
1175
S
erver behaviors are the heart of Dreamweaver, the essential engine
that puts the dynamic in dynamic Web applications. Server behaviors
insert server-model–specific code that handles everything from dis-
playing dynamic data to authenticating users. Even the basic data source
connection and the establishment of a recordset are, in reality, server
behaviors. Without server behaviors, no dynamic capabilities would be
possible in Dreamweaver.
Server behaviors are valuable for novices and veteran coders alike. They
enable designers who have never heard of an ASP Request collection to
gather information from a form—a procedure that utilizes the ASP Request
collection—with point-and-click ease. Even serious code jockeys can
appreciate the productivity potential of server behaviors, especially the
capability to create their own. With the Server Behavior Builder, program-
mers can build a library of their custom functions, complete with fully
functional dialog boxes for maximum flexibility. After these functions are
crafted, you can drop any of the custom server behaviors directly onto the
page—and, if need be, easily alter the parameters.
This chapter includes an overview of server behaviors as well as basic infor-
mation about their use and management. For your reference, you also find a
detailed description of each of the standard Dreamweaver server behaviors.
Finally, you look at way ...