Creating a new ASP.NET Web Pages application is a straightforward process. Below, we will walk through the steps to set up a new application using Visual Studio, which is the most common development environment for ASP.NET applications.

Step 1: Install Visual Studio

If you haven't already, download and install Visual Studio from the official Microsoft website. Make sure to include the "ASP.NET and web development" workload during installation.

Step 2: Create a New Project

1. Open Visual Studio. 2. Click on File > New > Project. 3. In the "Create a new project" dialog, search for "ASP.NET Web Application" and select it. 4. Click Next.

Step 3: Configure Your Project

1. Enter a name for your project (e.g., MyWebPagesApp). 2. Choose a location to save your project. 3. Click Create.

Step 4: Select a Template

In the "Create a new ASP.NET Web Application" dialog: 1. Select the Web Pages template. 2. You can also choose to include authentication options if needed. 3. Click Create to generate the project.

Step 5: Explore the Project Structure

Once the project is created, you will see a solution explorer with the following structure:

  • Pages: Contains your .cshtml files (Razor pages).
  • Content: Contains CSS, images, and other static files.
  • Scripts: Contains JavaScript files.

Step 6: Create a New Razor Page

To create a new Razor page: 1. Right-click on the Pages folder in the solution explorer. 2. Select Add > New Item. 3. Choose Web Page and name it (e.g., Index.cshtml). 4. Click Add.

Step 7: Write Some Code

Open the newly created Index.cshtml file and add the following Razor code: 

        
            @{
                var message = "Welcome to My ASP.NET Web Pages Application!";
            }
            <h1>@message</h1>

Step 8: Run Your Application

To run your application: 1. Press F5 or click on the Start button in Visual Studio. 2. Your default web browser will open, displaying your new ASP.NET Web Pages application.

Conclusion

Creating a new ASP.NET Web Pages application is a simple process that involves setting up a project in Visual Studio, adding Razor pages, and writing server-side code. With its straightforward approach, ASP.NET Web Pages allows developers to quickly build dynamic web applications.