Create a new ASP.NET web project.

Select the MySQL Website Configuration tool. Due to a bug in 6.1.1 you may have to first connect to a server in Server Explorer before the tool's icon will display in the toolbar of the Solution Explorer.

In the MySQL Website Configuration tool navigate through the tool to the Profiles page.

Select the Use MySQL to manage my profiles checkbox.

Select the Autogenerate Schema checkbox.

Click the Edit... button and configure a connection string for the database that will be used to store user profile information.

Navigate to the last page of the tool and click Finish to save your changes and exit the tool.

Open your web.config file.

Add a simple profile such as the following:

<system.web>
  <anonymousIdentification enabled="true"/> 
  <profile defaultProvider="MySQLProfileProvider">
    ...
    <properties>
      <add name="Name" allowAnonymous="true"/>
      <add name="Age" allowAnonymous="true" type="System.UInt16"/>
      <group name="UI">
        <add name="Color" allowAnonymous="true" defaultValue="Blue"/>
        <add name="Style" allowAnonymous="true" defaultValue="Plain"/>
      </group>
    </properties>
  </profile>
  ...

Note that anonymousIdentification has been set to true. This allows users who have not been authenticated to use profiles. They are identified by a GUID in a cookie rather than by user name.

In Design View design a simple page with the following controls:

Figure 21.33. Simple Profile Application

These will allow the user to enter some profile information. The user can also use the buttons to save their profile, clear the page, and restore their profile data.

In the Code View add code as follows:

...
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (!IsPostBack)
    {
        TextBox1.Text = Profile.Name;
        TextBox2.Text = Profile.Age.ToString();
        Label1.Text = Profile.UI.Color;
    }
}
    
// Store Profile
protected void Button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Profile.Name = TextBox1.Text;
    Profile.Age = UInt16.Parse(TextBox2.Text);
}
    
// Clear Form
protected void Button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TextBox1.Text = "";
    TextBox2.Text = "";
    Label1.Text = "";
}

// Retrieve Profile
protected void Button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TextBox1.Text = Profile.Name;
    TextBox2.Text = Profile.Age.ToString();
    Label1.Text = Profile.UI.Color;
}

protected void DropDownList1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Profile.UI.Color = DropDownList1.SelectedValue;
}
...

Save all files and build the solution to check that no errors have been introduced.

Run the application.

Enter your name, age and select a color from the listbox. Now store this information in your profile by clicking Store Profile. Note that if you do not select a color from the listbox your profile will use the default color Blue that was specified in the web.config file.

Click Clear Form to clear text from the textboxes and the label that displays your chosen color.

Now click Retrieve Profile to restore your profile data from the MySQL database.

Now exit the browser to terminate the application.

Run the application again. Note that when the page loads your profile information is restored from the MySQL database.