Programming Atlas

Building Ajax-style Applications with ASP.NET 2.0 Atlas

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Programming Atlas

Building Ajax-style Applications with ASP.NET 2.0 Atlas

By Christian Wenz

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: September 2006

Pages: 408

Learn how to deliver richer, more interactive web experiences to your users using ASP.NET Atlas, Microsoft's new framework for building Ajax-savvy web sites. Web developers of all persuasions have embraced the Ajax suite of technologies (JavaScript, HTTP, XML and more) as a way to implement pages that are faster, livelier and more desktop-like in their behavior. Now Atlas brings the power of Ajax to ASP.NET 2.0 developers with controls, script libraries and server support that delivers engaging results without the pain that writing complex JavaScript can entail. Better yet, Atlas web pages are standards based and even run cross-browser.

Programming Atlas is not just another "drag and drop" ASP.NET 2.0 book, but dives into the technologies that make it work. You'll begin with a tour of the technologies most often associated with Ajax, from JavaScript and XMLHttpRequest to JSON and the DOM. With the fundamentals in place, author JavaScript expert Christian Wenz unpacks the Atlas framework and shows you how to put its tools to work. You'll learn to:

Understand the architecture of Atlas and the role played by serverconrols, such as ScriptManager and UpdatePanel
Use core Atlas controls and extenders to build more interactive pages with text fields that autocomplete, user input that is validated, controls that can be dragged and dropped, and much more
Bind, display, and update data without causing the entire page to refresh and use the Atlas web services bridge to consume third-party services beyond the domain of your application
Incorporate Microsoft Virtual Earth into an application, use Atlas with Web Parts, and create a Windows Live Gadget
Use Atlas with PHP and explore other non-Microsoft Ajax tools for ASP.NET

Chapter 1 Atlas, Ajax, and ASP.NET
1. Atlas and Ajax
2. Atlas and ASP.NET
3. Atlas and Future Development
4. Atlas Prerequisites and Installation
5. Atlas Structure and Architecture
6. A First Atlas Example: Hello User
7. The ScriptManager Control
8. Summary
9. For Further Reading
Chapter 2 JavaScript
1. The JavaScript Language
2. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
3. Accessing Page Elements
4. DOM Methods
5. Summary
6. For Further Reading
Chapter 3 Ajax
1. The XMLHttpRequest Object
2. The XMLDocument Object
3. JSON
4. Summary
5. For Further Reading
Chapter 4 Controls
1. Introducing Atlas Client Controls
2. Using Atlas Controls
3. Handling Control Events
4. Summary
5. For Further Reading
Chapter 5 Data Binding and Validation
1. Data Binding
2. Data Validation
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 6 Components and Behaviors
1. Using Behaviors
2. Using Components
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 7 Animations
1. Using Animations
2. Using an Animation to Create a Fade Effect
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 8 Client Script Library
1. Atlas OOP Features for JavaScript
2. Client-Side Versions of .NET Classes
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 9 Using Server Data
1. Using a ListView Control
2. Creating a Custom Data Source
3. Summary
Chapter 10 Web Services
1. Error Handling
2. Inline Web Service Methods
3. Maintaining Session State
4. Consuming External Web Services
5. Summary
6. For Further Reading
Chapter 11 Extending Controls
1. Adding Drag and Drop to a Control
2. Adding Autocomplete to a Control
3. Making a Page Region Updateable
4. Summary
5. For Further Reading
Chapter 12 Virtual Earth
1. Displaying a Map
2. Adding Pushpins with Pop-Ups to a Map
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 13 Web Parts and Gadgets
1. Using Atlas with ASP.NET Web Parts
2. Creating Windows Live Gadgets with Atlas
3. Summary
4. For Further Reading
Chapter 14 Atlas Control Toolkit
1. Installing the Toolkit
2. Using the Toolkit
3. Writing Custom Controls
4. Summary
5. For Further Reading
Chapter 15 Using Atlas with Other Server Technologies
1. Using Atlas with PHP
2. Summary
3. For Further Reading
Chapter 16 Other Ajax Tools
1. Client Callbacks
2. Ajax.NET
3. Pure JavaScript
4. Consuming Web Services with JavaScript
5. Summary
6. For Further Reading

