Web Based Applications

1. Web Based Applications Active Server Pages

2. Introduction • Moving away from stand-alone model • Focus on web-based data processing • Need for anytime, anywhere access

3. Overview • About ASP Technology • ASP Object Model • Creating ASP applications

4. About ASP Technology

5. What Is ASP? • ASP is a Microsoft Technology • ASP stands for Active Server Pages • ASP is a program that runs inside IIS

6. What Is An ASP File? • ASP file is similar to an HTML file • ASP file extension has to be “.asp” • It can contain HTML, XML, and scripts

7. What Is An ASP Script? • ASP scripts use VBScript or JScript syntax • ASP code is included within <% %> tags • Scripts execute on the server before sending output to the client browser

8. What Can ASP Do? • Provide dynamic content to any web page • Respond to user queries from HTML forms • Access any data or database for content • Customize websites for each individual • Minimize network traffic with fewer pages

9. ASP Object Model

10. ASP Application Object • Used to store objects and variables for the application that can be accessed by every ASP page • Contents store the information about the application’s state and behavior

11. Methods Lock UnLock Events Application_OnStart Application_OnEnd ASP Application Object • Usage • Application(“VariableName”) = Variable • Variable = Application(“VariableName”) • Set Object = Application(“ObjectName”)

12. ASP Session Object • Used to store information for a single user • Session information is stored in a cookie • Common session information can include user’s id, name, and preferences

13. Methods Abandon Events Session_OnStart Session_OnEnd ASP Session Object • Usage • Session(“VariableName”) = Variable • Variable = Session(“VariableName”) • Set Object = Session(“ObjectName”)

14. ASP Server Object • Used to access information about the server • Provides methods to access server resources • Enables server management at run-time

15. Methods CreateObject Execute Transfer MapPath GetLastError HTMLEncode URLEncode ASP Server Object

16. ASP Request Object • Used to access information from users • Provides methods for processing user input • User input comes from forms, cookies, URLs, web browsers, and client certificates

17. Collections Form Cookies QueryString ServerVariables Methods BinaryRead Properties TotalBytes ASP Request Object

18. ASP Response Object • Used to send server output to the users • Provides methods to send HTTP headers, HTML content or even files to the users • Output can be directed to the web browser or to a cookie on user’s machine

19. Collections Cookies Methods BinaryWrite Write Redirect Properties Buffer Expires ContentType IsClientConnected Status ASP Response Object

20. ASP Error Object • Used to display detailed information of any error in scripts in an ASP page • Provides easy alternative to line-by-line debugging

21. Properties ASPCode ASPDescription Category Description File Line Column Source ASP Error Object

22. Other ASP Objects • ASP File System Object Provides access to server’s file system • ASP ADODB Object Provides access to database sources • ASP Dictionary Object Collection structure similar to C++ Map

23. ASP Global.asa File • Used to declare objects, variables, and methods that can be accessed by every single page in an ASP program • Includes event handlers for Application and Session start and end

24. Creating ASP Applications

25. Learning Plan • Using Microsoft IIS Console • Creating websites in IIS • Basic ASP application demo • Login script dissection

26. Summary • ASP enables web-based processing • ASP Object Model is flexible • ASP is a proven technology

27. Useful Online Resources • Microsoft MSDN Library http://msdn.microsoft.com • W3Schools Online Web Tutorials http://www.w3schools.com