

CellSpacing and CellPadding

Borders and GridLines

HorizontalAlign

ShowHeader and ShowFooter

ToolTip

Customizing Styles within a Table

GridView and DetailsView Styles

Empty Tables

Styles Specific to the DetailsView Control

Column Styles and Field Styles

Using Cascading Style Sheets

Understanding the Precedence of Styles

Implementing Themes and Skins

Using Auto Format in VWD

Solving Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Sorting and Paging Data

Introduction

Sorting

Requirements to Enable Sorting

Understanding How ASP.NET 2.0 Manages Sorting

Sort Expressions

Paging

Enabling Paging

Customizing Paging and Pager Navigation Tools

Paging Theory and Alternatives

The Relationship among Sorting, Paging, and Selecting

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Displaying Data in Selection Lists

Introduction to Selection Lists

Transition from GridView to Other Formats

Types of Selection List Controls

Concepts Common to All Selection List Controls

Data-Binding List Controls

DropDownList Control

Selection in a List

SelectedIndex and SelectedValue

Automatic Postback

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Filtering and Master-Details Scenarios

Introducing Master-Details Scenarios

Filtering GridView Records Using a Query String

Filtering GridView Records Using a TextBox

Using the SQL LIKE Operator

The Theory of Selection and ControlParameters

Scoping GridView Records Using a Selection List Control

Master Control by DropDownList with Hard-Coded Items

Master Control by ListBoxes with Data-Bound Items

Display Options for GridView in Master-Details Scenario

Master Control by List Boxes with a Default Setting That Shows all Records in the GridView

Displaying Details Using a GridView and DetailsView on the Same Page

Displaying Details Using a GridView and DetailsView on Different Pages

Cascading DropDownLists

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Displaying Data in Templated Controls and Data Binding

Introduction to Templates

Template Location and Scope

Template Contents

Record Rendering: Repeat and Single

Subsections of Templates

Data Binding in Templates

General Guidelines for Using Templated Controls

GridView Template Columns

DataList Control

DataList Control Internal Layout

Repeater Control

Templates in the DetailsView Control

FormView Control

Comparison of the Templated Controls

A Few More Advanced Ideas on Data Binding

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Updating and Deleting Data

Overview of Modifying

Command Fields

Simple Update

DataKeyNames and Updates

Update in a DetailsView

Parameters Collections

Handle Nulls in Updates

Delete to Remove Entire Records

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Inserting New Records

Theory of Creating New Records

Support for Insert

What Happens under the Hood?

Database Considerations When Performing an Insert

Enabling Insert in a Data Source Control

Basic Insert Using DetailsView

DetailsView Insert Starting from GridView

GridView and DetailsView for Insert on Same Page

GridView on One Page with DetailsView on a Different Page

Insert Using TemplateFields

Using the Bind Syntax in InsertItemTemplate

Data Entry with RadioButtonLists and DropDownLists

Data Entry with CheckBoxes

Inserting with FormView

Trade-Offs between DetailsView and FormView

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Validation

Overview of Validation Controls

What Are Validation Controls?

What Scenarios Do Validations Support?

Common Concepts of Validation Controls

Common Properties

Implementation of Validation Controls

How Validation Works behind the Scenes

Multiple Validations

Types of Validation controls

Validation in Data Scenarios

Validation Summary

Validation Groups

Validation in Code

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Business Objects As a Source of Data

Introduction to the ObjectDataSource Control

Layers of an N-Tier Application

Advantages of N-Tier Architectures

Simple Objects with Hard-Coded Data

Binds to a Hard-Coded Array

Objects That Use Generics

Objects That Bind to a DataSource

Using VWD to Build Objects with Data

Object That Returns a DataSet List

Objects That Modify Data

Master-Details with a Data Object

Sorts in a Data Object

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

XML and Other Hierarchical Data

What Is Hierarchical Data?

Types of Hierarchical Data

ASP.NET 2.0 Hierarchical Data Controls

XmlDataSource and the TreeView Control

DataBinding and Formatting the TreeView

XPath with XmlDataSource

Handling Events in a TreeView Control

Hierarchical Data with Other Controls

XmlDataSource and the DropDownList

XmlDataSource and GridView

XmlDataSource and DataList

XmlDataSource and DataList with Nesting

SiteMapDataSource, SiteMapPath, and the Menu Control

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Caching Data

Caching and Its Benefits

When to Use Caching

Understanding State

Understanding State Staleness

Caching Options in ASP.NET 2.0

A Note on Data for the Exercises

Time-Based Cache Expiration

Caching with Parameters

Implementing Filtering Capability

SQL Server Cache Invalidation

Caching Partial Pages

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Handling Events for Data Controls

Introduction to Event Handling

Execution Control When an Event Is Triggered

Types of Events

General Techniques for Writing Event Handlers

Transfer of Values When an Event Is Triggered

Location of Event Handlers

Command and Custom Button Events

Using Events Raised by Command Buttons or Command FIelds

Using Events Raised by Buttons with Custom Behavior

List Selection Events and Page Events

Data Control Binding Events

General Error Events

Common Mistakes

Summary

Exercises

Performance Checklist

Convert Pages from Earlier Versions to 2.0

Switch from Access to SQL Server

Use the DataReader Instead of the DataSet

Use OLEDB Instead of ODBC

Set List Items Statically

Cache Data

Cache Whole or Partial Pages

Use SQL Server Cache Invalidation

Typecast in Code

Specifically List Columns Instead of using AutoGenerate Columns

Turn Off ViewState When Possible

Set Properties Declaratively

Use Best Practices in Code

Precompile Your Pages

Case Study: FAQ System

Project Description

Database Design

Development of Files

Summary

A Short and Practical Introduction to SQL Statements

Exercise Answers

Index

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