ASP.NET offers developers an exciting architecture for building web sites from modular components. Using server controls, ASP.NET developers can easily incorporate pre-built chunks of functionality into their sites. They can also develop their own controls, and build in design-time support to make it easier for other developers to reuse their code.
The ASP.NET Solutions Toolkit is a collection of reusable ASP.NET components, all designed to serve two purposes. First, they can all be used, as they are or with minor modifications, to add exciting features to your own ASP.NET web sites. Second, each component's design and implementation is discussed, revealing tips and tricks you can apply when developing your own controls.
This book explores a wide range of ASP.NET controls, including examples which incorporate images, exploit data binding, and offer rich design-time interfaces. Each component is presented in the same manner. First the requirements are reviewed, then the technical obstacles and tools to overcome them are explored. We then examine the design decisions which go into the implementation, before examining the full code. Finally, each component's use is demonstrated, and its limitations and potential for extension are discussed.