Rating:  Summary: Errors hurt Review: (...)I am now at the point in the tutorial where the early review warned of errors. I have about 3 years of Dreamweaver experience, but this is my first plunge into server assisted web sites. So far I have been stumped at 3 other points in the tutorial. I am attempting to go through with the COLD FUSION TUTORIAL start to finish. 1. Lesson 3 Page 41 - When testing the success of the SQL expression, the table is disjointed and over run with information. When I switch the order of the FROM * statement from Products,Suppliers -to- Suppliers,Products it straightens out. 2.If you look at the Supplier Table last column labeled "Web Site" This columnn in the Database (MS Access) must be edited to remove the space "WebSite". If not you will have all kinds of problems later. 3. The links on all of the Cold Fusion Tutorial pages are relatively linked to .asp extensions. Use the Replace function -Select the entire Cold Fusion Current folder -Select the source code option -Change .asp to .cfm Learning alot, but wish there was an addendum or way to get support on book With all of that said still the best book I have seen to move you thru step by step. Trust me I stood in a book store looking at all of them. Good Luck
Rating:  Summary: Avoid this book!!(...) Review: Both myself and a colleague have spent the best part of a month working through this book. We both have web design experience and are computer literate. So far we have only managed to get to Lesson 4 before hitting a brick wall due to serious ERRORS and misprinted screen shots that render the rest of the book useless. There is no online support for this book, either with Peach Pit or Macromedia and surely if this book had been proofed it would never have been released in this state. Avoid this book if you need results as we have spent many fruitless hours going over and over to no avail. It took this us to read previous reviews before we were convinced that it wasn't us being dumb. Maybe Nolan Hester should take more care as he has wasted our time. (...)
Rating:  Summary: Avoid this book!!(...) Review: Both myself and a colleague have spent the best part of a month working through this book. We both have web design experience and are computer literate. So far we have only managed to get to Lesson 4 before hitting a brick wall due to serious ERRORS and misprinted screen shots that render the rest of the book useless. There is no online support for this book, either with Peach Pit or Macromedia and surely if this book had been proofed it would never have been released in this state. Avoid this book if you need results as we have spent many fruitless hours going over and over to no avail. It took this us to read previous reviews before we were convinced that it wasn't us being dumb. Maybe Nolan Hester should take more care as he has wasted our time. (...)
Rating:  Summary: Look elsewhere if you want to learn UltraDev. Review: First of all, this book leads you to believe that UltraDev4 works with WindowsME . It appears there is some work around so it can work in this environment, but unless you want to go in and screw around with your OS it doesn't. Second, even with XP PRO and IIS it seems that there are a good number of errors in the book or maybe there is some compatibility issue with XP PRO or the version of IIS that comes with XP. If you are new to UltraDev and looking for a book that guides you through the steps of building a dynamic site this would be a great book if the instructions worked more often. As published, you'll learn some of the ins and out or UltraDev (which seems to be an awesome tool!) but most likely end up frustrated when things simply don't work. The book gets a second star because there are some parts you can work through without having to chase your tail trying to figure out what mistake you may have made, when in fact, the error is in the book.
Rating:  Summary: Look elsewhere if you want to learn UltraDev. Review: First of all, this book leads you to believe that UltraDev4 works with WindowsME . It appears there is some work around so it can work in this environment, but unless you want to go in and screw around with your OS it doesn't. Second, even with XP PRO and IIS it seems that there are a good number of errors in the book or maybe there is some compatibility issue with XP PRO or the version of IIS that comes with XP. If you are new to UltraDev and looking for a book that guides you through the steps of building a dynamic site this would be a great book if the instructions worked more often. As published, you'll learn some of the ins and out or UltraDev (which seems to be an awesome tool!) but most likely end up frustrated when things simply don't work. The book gets a second star because there are some parts you can work through without having to chase your tail trying to figure out what mistake you may have made, when in fact, the error is in the book.
Rating:  Summary: Don't give up... some tips to get around the book mistakes Review: I agree with all preceeding comments concerning the typos and mistakes in the book (which are common for anything published) that led to some frustrating moments while I worked through the cf version of the book over the last two weeks. Since the accompanying CD contains the finished (example) site, I would recommend reviewing the finished pages there when things don't work. I tried that method and finally got through these typos and mistakes. Now I that have adapted this book to mirrored a completed an application, I think the author had a good product and did a good job; hence the publisher should share the major blame for the mistakes in the book. It is still one of the QUICKIST way to learn cf/dw/database application without all the hard coding provided that you look into the files on CD when errors arisen. Good luck...
Rating:  Summary: There should be a recall Review: I never expected a tech book from the real source would mislead its readers with so many mistakes. It was very frustrating specially for a beginner who tends to believe that 99% of computer problems are created by the users. It took me a few days' struggle to finaaly realize the mistakes were made by the writer. Now the book has become useless for me - a newby who doesn't know how to get round the errors. It is sad that Macromedia doesn't recall the book, or at least put amendment on their site.
Rating:  Summary: Great Book but way too many Errors! Review: I really like the layout and "feel" of this book. It resembles a classroom type tutorial where you follow and build an example from start to finish. While I am a fan of the book, there are way too many errors in it for me to recommend it. Perhaps I am a better Ultradev/ColdFusion developer for struggling through it, however I would hold off until a revised edition or errata is available. There is a MASSIVE mistake for ColdFusion developers regarding the product_detail page that I have yet to figure out. It's impossible to add navigation buttons to that don't your app to come to a screeching halt. I hope the ASP/JSP coders fared better than I! This book is suitable for ASP, JSP, and ColdFusion developers alike.
Rating:  Summary: Practical exercises Review: It is easy to follow the step by step instructions, but lack of the instructions for setting up the IIS Server. It covers rich exercise for practice purposes which is very useful.
Rating:  Summary: Easy to Read, but Got Errors Review: Like all the The Training from Sources series, it is easy to read and follow the instructions. But this particular book got many errors that got me frustrated since I am a beginner in ASP. It even skip some steps and didn't even mentioned it. You'll find out you have to do other steps when you got the error page display. The publisher doesn't have correction page either posted on its website. Good for getting to know Dreamweaver Ultradevelopment though.
|