Appendix XMLHttpRequest Reference
1. Methods
2. Properties
Appendix DOM Reference
1. Generic Methods and Properties
2. Document Methods and Properties
Appendix Atlas Reference
1. JavaScript Extensions
2. Web Controls
3. Validation Controls
4. Behaviors
5. Data Controls
6. Animations
7. Virtual Earth Maps
8. Web Parts
9. Helper Classes
Appendix ScriptManager and UpdatePanel Declarative Reference
1. ScriptManager
2. UpdatePanel
Colophon

Title:

Programming Atlas

By:

Christian Wenz

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Safari Books Online

Print:

September 2006

Pages:

408

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-52672-6

| ISBN 10:

0-596-52672-5

Description

Table of Contents

Product Details

About the Author

Colophon

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oreilly Programming Atlas

2.8

(based on 4 reviews)

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Displaying reviews 1-4

3/9/2007

4.0

Author posted a PDF with 1.0 changes; brings book up to date

By Anonymous

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Programming Atlas:

Many people slam this book because the code examples weren't updated yet for the 1.0 release of MS AJAX. But the author did release a PDF with the 1.0 updates. Go to the "Post-purchase benefits" section of the Oreilly book page and click on "Version 1.0 Update".

I understand the author is currently updating the code for the download zip.

12/11/2006

3.0

Examples not longer work

By Joe L

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Programming Atlas:

I bought this book at a place called Half Price Books. No wonder it was 1/2 price. It is already out of date. Also the download examples show three zip files with no help on which ones to download. But it doesn't make any difference as none of the code now works with ASP.NET AJAX (the laster namve for Atlas as of December 2006). Otherwise, there is still interesting background information. Just don't use as a reference or you will be confused in your coding.

11/6/2006

2.0

already out of date

By Alex

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Programming Atlas:

Only get this book if you are really desperate to learn it now. Much of the topic has already changed with first Beta release. It's not even called Atlas anymore. Still, until something more up-to-date comes along, some of it can be useful as an introduction until although I wish it had more detail on things like JSON serialization. Hopefully the will update it fast.

11/3/2006

2.0

Good background but already outdated

By Anonymous

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Programming Atlas:

This book rovides a good background for understanding what Atlas is however since the release of Web Extentions (formerly Atlas) Beta 1.0 it is severly outdated. Most examples no longer work and some discribed features have been eliminated.

Recommendation is to pass on this title and wait for a release version.

Displaying reviews 1-4

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Chapter 1 Atlas, Ajax, and ASP.NET

Atlas and Ajax

Atlas and ASP.NET

Atlas and Future Development

Atlas Prerequisites and Installation

Atlas Structure and Architecture

A First Atlas Example: Hello User

The ScriptManager Control

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 2 JavaScript

The JavaScript Language

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Accessing Page Elements

DOM Methods

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 3 Ajax

The XMLHttpRequest Object

The XMLDocument Object

JSON

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 4 Controls

Introducing Atlas Client Controls

Using Atlas Controls

Handling Control Events

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 5 Data Binding and Validation

Data Binding

Data Validation

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 6 Components and Behaviors

Using Behaviors

Using Components

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 7 Animations

Using Animations

Using an Animation to Create a Fade Effect

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 8 Client Script Library

Atlas OOP Features for JavaScript

Client-Side Versions of .NET Classes

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 9 Using Server Data

Using a ListView Control

Creating a Custom Data Source

Summary

Chapter 10 Web Services

Error Handling

Inline Web Service Methods

Maintaining Session State

Consuming External Web Services

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 11 Extending Controls

Adding Drag and Drop to a Control

Adding Autocomplete to a Control

Making a Page Region Updateable

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 12 Virtual Earth

Displaying a Map

Adding Pushpins with Pop-Ups to a Map

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 13 Web Parts and Gadgets

Using Atlas with ASP.NET Web Parts

Creating Windows Live Gadgets with Atlas

Summary

For Further Reading

Chapter 14 Atlas Control Toolkit

Installing the Toolkit

Using the Toolkit

Writing Custom Controls