Opening the practice project files
Practice files arrive as a folder of pages and code, not as a single document. Opening them correctly is the difference between a project that runs and a project that only looks broken.
Open the folder, not a file
Choose the option that opens an existing web site or project and point it at the top folder of the sample. Do not open an individual page first. The editor needs the whole folder so it can see the code behind files and the configuration file.
If the editor asks about a solution file
Some samples include a solution file and some do not. When one is missing, open the folder as a web site instead. The editor will build the project structure from the files it finds.
Check three things before you run it
- The default page is set, so pressing run loads the right screen.
- The database connection string points at a database you actually have.
- The project builds without errors. Fix build errors before runtime errors.
When the sample runs, compare it with the lessons in the ASP.NET from scratch track. Changing working code is the fastest way to learn. The Beginner Web Site Kit includes several ready projects to open this way.