Making HTML Changes in an .asp script

I am reviewing a website that has an index.asp & have questions . . .

[ASmythe]

Hi,

Thanks for looking at my post.

I have been asked to review a website for possible revision. I have created information only sites using HTML & CSS. This particular site's index and files have the .asp extension. While I have been able to open this with notepad and can see the html & css inside, I am hesitant to agree to make any revisions to the site for fear of bungling the current .asp code. Here are my questions:

My current goal is to change the content of the site only.

1) Is it possible to make HTML/CSS changes within the asp script without affecting the asp protocol? (I am NOT proficient in asp & have only an elementary understanding of it.) My process would be to a) open the index.asp, b) make the changes to content, c) save and close.

2) If I am able to make the content only changes, do I save in the .asp file extension? (the file is the index.asp)

3) Is it possible to mess up the .asp script by making the content only changes?

4) For larger changes (adding a tab to the main menu, adding some rows/columns, adding other pages), do I need to look at using a converter and does anyone have a suggestion for it?

I strongly appreciate any advice I can get here & look forward to some answers. I really do not want to agree to these website revisions if not having a proficient understanding of asp scripts is going to make it dangerous.

Thanks!

Anna

[mattur]

ASP uses delimiters around its code: <% %> So as long as you leave those bits alone and only change the static HTML on the pages you will be ok. Make a backup first, of course.

<!-- some html you can change -->
<h1>My Title</h1>
<p>something</p>
<%
' here's some ASP code doing stuff
' so leave it alone 
' unless you need to change it's output
%>
<!-- some more html you can change -->
<p>something</p>
<p>something</p>
<p>something</p>

If you need to modify the ASP code's output then you'll need to pick up ASP, but it's not complicated. Save them as .asp files like they are now. Not sure what you mean by a converter?

[ASmythe]

mattur,

Thanks so much for your advice.

RE: converter -- I have heard that it is possible to use a script converter to change the code from asp to straight html only. This is also something I don't know anything about so I may be mistaken.

When you say "modify the asp code's output," do you mind giving me an example of what you are saying? And if asp is not complicated to pick up, can you recommend a website or book to learn it?

Again, thanks!

[Fotiman]

For example, the ASP code might look something like this:

<form name="foo">
<input name="user" value="<%=username%>">

Or it might do something like this:

<%
Response.Write "<p>This HTML output is brought to you"
Response.Write "by the letter A</p>"
%>

Of course, there may be much more complex things happening behind the scenes.