AutoCAD Database Connectivity (Autodesk's Programmer Series) [Paperback]

Scott McFarlane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0766816400 | ISBN-13: 978-0766816404 | Edition: 1

AutoCad is the most programmable, customizable, and extensible design system on the market today, and the new and exciting Autodesk's Programmer Series is designed to give you the tools you need to get the most out of this software. All of the important application programming interfaces (APIs) in AutoCad are covered in the series, so whether you are a novice or an experienced programmer, you'll find a book that's just right for you. AutoCad Database Connectivity is the ultimate resource for professionals looking to create robust database applications with AutoCad. This book will show you how to transform your AutoCad drawings into intelligent electronic documents and how to create custom applications that will integrate databases with AutoCad. Scott McFarlane, an expert in the field, Mentors you through the dbConnect user interface, the fundamentals of good database design, and the steps involved in the design and development of custom database applications within AutoCad. You'll also get an overview of SQL, ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), and Connectivity Automation Objects (CAO) and have a chance to apply what you've learned by working step by step through the development of real-world applications. Whether you're new to AutoCad/database integration or experienced in the field, this book is a valuable resource -add it to your reference library today!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

AutoCAD(r) is the most programmable, customizable, and extensible design system on the market today, and the new and exciting Autodesk's Programmer Series is designed to give you the tools you need to get the most out of this software. All of the important application programming interfaces (APIs) in AutoCAD are covered in this series, so whether you are a novice or an experienced programmer, you'll find a book that's just right for you.

About the Author

Learn from an expert! Scott McFarlane has more than twenty years of programming experience and has been integrating databases within AutoCAD since it became possible. He has written several articles on the subject and is a frequent lecturer at industry conferences. Mr. McFarlane is also an Autodesk Certified Instructor and currently works for Woolpert LLP as an application specialist on Facilities Management and Geographic Information Systems projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 1 edition (October 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766816400
• ISBN-13: 978-0766816404
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,688,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lot of material in a small space..., July 20, 2000

By 

Bruce Pierson (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AutoCAD Database Connectivity (Autodesk's Programmer Series) (Paperback)

The wide variety of topics covered in this book (dbConnect, database design [including the interview process, normalization and referential integrity], a SQL primer, ER diagramming, ADO [with VBA], and even some Visual Lisp using COM! ) is dizzying if you don't have some background in these. But the condensing job Scott has done is quite remarkable. My favorite chapter was "Designing AutoCAD/Database Applications". This was very well thought out and undogmatic in its approach. I wish it had been about 50 pages longer. This is a book written for someone with the following: -> Fair AutoCAD skills. -> Some relational DB background. -> Fair knowledge of VBA. My one criticism has to do with the acceleration of the pace toward the end of the book when all the Visual Lisp stuff gets thrown in. I have written huge, engineering/documentation automation systems in Visual Lisp but I still don't have the knowledge of COM as it relates to VL. I think these bits of code will cause a lot of glassy eyes. If you are a beginner to these topics, try the following books: -> a SAMS or equivalent "Teach Yourself VBA" type book. -> "Database Design for Mere Mortals" by Michael J. Hernandez (a very dogmatic but very approachable, EXCELLENT book). -> after learning VBA, an ADO book.

Bottom Line: "AutoCAD Database Connectivity" is an excellent book.