Back in the mid-1990s, Bill Gates “got” the Internet and changed the direction of Microsoft. One result was the creation of .NET to ease the creation of Web-based applications on the Windows operating system. As Microsoft often points out, there are several programming languages that work under the .NET environment, and a prominent one is Microsoft’s Visual Basic, now called VB.NET. VB.NET, along with ASP.NET, allows for rapid development of complex Web pages.

The early chapters in the book deal with basic aspects of creating a Web page, with little on the .NET environment at first. .NET is covered gradually, with more information added with each new chapter. The reader is gradually introduced to more advanced topics, such as using ADO.NET Web controls, creating Web controls, dynamically linking to databases using ADO.NET, building a Web application, and creating a Web site.

Each chapter starts with an explanation of its topic, sometimes also including detailed listings of the class structures used in the chapter. After the explanation, one or more example projects with screen shots and program listings follow. Finally, each chapter includes a recap of the topics covered.

There are four appendices: “Web Design and Usability: Tips and Tricks,” “HTML Quick Reference,” “XML Quick Reference,” and “Setting Up Your Own Development Server.” These will be useful guides for those who are beginning to tackle Web projects. The index is useful and quite extensive.

This book was created by a family (father, mother, and son), giving it a good range of perspectives, which show through in the clear explanations of the topics. The book is packed with information on using the .NET environment to create Web pages and Web services using VB.NET, ASP.NET, and ADO.NET.

As with many programming “how to” books, the bulk of the pages are taken up with program listings and screen captures. No CD-ROM is included, but all the program examples can be downloaded from the publisher’s Web site. Corrections to the book are also listed on the site, and can be added to by readers. Overall, this is a very useful book for the VB.NET programmer who is getting involved in Web page creation and programming.