AJAX stands for “Asynchronous JavaScript and XML,” and it’s a sort of blanket term coined in 2005 to indicate rich, highly interactive, and responsive Web applications that do a lot of work on the client and place out-of-band calls to the server. An out-of-band call is a server request that results in a page update rather than a page replacement. The net effect is that an AJAX Web application tends to look like a classic desktop Microsoft Windows application and has advanced features such as drag-and-drop and asynchronous tasks, a strongly responsive and nonflickering user interface, and far less user frustration.
ASP.NET AJAX Extensions is a significant extension to the ASP.NET platform that makes AJAX-style functionalities possible and effective. ASP.NET AJAX Extensions is designed to be part of ASP.NET and, therefore, seamlessly integrate with the existing platform and application model.
Architecturally speaking, the ASP.NET AJAX framework is made of two distinct elements: a client script library and a set of server extensions. The client script library is entirely written in JavaScript and, therefore, works with any modern browser. Server extensions are fully integrated with ASP.NET server-based services and controls. As a result, developers can write rich Web pages using nearly the same approach they know from developing classic ASP.NET server-based pages.
Most ASP.NET AJAX developers are former ASP.NET developers and, as such, are familiar with the server-side development model based on controls. The server-centric programming model is the next big step in the evolution of the ASP.NET programming model. ASP.NET AJAX server controls are great, especially if you don’t feel confident enough to create AJAX client scripts manually.
This book provides an overview of the ASP.NET AJAX framework with numerous examples to familiarize you with a variety of techniques and tools.
AJAX is a real breakthrough for ASP.NET developers and professionals. It makes cross-browser programming a reality and enables desktop-like functionalities over the Web.
The book is recommended for virtually any ASP.NET developer and professional. As mentioned, ASP.NET AJAX is the next big thing in the ASP.NET evolution and follows a key industry trend—the AJAX model. In addition, ASP.NET AJAX goes beyond the classic AJAX model, pushing a framework that spans the client and server to provide an end-to-end solution for Web applications. As far as the Microsoft Web platform is concerned, ASP.NET AJAX Extensions weds rich functions with wide reach—an old dream of Web professionals that comes true. At last.
If you’re a Web professional developing for Microsoft-based Web technologies, AJAX is your next big opportunity to seize. This book is your starting point. And even a bit more.
The book is divided into three parts: an overview of the platform and its building blocks, techniques to effectively enhance existing sites, and client-centric development. In the first part, you’ll learn the basics of the AJAX model and the extensions made to the JavaScript language to back it. The second part is dedicated to the elements in the framework that you use to add new capabilities to existing server controls and to transform existing classic ASP.NET pages into full-fledged AJAX pages. Finally, the third part covers tools and techniques that express the real power of AJAX applications—out-of-band calls to server code.
You’ll need the following hardware and software to build and run the code samples for this book:
Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, or Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition or Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express (included with Visual Studio 2005) or Microsoft SQL Server 2005
600-MHz Pentium or compatible processor (1-GHz Pentium recommended)
192 MB of RAM (256 MB or more recommended)
Video monitor (800 × 600 or higher resolution) with at least 256 colors (1024 × 768 High Color 16-bit recommended)
Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
Some chapters of this book require that you have access to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (or SQL Server 2005) to create and use the Northwind Traders database. If you are using SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, follow these steps to grant access to the user account that you will be using to perform the exercises in this book:
Log on to Windows on your computer by using an account with administrator privileges.
On the Windows Start menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt to open a command prompt window.
In the command prompt window, type the following case-sensitive command:
sqlcmd –S YourServerSQLExpress –EReplace YourServer with the name of your computer.
You can find the name of your computer by running the hostname command in the command prompt window before running the sqlcmd command.
At the 1> prompt, type the following command, including the square brackets, and then press Enter:
sp_grantlogin [YourServerUserName]
Replace YourServer with the name of your computer, and replace UserName with the name of the user account you will be using.
At the 2> prompt, type the following command and then press Enter:
go
If you see an error message, make sure that you have typed the
sp_grantlogincommand correctly, including the square brackets.At the 1> prompt, type the following command, including the square brackets, and then press Enter:
sp_addsrvrolemember [YourServerUserName], dbcreator
At the 2> prompt, type the following command and then press Enter:
go
If you see an error message, make sure that you have typed the
sp_addsrvrolemembercommand correctly, including the square brackets.At the 1> prompt, type the following command and then press Enter:
exit
Close the command prompt window.
Log out of the administrator account.
The Northwind Traders database no longer ships with SQL Server 2005 (either version), so you’ll need to download that separately. You can download the necessary installation scripts for the Northwind database from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=06616212-0356-46A0-8DA2-EEBC53A68034&displaylang=en. Installation instructions are included on the download page.
The downloadable code includes projects for most chapters that cover the code snippets and examples referenced in the chapter. All the code samples discussed in this book can be downloaded from the book’s companion content page at the following address:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this book and the companion content. As corrections or changes are collected, they will be added to a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
Microsoft Press provides support for books and companion content at the following Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/books/
If you have comments, questions, or ideas regarding the book or the companion content, or questions that are not answered by visiting the site just mentioned, please send them to Microsoft Press via e-mail to
Or via postal mail to
Microsoft PressAttn: Introducing Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX EditorOne Microsoft WayRedmond, WA 98052-6399
Please note that Microsoft software product support is not offered through the above addresses.