Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to build dynamic Web applications with either ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005 or with ASP.NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008. You learn how to create sophisticated user interfaces with minimal code and integrate data access functionality with data binding and data-source controls. What's new in ASP.NET 3.5? ASP.NET 3.5 includes two new data controls, the ListView and DataPager, which are used in the course case study to deliver a flexible data design. Visual Studio 2008 has many new productivity enhancements which the course shows you how to exploit. Can I build ASP.NET 2.0 applications in Visual Studio 2008? Yes, you can. One of the new features of Visual Studio 2008 is the ability to build ASP.NET 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 applications. This course shows you how to select which version of ASP.NET you want to use when working with Visual Studio 2008. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for those interested in building ASP.NET Web application using either ASP.NET 2.0 or 3.5, including: Programmers who want to add Web development to their skill set Developers of legacy ASP or ASP.NET 1.1 applications who want to upgrade to ASP.NET 2.0 or 3.5 Those who are primarily interested in producing dynamic Web pages using WebForms I already use ASP.NET 1.1. Will this course be useful for me? Yes. ASP.NET 2.0 and 3.5 are significantly different from ASP.NET 1.1, although there is some overlap between the two versions. New topics introduced in ASP.NET 2.0 and used in 3.5 include Master Pages, data-source controls, the Wizard control and personalisation. I'm already using ASP.NET 2.0. Will this course be useful for me in upgrading to ASP.NET 3.5? No. For the topics covered in this course, ASP.NET 2.0 and 3.5 are very similar. However, Course 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET AJAX covers many of the features that are only available in ASP.NET 3.5/ Visual Studio 2008, including AJAX for ASP.NET. What background do I need? You should be familiar with application development concepts, as well as the Windows graphical environment. Experience with a modern programming language such as a .NET language, Java, Visual Basic or C++ is assumed. For example, you should: Know how to work with objects (e.g., call methods, set/read properties, write event-driven code) Have some experience creating user interfaces in desktop or Web applications Be able to employ modern language constructs It is also assumed that you have a basic understanding of HTML. ASP.NET 1.1 experience is not required. If you have a background in ASP.NET 1.1 and are considering or planning to upgrade to ASP.NET 3.5, this course will be highly valuable for you. How detailed should my HTML knowledge be? You should know that Web pages are built with HTML and how browsers convert into the display. You should also: Be familiar with the basic tags, primarily the anchor tag (the <a> tag) that creates hyperlinks Recognize a URL Understand the process that a Web page goes through I need to use ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005 back at work. Will this course be valuable for me? Absolutely! This course will provide you with a solid foundation in the skills you need to create Web sites in ASP.NET 2.0 using Visual Studio 2005. All of the core topics in this class are identical between Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008. The course notes and exercise manual point out any differences between Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008. The same is true of ASP.NET 2.0 and 3.5: They are very similar, and where there are differences between the two versions, the course points out the differences and describes how to perform common tasks in both versions. Only one exercise in the last chapter of the course uses WebForm controls that aren't available in ASP.NET 2.0. How does this course differ from Course 506? While both courses cover the ASP.NET application development structure, this course is for those new to Web development and focuses on creating consistent user interfaces with sophisticated navigation controls, exploiting the ASP.NET 3.5 data driven controls, and implementing reusability through user controls. Course 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET AJAX, emphasises ASP.NET in the context of the enterprise and is best suited for those with previous Web development experience. Taking both courses provides comprehensive knowledge of ASP.NET Web application development. I am a project leader. Will I benefit from this course? Yes, this course will help you understand the challenges faced by your developers and what is and is not possible when creating applications with ASP.NET 3.5. You'll also see how the rapid application development tools within ASP.NET 3.5 can improve your team's productivity. I currently build applications with ASP/JSP/PHP or ColdFusion. Will I benefit from this course? Yes. ASP.NET 3.5 is a distinct Web development environment and is the state-of-the-art technology for creating Web applications. ASP.NET 3.5 increases productivity, allowing developers to deliver more functionality with less code. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Getting started with ASP.NET 3.5 1.5 Architecting the user interface 3.0 Retrieving and updating data 5.0 Enhancing Web pages 3.0 Securing the application 2.0 Maintaining state 1.5 Enabling personalisation 2.0 Improving application functionality 2.5 Deploying your application 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much of this course is hands-on? About 45 percent of this course is spent on hands-on exercises, providing you with practical experience developing Web applications. Offered in both Visual Basic 2008 and C# 3.0, exercises include: implementing a consistent user interface with Master Pages, Themes and Skins; employing navigation models with SiteMapPath, Menus and TreeViews; and identifying users with login controls. By the time you complete the course, you are able to develop a full-featured Web application using a combination of static and dynamic Web pages. Which .NET languages does this course cover? This course is presented with both Visual Basic 2008 and C# 3.0 as its basis. Exercises, sample solutions and sample code are offered in both VB 2008 and C# 3.0. What is the difference between Visual Web Developer and Visual Studio 2008? Visual Web Developer is the Visual Studio 2008 component used to create Web applications. Microsoft also offers a stand-alone version of Visual Web Developer, called Visual Web Developer Express, with most of the functionality of the full version. Does this course help me prepare for any Microsoft certification exams? Yes. This course, in conjunction with Course 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET AJAX, helps you prepare for Microsoft Exam 70-562: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development, which earns credit toward the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications certification. Also in conjunction with Course 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET AJAX, Course 512 helps you prepare for Microsoft Exam 70-564: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, which earns credit toward the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): ASP.NET Developer 3.5 certification. Due to the difficulty of Microsoft certification exams, those who take Courses 506 and 512 would also need to study before taking these exams. Why should I take this course instead of one offered by Microsoft? Learning Tree is dedicated to helping accelerate the careers of our clients by providing them with world-class technology and management training. Our independence from Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to give an unbiased view of what works and what does not. This course is objective in its approach, having been developed independently from Microsoft by industry experts who bring their real-world experience to the classroom. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? The following Learning Tree courses complement the knowledge gained in Course 512 and provide practical skills toward refining your .NET Web development abilities: 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET AJAX  511, .NET Best Practices and Design Patterns: Hands-On  508, Building Web Services with .NET 2.0: Hands-On  538, SharePoint® Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction  You may also be interested in the following related courses: 513, Windows® Communication Foundation (WCF): Creating .NET 3.5 Web Services  514, Windows® Workflow Foundation (WF): Hands-On  509, Programming Windows® and Smart Client Applications with .NET: Hands-On  503, Visual Basic® 2008 Programming: Hands-On  974, Programming Visual Basic® Extended Features: Hands-On  419, C# Programming: Hands-On  973, Programming C# Extended Features: Hands-On  218, User and System Requirements for Successful Software Development  340, Project Management for Software Development