Sams Teach Yourself Visual Interdev6 in 24 Hours

by Tom Archer

This text aims to quickly enable the reader to create database-driven dynamic web sites and web applications. The CD-ROM includes Microsoft's trial version of Visual InterDev. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0672316420
• ISBN13: 9780672316425
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Sams
• Length: 476 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Informative? Absolute! ; Pefect writing style? Who cares!

Being a developer, I think I have a slightly different take on computer books than the "PhD" that wrote one of the reviews. The reviewer there spoke of thing such as "absence of vocal inflection" and other nonsense. Sorry, but I don't know what that means and don't care to. When I purchase a book to learn a programming language or tool, I care about 2 things: the author's knowledge and his ability to convey that to me. I have to give this book 5 starts because Mr. Archer definitely comes through in both those areas. How can I say that this book is that good? I use a very simple yet effective barometer. After reading this book, did I know more than when I started? The answer is a resounding YES! When I first cracked this book, I didn't have the first clue as what Visual InterDev even is. To give you an idea of how good the book is, I have just completed my THIRD Web site in two months using what I've learned from this book! I don't mean to brag but personal experience is always the best testimonial!The only caveats I'll add are these: 1) Some samples don't work. I didn't take "points" away for this for the simple reason that Mr. Archer was extremely patient and helpful in guiding me "one-on-one" to get them to work. 2) This book is a *Visual InterDev* book. Therefore, it will get you started in the use of things like DHTML, CSS, script, etc. with regards to VID, but obviously to cover every technology that can be used with VID would take about 3,000 pages! Therefore, except in a very elemenatry fashion, the book only covers those areas with regards to how to make them work within the context of VID.Having said all that, in summary I would say that if you are a beginner to Visual InterDev and want to ramp up quickly on the subject of creating Web sites and Web applications, then this is the book to purchase. (My clients can surly attest to that :) Then as you go through this book, you can decide what other technologies you'll be using extensively in your Web development and purchase more advanced books focusing on those technologies.

A great introduction to VisInterdev and ASP in general

A great book. It provides you with concise explanations and step-by-step instructions on the basics of using Visual Interdev, as well as an introduction to ASP, ADO and SQL. Tom writes in a relaxed fashion that's easy to read and simple to follow, yet conveys a great deal of useful easily digested information.

Only 24 hour book, that go beyond the basics

This is an excellent book. If you need to learn Visual Interdev, then this is the book to start with the right foot. Covers: JavaScript, VBScript, Introduction to DHTML, Cascading Styles, ASP with VBScript, Database management with SQL Server and some other cool stuff. The book and narrative is good to follow. This is a winner and it will be always with my library.

A "Must Have" for those of us with no time to waste!

As you can see from my track record, I very rarely publicly endorse any specific book. However, this is definitely a "must have" text for anyone needing to "ramp up" quickly on Visual InterDev (VID). Having read this book cover to cover, I can guarantee you that with this text, you will be writing professional applications in the shortest time frame possible.VID is one of the most powerful tools in a Web developers arsenal. Veteran developer, Tom Archer, covers the range of VID and Web development topics, and gives them to you in easily-digestible sections with clear and easy-to-understand explanations.One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book is that you don't get short changed on the most important aspect of Web development: database. To that extent, Mr. Archer not only covers the issues of writing "straight" ADO code, but also fully explains how to use the new Database Environment (DE) and the data-bound Design-Time Controls (DTCs).In addition, you will receive lessons on topics such as integrating multimedia, creating client and Web server scripts (VBScript & JScript), creating Active Server Pages (ASPs), writing scriptlets, tracking and maintaining user information (using database techniques as well as cookies), creating database queries and stored procedures and of course, Web site security.If you're just starting out with Web development, or with Visual InterDev, then this book is for you.Rick Leinecker

Outstanding first book on Visual InterDev

This book was the perfect book to getting me started with Visual InterDev! Definitely pay attention to the title, because this book is for beginners (hence the 24 hour title). However, for someone like myself who never understood just how powerful Visual InterDev can be, I'm completely satisified with the hands-on, tutorial approach taken in this book. In fact, I almost hate saying that this book is a beginner-level only book becuase it does cover some topics (e.g., scriptlets, data environment, etc.) that not even the "more advanced" books cover.I was especially pleased with the fact that I could pick this book up and without having to read every single chapter, jumpt to the chapters of interest and immediately start writing applications. Two days after I purchased this book, I already had a simple Timesheet and Hour Logging Web application written using Active Server Pages, ADO, VBScript, and scriptlets (for validation). I definitely recommend this book to anyone that has bought one of those "sold by the pound" books only to subsequently use them as door stops.