Dennis J. Bottjer | MVP ASP.NET

On a recent project I was tasked with building a custom grid server control.  The grid made use AJAX (Client Side Java Script) to avoid post backs.  I wanted change the ugly default toolbox icon used in Visual Studio.  I thought it would make sense for my server control to use the same icon as the DataGrid since my control is a custom grid.  This will allow developers to easily recognize it.  I achieved my goal as follows:

<ToolboxData("<{0}:CustomGrid runat=server></{0}:CustomGrid>"), Designer(GetType(IDEInterface)), ToolboxBitmap(GetType(DataGrid))> _

Public Class CustomGrid

Most .NET Web Applications are built using .ASPX and ASCX (User Controls) Files. However, ASP.NET provides an easy way to build HTTP Handlers via .ASHX Files.  You might want to use HTTP Handlers when the output of your application isn't going to a web browser.  For example, perhaps the output is xml that will be cosumed by some other type of client.    HTTP Handlers implemented on IIS can be either ISAPI Extensions or ISAPI Filters.  ISAPI Extensions are implemented as a windows dll and are the target of an HTTP Request.  ISAPI Filters sit between the client and the web server intercepting all http requests.

Many Web Developers and Designers still choose HTML Tables over CSS and Table Free site design.  CSS comes with a learning curve and cross browser compatibility can be frustrating at times.  However, CSS does offer several benefits including smaller overall site downloads and easier maintenance.  This can translate into faster update times and better site performance.

While I am the first to admit that I am not a CSS expert I do find this topic very interesting  especially since it can improve performance.  The following links are from the DotNetNuke forums on www.asp.net and contained some great information on this topic.

http://www.powerhousedata.com/DotNetNuke/Templates/tabid/56/Default.aspx This is a free pure CSS DNN Skin.

http://www.tableless.com.br/en/converted.asp Shows several popular sites reproduced as tabless CSS only designs. Examples include Dell, Apple, HP, etc.

http://www.csscreator.com/version2/pagelayout.php