ASP.NET Discussion - Beta Test: Today in History Script v. 0.1

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Beta Test: Today in History Script v. 0.1

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Topic: Beta Test: Today in History Script v. 0.1

Posted By: davidshq
Subject: Beta Test: Today in History Script v. 0.1
Date Posted: 16 July 2004 at 2:27pm

Hi Folks,
If you have read the threads, posted on the threads, etc. in ASP.NET Discussion lately you've probably been seeing posts by myself about my Today in History Script. Well, the time has finally come. All portions of the script are now functional (I hope) and I'd like to request your recommendations, suggestions, etc. I'm specifically looking for:
1. Bugs - Anything broken or weird.
2. Better techniques - I'm a newbie and wrote with what I knew, but I know there are better ways, help me implement them.
3. Features - What should I add to make this a killer TDiH Script?
4. Everything Else - Anything else you can tell me of worth.
You can download it from:
http://www.dhq.nu/dmscripts/tdih.zip - http://www.dhq.nu/dmscripts/tdih.zip
You'll need to change the location of the database to whereever you have it on your local server, but other than that it should run well.
Respectfully,
David.

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- http://www.davemackey.net/" rel="nofollow - Dave Mackey - Virtual Home.

Replies:

Posted By: Mart
Date Posted: 16 July 2004 at 3:18pm

I have a few comments about this applications (no offence intended and I realise this is your first try at asp.net):

You don't use the standard .NET controls, i.e. instead of using a DataList you are doing it a somewhat ASP 3.0 like way - spitting out HTML yourself. I suppose there is no real problem in this, it is just a lot quicker to develop using the standard .net controls.
Your database could be design a bit better. Currently you have 3 fields, day, month and year. You could cut this down to one single field with the Date DataType. Again there is no real problem with this, I just feel the database could be designed better.
You cannot customise the design of your script - consider using CSS to allow people to integrate it into their site easier.
Your connection strings are all differant. In one file it states the datasource as CivilWar.mdb in another it states it as "c:\ASP.NET\Databases\TodayInHistory\civilwar.mdb"
As far as I can see there is no attempt to authenticate the user before letting events being edited, updated and deleted - all administrative pages should be protected suitibley.

Again, these are just suggestions and comments. My first ASP.NET application was a lot worse.

Posted By: davidshq
Date Posted: 19 July 2004 at 1:46pm

Thanks Mart for the feedback.
1. The ASP 3.0 I'll try and drop. I am working through a book as I go learning how to do this stuff and haven't gotten as far as DataLists, when I do I'll convert the code.
2. I'll probably have to make some sort of conversion tool. I use Microsoft's Web Matrix for database editing (don't have Access) and it can't handle editing database structure once the database has been created.
3. CSS is a good idea. :-)
4. I'll have to fix this connection strings. Probably will eventually move them to CSS.
5. Yes, password authentication will soon be forthcoming.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I appreciate them. They will help me make wise decisions for future revisions and let me see the weak pieces in my code.
Respectfully,
David.

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- http://www.davemackey.net/" rel="nofollow - Dave Mackey - Virtual Home.

Posted By: michael
Date Posted: 19 July 2004 at 5:41pm

davidshq wrote:

Thanks Mart for the feedback.
2. I'll probably have to make some sort of conversion tool. I use Microsoft's Web Matrix for database editing (don't have Access) and it can't handle editing database structure once the database has been created.
There are plenty database admin tools out there. If you use SQL Server for now and do not have EntMan, get a third party tool, same for JET, you don't need Access to create tables.
3. CSS is a good idea. :-)
4. I'll have to fix this connection strings. Probably will eventually move them to CSS.
Connectionstrings in CSS? Put ONE connection string somewhere, for example into the web.config but (even if it were possible) never into css as it is a text file.

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Posted By: Mart
Date Posted: 19 July 2004 at 5:46pm

well Web.Config files are text as well but I think Michael means only store it in .Config files as IIS and .NET will not allow anybody to download a file with a .Config extension because thats where settings like Connection strings are stored.