Hello
I am an experienced ASP (classic) programmer and have been using Dreamweaver using the Interakt extensions (http://www.interaktonline.com/). I have recently downloaded the Visual Web Developer 2005 Express edition and am very interested in using it after watching some video tutorials I found on the internet. However I have some questions that I hope someone can help me with before I change to .NET 2.0.
I have developed several (classic) ASP applications that I sell via the internet to customers who simply download the files and transfer them to their server. I have always used a Microsoft Access database as the applications never have high use, and this has always been fine (as well as many customers not having MS-SQL Server, which I believe they would need to purchase)
Question 1 : Can ASP.NET 2.0 applications be installed in the same way? i.e. files simply be copied to IIS on the target server?
Question 2 : Visual Web Developer Express seems to prefer SQL Server (Express) databases. Will my customers need MS SQL Server installed to run the applications? If so can they just install the free Express version? (4GB file size etc. is absolutely fine for my applications). MS Access is adequate for my applications, can that be used for all features of .NET 2.0? i.e. I looked at the web configuration tool and that seems to insist on SQL Server for the user details (password etc.)
Question 3 : I realise that customers will need the .NET Framework 2.0 installed to run the applications, but what if a newer version comes out? Will my applications run on a newer version?
Question 4 : I like the authentication features in VWD (internet or Windows authentication). However some of my customers use my apps on an intranet (so Windows authentication is preferable) but they also allow remote access to their apps (so internet access would be preferable when that happens). Can VWD cope with this?
Thankyou very much for any help.
I like what I have seen so far and look forward to transferring my skills to .NET 2.0 in the future.
Neil
1) Your files are copied to the web server.
2) You only need a database if your application uses one. The Express version should be ok, depending on your needs. Using the .NET Framework, you can connect to a wide range of database platforms.
3) Newer versions of the .NET Framework should be backwords compatible with previous versions.
4) VWD is just an IDE. You can do program anything the .NET Framework is capable of.
Ryan
Thanks for the reply Ryan, however I have a few more questions! Would appreciate any help that anyone can give!
I have only ever used Classic ASP with Access databases and have absolutely no experience with SQL Server or ASP.NET.
The applications that I make use a very simple database of about 20 tables with no fancy features like stored procedures etc. My customers may have SQL server (various versions) or no SQL server.
If I create an application with VWD 2005 express and SQL server 2005 express will it work with older versions of SQL server (ie 200/2003) bearing in mind the simplicity of my databases? If a customer does not have or cannot afford SQL server can they just install the free 2005 express version (The 4GB db size is not a problem) ? If it is not compatible with older versions can a customer install the free version alongside their older versions?
If the above scenario is not possible I would like to continue using Access databases. While I understand that VWD 2005 express works with Access (I have tried it) I have discovered that when I go into the administration tool and try to set up users/roles/authentication etc. it automatically tries to use a SQL server database. When I click on the Provider tab there is no option to use an Access database (only AQL server). Can I use these features with an Access database or will I have to hand code them like I used to do with classic ASP?
Many thanks for any help - it is much appreciated.
Neil
You can still use Access databases with ASP .NET if you really want to (though nobody would really recommend it!). Personally I would take the leap and start to learn Sql Server as it's far more reliable, resiliant and scaleable. If you know SQL you shouldn't have too many problems.
As long as you don't use any specific Sql Server 2005 features then your databases will be backwards compatible with Sql Server 2000. I often develop tests apps at home using Sql Server 2005 and they work fine on 2005. Also Sql Server 2005 express will run fine alongside 2000 (you can run them on different ports).
PS. I moved from ASP to ASP .NET and, in my experience, ASP .NET is light-years ahead in ease of use, flexiblity and power. I'd never, ever go back! There is quite a steep learning curve (as the two are so conceptually different) but, believe me, it's worth it.
Thanks for that, Connect.
I am now becoming more convinced to make the leap!
Just one more question ....
This will probably sound stupid, but like I have said I have no experience with SQL server .....
When I use Access databases I simply distribute the database with the application and then a line of ASP code is edited to point to the location of the database.(DSNless connection etc). I believe SQL server databases are not 'file based' (ie no .mdb file to distribute). So how is a SQL server db distributed?
Thanks again
Neil
No questions are stupid when you don't know the answers :)
You can actually have the equivalent of 'file based' database using Sql Server. After all, at the end of the day an Sql Server database is really only an .mdf file associated with a particular server.
ASP .NET 2.0 allows you to create a special folder calledApp_Data where you can create a file under the web tree which can then be distributed with your app. Have a read ofthis article (in particular the Adding a Database to the App_Data Folder section).
Thanks a lot Connect (again)!
I will give that article a good read! I think I have been convinced now to move to .NET and SQL Server!
From what I have seen so far I should increase my productivity 5x or more!
After the amount of money I have spent on Macromedia products and Interakt extensions I cannot believe that all this is free - and with more functionality!
Thanks again for all your help!
Neil
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