Newbie to ASP.net

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clement Kim
  • Start date Start date
C

Clement Kim

Hi All,
As stated above, I am new to ASP.net. I have been using ASP2/3 for
about 6 years now. Bought some books on ASP.net. I was wondering, do
most of you guys use the Server and/or Web Controls. I guess the
thought of no more coding HTML is "mind-boggling". Has ASP.net become
like VB6 WinForms (drag and drop to create User Interface). Also, are
there any downsides in using Server and/or Web controls.
I am currently using VS.net and C#.

Thanks in advance,
Clem
 
HTML is old hat. Web Controls and the rest of ASP.NET encapsulate most of
that messiness for you.
You don't even need to know HTML at all to be a halfway decent ASP.NET
developer.
However it will come in handy from time to time for implementing more
advanced functionality.
 
IMO there's a fine line between *programming a web page and *designing a web
page, and in that regard, the idea that you'll never touch HTML again is
perhaps idealistic. For me that sounds like a bad thing because personally,
I love and need to be closely involved in (e.g. being a control freak over)
the HTML and vs.net keeps me pretty happy. My favorite control is the
label. Maintains a viewstate, and lets me fill it with whatever html I want
:) I've got lables with images, tables, half a table, whatever. I treat
them sorta like SSIs

My job requires I do both program and design, and VS.NET/ASP.NET has still
proven to be the best tool for the job I've ever used.
 
Steve,
Thanks for the quick reply. "Hardly anymore HTML coding, cool yet
weird." Just wondering do you use developersdex a lot? Never heard of it
until you and 2 others replied to my post. I guess I'll give it a try.

Thanks Again,
Clem
 
Eruess,
Thanks for the quick reply... I too am a control freak and that's why I
posted my question. I still can't believe it but you and a few others
said it's true. I understand what you mean by designing and programming
and from what little I've gathered, ASP.net is better at separating both
of these than ASP2/3 was.

Once Again Thanks,
Clem
 
I have a tendancy to use a good bit of HTML in ASP.Net apps. I have seen way
too much abuse of WebControls and HtmlControls in ASP.Net pages. Places
where, for example, a simple image tag was needed, but the developer dragged
an ASP.Net Image control onto the page. This makes for a lot of overhead in
the end application. Raw HTML is compiled at run-time into LiteralControls,
which have very littel overhead. So, I have an optimization rule of thumb
which I go by:

1. Use HTML when you can (smallest footprint - compiles to LiteralControls)
2. If you need more functionality, use an HTMLControl (next smallest
footprint)
3. If necessary, use a WebControl (biggest footprint)

I do my HTML in FrontPage and then paste it into my ASPX pages in VS.Net.
Then I can right-click form elements and make them "runat=server" instantly,
drag other controls onto the page, etc. quite easily and quickly. Then I can
go about writing the CodeBehind.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
http://www.takempis.com
Complex things are made up of
lots of simple things.
 
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