Summary

In this chapter, we described how to create a web application and build web forms. In addition, we looked at how to leverage the new features of ASP.NET to create a consistent (sometimes configurable) user interface. We also looked at some of the new controls. Some key points in this chapter include the following:

• You can create a website using a local built-in server. You can also create your site on a remote server using HTTP (and IIS) or FTP.

• The website project property pages allow you to set what happens when you start your application from Visual Studio (among other things).

• You can create themes to switch the look and feel of your site without writing code or recompiling. The themes contain style sheets, images, and skin files.

• Web parts allow you to define a user-configurable user interface. You lay out this interface with zones and place Web Parts inside these zones.

• ASP.NET ships with Login controls, Membership provider, and WSAT to help you manage the authentication of users on your site.

• New data controls inside ASP.NET make data binding, editing, and updating easier (often requiring no code).