Programming Microsoft Web Forms (Pro Developer)

In this chapter, you have been introduced to the various ways that you can lay out a Web Form. The topic of HTML tables vs. cascading style sheets is an area fraught with strong feelings on both sides. I have taken a middle ground. Both HTML tables and cascading style sheets have their place. Looking at the source of any number of very popular Web pages, you will often see a mixture of HTML tables and cascading style sheets, and I think that is likely to remain for some time, especially with respect to form layout. Themes and Master Pages provide a way to leverage the power of HTML and cascading style sheets along with the power of server-side programming that ASP.NET offers. Finally, you learned about the Wizard control, one of several powerful new controls offered by ASP.NET 2.0 designed to markedly reduce the amount of code required for a powerful Web Forms application.

Next, in Chapter 4, "Working with Web Parts," I will cover a new and exciting feature of ASP.NET 2.0. One of the things that users often wish for on Web pages is a way to rearrange the page to suit their needs. For instance, a portal page might have an area with the weather, another area with stock quotes, and yet another with company news. If the user is a bicyclist, having the weather most prominent on the page might be most useful; however, a user with a great deal invested in the stock market might prefer to see stock quotes most prominently. Web Parts allow users to rearrange, and even hide, sections of the page to suit their specific needs. This is a powerful new tool that will add that something extra to your Web Forms applications.