If you’re using Internet Information Server with Active Server Page technology for hosting your Web site, here is a simple way to include a hits counter and the date the counter was activated. To set up and initialize your counter fields, include this code in the global.asa file:

      Sub Application_OnStart          Application.Lock          Application("ASPCounter") = 1   ' Starting amount          Application("ASPCounterDate") = formatdatetime(now,vblongdate)          Application.Unlock     End Sub

By using the Application_OnStart method, your counter will be initialized to 1 (or whatever you choose) and the counter start date will be initialized to the date the Web site became available. (Note that if the Web server is rebooted, or the global.asa file is saved, the Application_OnStart method will be executed again, causing your counter and date to be initialized again.)

Be sure to include the Application Lock and Unlock statements. Because the Application object can be shared by multiple users, these statements ensure that only one user will be able to alter the Application object counter and date properties.

To display your counter fields on your ASP page, include this ASP script in the script section of your ASP page:

      <%     Application.Lock     Application("ASPCounter") = Application("ASPCounter") + 1     Application.Unlock     %>

This will increment your counter with each page visit. Again, be sure to include the Application Lock and Unlock statements.

In the body of your ASP page, include this code:

      "This page has been visited <% =Application("ASPCounter") %> times     since <% =Application("ASPCounterDate") %>."