Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the Lasso product line, documentation, and learning resources available at LassoSoft.

The Lasso Product Line

The Lasso product line consists of authoring and serving tools that allow web designers and developers to quickly build and host modern data-driven web sites. The product line is built upon the Lasso programming language and runtime system. This system is designed to meet the needs of modern web developers by providing the flexibility, dynamism and performance required by sophisticated web sites.

Lasso Studio

Lasso Studio is an optional web development tool for Lasso. It consists of Lasso Server plus a set of extensions for Adobe Dreamweaver that include drag-and-drop Lasso script objects and various builders and editors. Lasso Studio has the following features.

• Lasso Connectors for Dreamweaver - Allows Lasso Studio to communicate with Lasso Server.
• Builders - Construct data-driven sites, HTML forms, URLs, and inlines within a simple, dialog-driven interface.
• Objects - Display Lasso code as icons within the design view of the authoring program.
• Property Inspectors - Allow tags to be modified without typing code.
• Syntax Checking and Conversion - Allows you to debug pages before uploading them to your Web server and to convert pages from older syntax to the most current syntax.

Lasso Studio for Eclipse

Lasso Studio for Eclipse is a development tool which installs into the Eclipse integrated development environment and provides advanced tools for creating and debugging Lasso pages. Lasso Studio for Eclipse includes an integrated debugger, advanced editing and outlining tools, and more.

Lasso Documentation

The documentation for Lasso Server is divided into several different references available in electronic formats. All documentation is included in PDF format inside the [code]Lasso Documentation[/code] folder installed on your hard drive. The following manuals and resources are included.

• Lasso 9 Setup Guide - This is the book/online resource you are reading now, and is the first guide to the Lasso 9 product line you should read. It includes documentation of the architecture of Lasso, installation and configuration instructions, documentation for the administration interface, and provides an introduction to building and serving Lasso solutions.

• Lasso 9 Language Guide - This includes the documentation for the Lasso language and for Lasso Server. This is the core resource for learning how to to build web sites or other applications using Lasso Server.

• Lasso 9 Reference - Provides detailed documentation of each type and method available in Lasso. This is the definitive reference to the language library of Lasso 9. This reference is provided as a LassoApp installed with Lasso Server, and is also available as an online resource from the LassoSoft Web site by visiting 

Comments, suggestions, or corrections to the documentation are appreciated and may be sent to info@lassosoft.com.

Documentation Conventions

This documentation uses several conventions in order to make finding information easier.

Definitions

Definitions are indicated using a bold, sans-serif type face for the defined word. This makes it easy to find defined terms within a page. Terms are defined the first time they are used.

Cross References

Cross references are indicated by an italicized, sans-serif typeface. For instance, the next section in this chapter is Learning Resources. When necessary, arrows are used to define a path into a chapter such as Introduction > Learning Resources.

Code

Code is formatted in a mono-spaced, sans-serif font (aka Lucida Console). Code includes HTML tags and Lasso method calls. Code is represented within the body text (e.g., field or

), or is specified in its own section of text as follows:

field('Company')

field('Company')

Code Results represent the results after code is evaluated. They are indicated by a blue arrow, or 'results in-> ', and will usually be the value that is sent to the client's web browser. The following text could be the result of the code example above.

LassoSoft results in-> LassoSoft

File Paths

File paths are formatted using the same font as code. File paths are represented within the body text (e.g., ///Applications/Lasso Server/Admin or C:\\Inetpub\\wwwroot), or are specified in their own section of text as follows:

C:\Program Files\LassoSoft\Lasso Server

File paths in Mac OS X contain forward slashes (/), while file paths for Windows contain backward slashes (\). If a partial file path is identical on Mac OS X and Windows, then the file path will be shown once with forward slashes (/).

Procedures

The documentation assumes a task-oriented approach. The contents following a task heading will provide step-by-step instructions for the specific task.

To perform a specific task:

1. This is the first step of the task.
2. This is the second step of the task.

Notes

Note: Notes are included to call attention to items that are of particular importance or to include comments that may be of interest to select readers. Notes may begin with Warning, Tip, Mac OS X Note, JDBC Note, etc. to specify the importance and audience of the note.

Learning Resources

There are many resources available to help you when installing, administering, building or serving data-driven Web sites powered by Lasso Server.

To find answers to questions about Lasso Server:

• Documentation - http://www.lassosoft.com/LassoDocs/ The Lasso documentation should always be your first resource. Check to see if the Lasso 9 Setup Guide, Lasso 9 Language Guide, or Lasso 9 Reference have the answer to your questions. Each PDF guide contains an index and table of contents, and all electronic documents are searchable.
• Lasso Talk Forum - http://www.lassosoft.com/LassoTalk/ A community of Lasso users who help to answer each other's questions about using Lasso products. If you can't find an answer to your question, then posting to the list will often result in an answer in a short period of time. Information about subscribing to the list and searchable list archives can be found at the above address.
• Email Support - email to support@lassosoft.com is managed by LassoSoft to qualified customers during normal business hours Eastern Standard Time.  Pricing and more information: http://www.lassosoft.com/support

Usage Rights

These are the usage rights for Lasso Server and Lasso Developer. Please consult the Lasso Studio User Guide for important information about the usage rights and license agreements specific to that products.

Lasso Developer

When any installation of Lasso 9 is run without a serial number it defaults to Lasso Developer functionality. Lasso Developer can be used for development of Lasso-based solutions and to preview those solutions to clients. Lasso Developer is not licensed for deployment. Please purchase a license for Lasso Server before deploying your solutions.

Lasso Developer has all the features of Lasso Server, but includes a 5 IP address limitation and a limit on the number of connections which Lasso will process per minute.

New Purchase

Your license permits a single copy of Lasso Server to be installed and used on a single computer. Where certain components of Lasso Server may be installed on a separate computer from the core of Lasso Server, only a single instance of each component is permitted. The license does not permit deployment using Lasso Developer or evaluation versions

Upgrade Purchase

It is standard industry practice and understood that by upgrading one's software one no longer uses the old version and the license to use and transfer said license ceases. LassoSoft allows for a 45 day grace period during which you may transition your sites from one version of Lasso to another.

If you have upgraded to Lasso Server from any previous version of Lasso, after the grace period you must no longer use that version. Please see the termination provisions in the accompanying license agreement for further details.

Alternatively, you could purchase a new Lasso Server license and not be bound by such upgrade restrictions.

Evaluation Versions

Evaluation versions are provided for one-time 30-day evaluation and initial product testing use. Evaluation versions are not licensed for use for deployment. Please purchase a license for Lasso Server before deploying your solutions.