Definitive Book for VB Scripting

[Bill M.]

I am looking for a beginner's book to learn VB script for the Web, FrontPage
and DB development. Is there a definitive book anyone can recommend? Thanks.

 

[Jon Spivey]

Hi,
You won't go far wrong with Beginning Active Server Pages from Wrox
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764543636

As a suggestion though if you've programmed before you might want to forget
asp/vb script and go right to asp.net. ASP is hanging on because it's so
easy but it's future might not be so bright. Have a look at www.asp.net

 

[Bob Richardson]

I too am looking to learn a scripting language. I have decades of
programming experience in many different languages. I was thinking about
learning Java Script - only because I thought it was "understood" by more
browsers. What browsers can read asp.net ?

 

[Bill M.]

Thanks for the suggestion, Jon. However, and believe it or not, I own that
book and ASP for Dummies. I need something more elementary for now, and
thought possibly, an entry level VB script book might get me back on track.

I have to begin to learn a programming language...or lose my job. Everything
here now is turning to developing databases to run Web sites and if I can't
learn it on my own I will have to take some sort of college course. I am
hoping to learn it without attending any classes.

 

[Ronx]

None.

asp.NET (along with ASP, PHP, Perl etc.) is a server-side technology - all
the code is processed on the server and HTML is delivered to the browser.

IMO JavaScript is a requirement for web development, since almost every
browser can understand it.

 

[Jon Spivey]

Hi Bob,

None. ASP/ASP.net/ VB Script are server side languages javascript is client
side. On the web we program 2 ways - one on the server to build the page
itself, ie get data from a database, respond to a form etc and then spit
html to the browser then client side script to do things like make
mouseover images, validate form data etc.

Traditionally there's been a distinct line between server side (the code
that sends the page to the browser - ASP/VB Script etc) and client side (the
code that responds to user actions when the page is in the browser -
javascript) but ASP.net blurs this line quite nicely. As you have a
programming background I'd suggest you should look at asp.net, there's 2
main languages - if you're VB you'll walk right into vb.net if you're from a
C/C++ background C# will be easy for you. You'll also need some javascript
but this is just a couple of hours work to learn how to do anything you
need. If you're from a C background javascript will be the easiest thing
you've done.

 

[Jon Spivey]

Bill,
I'm not trying to be funny but are you sure programming is what you want to
do? VB Script is a very simple language and ASP for dummies makes the job as
easy as it's going to be (I learnt from that book myself). Most people that
are successful as programmers start with a book then find they enjoy it and
teach themselves - if you don't enjoy programming you'll probably have a
hard time succeeding.

You're right that there's plenty of action in database driven sites but
there's many other ways to profit from the web -
graphics/design/marketing/writing contect etc The best database driven site
isn't worth a hill of beans if it doesn't get traffic - maybe look from the
marketing side of the fence rather than the technical.

 

[Tom Gahagan]

Hi Bill......

You said......

I have to begin to learn a programming language...or lose my job.

Is this from your boss???? Or is this just what you "feel" ?

If it is from your boss I would lobby for some help in getting some
training. If you are on your own you are going to need to roll your sleeves
up and work through the books you've mentioned. The dummies series, as Jon
has alluded, is about as easy as it gets BUT there are also LOTS of online
tutorials. For instance.... asp101.com is a great site. If you do a google
search your will find lots of tutorials for scripting languages of all
types. Perhaps they might work where a book failed.

Everything here now is turning to developing databases to run Web sites and
if I can't
learn it on my own I will have to take some sort of college course. I am
hoping to learn it without attending any classes.

If you can't get it on your own a class.... or finding an experienced
programmer to mentor you... is the way to go!!!!!!

One word...... as your company moves to database work..... you will need to
learn the basics of good database design, etc. Again..... lot's of resources
out there for that.

As is also suggested here..... if you can get your feet wet with asp ( you
might also look at php) don't stay there too long. ASP.NET will be the tail
that wags the dog in the future.

Just don't get discouraged! When you look at it all...... it is a big nut to
crack. But like the old saying about eating an elephant.... you do it one
byte < g > at a time!!!!

You can do it!!!!

Best to you.......
Tom Gahagan

 

[Bill M.]

