Hi, I am a VB.Net 1.1 programmer who writes ADO.Net apps against SQL Server. I mostly do Winforms. I want to get up to speed in Webforms and with 2.0. To do this, I have laid out this set of books to use. Is this a good plan? Thanks!
1. Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C# (in progress)
2. ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results
3. Professional ASP.NET 2.0

Then, I was thinking of buying these. I'm not sure how much CSS is used in Webform land. Maybe these should be in the order somewhere above?:
1. Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Design: CSS, Themes, Masterpages
2. Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Databases

Hi Frank. I think, on the programming side of things, that is a good natural progression from beginning on up to Professional.

In so far as CSS is concerned, there is no requirement to use it although, i would imagine, just about every site on the web uses it to some degree. While I know CSS I do not use it a terrible amount because I work with a designer who lays out the styles for me but it is an invaluable skill to have if you are a one man team or do not have access to a designer.

hth.

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Hey, thanks for your help. :) Could you clarify one point for me?
Where would you place this book in my order below?
x. Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Databases

1. Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C# (in progress)
2. ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results
3. Professional ASP.NET 2.0

Really I would do it last as all of the books you are going to read will touch on ADO.NET, how to bind data to controls, etc. Databases focuses specifically on binding to multiple data source (Sql Server, XML docs, etc) so it would be good for you to understand how all of those things work before you focus directly on that portion of the framework.

That is my opinion but one thing you might want to do is look on the back cover of the book. There should be some sort of "Tree" on which books Wrox recommends you read and in what order.

hth.

================================================== =========
Read this if you want to know how to get a correct reply for your question:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
================================================== =========
.: Wrox Technical Editor / Author :.
Wrox Books 24 x 7
================================================== =========

If I'm learning ASP.NET I feel as though I should stick with one language. Should I be concerned that Instant Results is in VB if the Beginning book is using C#?

1. Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C# (in progress)
2. ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results
3. Professional ASP.NET 2.0

i don't think it would hurt you to learn both languages, however, as a beginner you probably should stick to one language so as not to confuse yourself. Some of the apps from instant results have been converted to C# and you can take a look at them here:

http://p2p.wrox.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=249

hth.

================================================== =========
Read this if you want to know how to get a correct reply for your question:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
================================================== =========
.: Wrox Technical Editor / Author :.
Wrox Books 24 x 7
================================================== =========

That's great! I was thinking that the instant results book is a good imtermediate book. I don't think there is anything comparable out there in C#.

Hi Frank,

Just wanted to add a word or two about the CSS piece. Opinions vary considerably about "how much CSS should be used in Webform land". Just type "CSS vs tables" into google and you'll see what I mean.

Over the past couple of years a lot of developers have abandoned table-based layout altogether ('cept maybe for lists of data), and have adopted "CSS-for-structure" design. With this approach, the structural layout of your site resembles a table-based design, but its done using only CSS.

It's an approach I really like and have been using lately. The mark-up of my pages is a lot cleaner with all the structural layout and styling placed in a seperate style sheet. Its an apporach Microsoft has supported also with their release of the ASP.NET 2.0 CSS Friendly Control Adapters that you can download at:

http://www.asp.net/cssadapters

Many "normal" ASP.NET controls render as tables, but the adapters tell the controls to output pure CSS. At least some of the new ASP.NET starter kits also take the "CSS-for-structure" approach. See the Club Site, for example at:

http://www.asp.net/downloads/starter-kits/club/

I mention all this because if you pick up "Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Design: CSS, Themes, Masterpages" you'll be learning the "CSS-for-structure" approach. You'll also get an introduction to the ASP.NET 2.0 CSS Friendly Control Adapters. Definitely a book I'd recommend. "Design" discussions don't hold my attention the way the "plumbing" stuff does. I'm just not a user interface kind a guy. But I read "Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Design: CSS, Themes, Masterpages" from cover-to-cover, and am pretty sold on the pure CSS concept.

- Bob

Should also mention that "Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Design: CSS, Themes, Masterpages" is C# only regarding code samples. But its not a code intensive book. You write literally a handful of lines. Its all styling.

Bob

Based upon what you guys say, I think this is my new order! :)
Enough to give me a great start?

1. Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C# (in progress)
2. ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results
3. Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Design: CSS, Themes, Masterpages
   & Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 Databases (I can get pro vers. later)
4. Professional ASP.NET 2.0