Setup

Generally, web applications are simple to set up and use‥NET web applications, however, require a few extra steps during setup.

The first requirement in installing FooReader.NET is to make sure that Internet Information Services (IIS) is installed on the machine. IIS is Microsoft's web server and is only available for owners of Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Server 2003. Installing IIS requires the Windows CD and can be done in the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel applet (see Figure 5-3).

Figure 5-3

You also must install the .NET Framework in order to run FooReader.NET. You need version 1.1 or greater. It is freely available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx for users of Windows 98 and later versions.

When IIS and the .NET Framework are installed, create a folder called FooReader in the IIS wwwroot directory, located at c:\Inetpub\, and move all FooReader.NET files and folders to the newly created FooReader folder. After the files have been placed in the FooReader directory, you need to register the application in IIS, which you can do in the IIS Management Console (see Figure 5-4). In the computer's Control Panel (Start⇨Control Panel), double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click the Internet Information Services icon.

Figure 5-4

In the console, you will see a list of files and folders. These items are contained in the IIS root folder. In the left-hand pane, locate the FooReader folder. Right-click the folder and choose Properties from the context menu. You are now looking at the web properties of the FooReader folder (see Figure 5-5).

Figure 5-5

On the Directory tab, you see an Application Settings section in the bottom part of the window. Click the Create button, and the Properties window is displayed (see Figure 5-6).

Figure 5-6

Click OK. IIS now knows to treat the FooReader folder as an application, and will run it as one. The FooReader.NET application is now installed.