Tom, thanks for the encouragement. To answer your question I am feeling the
heat. I am going to restart with ASP for Dummies. If I can't get it from
Dummies some college classes will start soon after the new year. There are
bound to be some students around that I could learn from. I just wasn't sure
if Dummies was the right place to start over or if I should take a Visual
Basic course first. I am now thinking that if I knew VB, maybe ASP would be
easier for me to learn.

 

[Tom Gahagan]

I would almost BET that your local tech collage will have a course in VB....
and/or other .net languages..... perhaps even asp!!!!

They might also have some intro to programming courses and database stuff to
help you fill in the gaps. I'm mostly self taught but I've taken some
courses here and there and found them all a lot of fun. Good luck to
you......

Tom G

 

[Steve Easton]

Bill,

Both FP 2002 and 2003 have a great VB scripting editor. ( caveat, I also have Visual Studio
installed, and I'm not sure if they interact. I don't "Think" so ) I think you just need to install
the script editor. ( also called Macro editor )
Also, there are several websites out there have countless VB script examples.

If you're familiar with a scripting language such as javascript for example, then you should be able
to pick up VB fairly easily.

Like anything, once you start to figure out the syntax, it will just start to "click"

Also, when I was tinkering, I did a lot of scripting using Notepad, and then I would just run the
scripts.
One good thing about VB is that if you try to run it, the scripting host checks the syntax of the
entire script before it executes it, and if there's an error it will *not* run the script.

I guess what I'm trying to say is "don't make it harder than it is."

Also, there's a neat little "tool" some of the guys at Microsoft put together named Tweakomatic,
which is basically a VB version of TweakUI. It shows you the actual VB Script used to do the
functions. It is geared towards the operating system, but to me it was a great "learning tool."

Available here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/tools/twkmatic.mspx


;-)

Good luck.


--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Bill M.]

Thanks Steve. I really appreciate all the encouragement from everyone here.
Tweakomatic looks interesting and maybe it will help. Do you think VB Script
is either mandatory or helpful before trying to learn ASP, or not necessary?

Bill,

Both FP 2002 and 2003 have a great VB scripting editor. ( caveat, I also have Visual Studio
installed, and I'm not sure if they interact. I don't "Think" so ) I think you just need to install
the script editor. ( also called Macro editor )
Also, there are several websites out there have countless VB script examples.

If you're familiar with a scripting language such as javascript for

example, then you should be able

 

[Steve Easton]

I'm not "into" asp enough to give you a decent answer on that.

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Tom Gahagan]

Do you think VB Script
is either mandatory or helpful before trying to learn ASP, or not
necessary?

Mandatory..... No...... helpful in that you are learning another scripting
language....and the more you learn the better off you are.... yes.

There is also a difference between vb scripting language and VB.net... it's
big plus sized brother!

By the way..... is your company hosting on a windows server?????? Not trying
to be condescending or anything but this is a pretty important point. If
they are on a Unix server then you need to be looking at the php scripting
language instead of asp. If you are on a windows server... then go for asp
or asp.net and vb. Since you have stated you are kind of under the gun I
thought you would not want to waste any time.

Best to you.......
Tom Gahagan

 

[Ronx]

While ASP can be written in other languages, such as Perl and PHP, 99% of
ASP pages are written using VBScript.
Mandatory - No, but you must learn another language and find a server that
supports it (not many will).
Helpful - Definitely Yes

 

[Bill M.]

We are on a Windows 2000 server. Based on that, should I pick up the Dummies
book I mentioned earlier and try to learn ASP from that or do I need to
first learn VB Script?

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

here's the thing;
ASP isn't a "language" but a platform. so if you want to use .asp pages on
your server you'll have to be able to know _some_ language. it's usually
either vbscript or jscript.

I think you'll need to start with the book you have and work up from there.
--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[Bill M.]

Thanks for the suggestion. I hope you mean the Dummies book...if not I'm
done for!

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

it'd be a good place to start. there are also plenty of nice sites that
will teach you asp stuff. one off the top of my head is asp101.com

HTH

--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[MD Websunlimited]

Bill,

I'm with Jon on this. If you're having a hard time grasping the concepts in the Dummies book then it is possible that programming in
not in your nature. I consider myself fairly astute at programming but horrible at graphic design. I can grasp the concepts but I
just don't have the aptitude for it.