Beginning Visual C++ 5 Programming [Paperback]

Ivor Horton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you're looking for a good old-fashioned tutorial of Visual C++, this introduction of over 1,000 pages may be the answer. There is no glitzy presentation or witty humor here--just tons of useful information on everything from the basics of C++ syntax to designing ActiveX controls for Web pages.

Although the author of this massive reference book says it is aimed at both those with some programming expertise as well as total novices, it is most suitable for readers who understand at least the basics of programming. Beginning Visual C++ 5 covers the material in a traditional, step-by-step approach, building your knowledge along the way. Each of the 22 chapters starts with the big picture--writing Windows applications--and an overview of the Visual C++ development interface. The author then moves through data types, variables, loops, and more complex structures. Next, Beginning Visual C++ 5 provides a step-by-step introduction to object-oriented programming (OOP) and how it relates to Windows. Finally, the book presents advanced topics such as writing dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) and ActiveX controls.

At the end of each chapter, the author summarizes all covered topics and provides one or more textbook-style exercises for you to try. He also gives you the answers to the exercises in one of the book's three appendices. Whether you're building on some basic programming experience or just want a refresher reference on Visual C++ for your shelf, this is a good choice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 820 pages
• Publisher: Wrox Press; 1 edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861000081
• ISBN-13: 978-1861000088
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,674,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good, but you might want to look elsewhere first, February 5, 2000

By 

Matthew Dunphy (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Visual C++ 5 Programming (Paperback)

This book helped me a great deal in learning Visual C++. I used VC++ 6.0 in following the examples; they all apply and as far as the book's teachings are concerned, there's no real difference.

I'm writing this review because I've been a lightweight VB programmer for a number of years, and it's been a long hard road to learning VC++ and 'real' Windows programming. I have been really fed up with reading reviews on Amazon that debate obscure, geeky codemonkey points and don't really address the essential question: CAN I LEARN C++ BY READING THIS BOOK?

With this book, I'd say sort of. I found that I had to put the book down after the first few chapters and go to another book (Learn C++ in 21 Days by Jesse Liberty) to really get solid on some C++ concepts which this book does teach, but goes through them at such a speed that you don't really get a grasp on them. After that, I returned to the book and found it a much better experience. You'll see this theme repeated in the other reviews here: there's a ton of stuff taught here really quickly, perhaps too fast for you to truly get a handle on it. You will need to supplement this with other books, but I think that's a basic truth about trying to tackle any programming topic as vast as this one.

Ivor Horton writes well and in a friendly, approachable style. The code is good; there are a couple of errors, but at the Wrox website there is extensive errata and the full code available for download, and the couple of problems I had were solved with the support that I found there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book; but not for beginning programmers, December 23, 1998

By 

Jim Kay - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning Visual C++ 5 Programming (Paperback)

Mr. Horton does a good job at explaining an extremely complex language that has a very steep learning curve. In several hundred pages you learn how to: Program, Program in C++, Program in Windows with C++, Program in Visual C++ version 5.0, Program OOP designs, Program using the Active Template Library.

As an experienced VBA programmer (4 years) and as a full time employed person it took me four months to complete the book. I've learned an incredible amount! I think the ONLY point where the book may be a little weak is in understanding the MFC behind the scenes. I just wasn't sure WHY I was doing some things, especially when we arrived at Windows programming with MFC. However, if that was explained also, it may have taken even more than the 1100 pages to explain a beginning topic.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who has some programming experience and wants to move quickly to the cutting edge of Windows Development.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginners!, September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beginning Visual C++ 5 Programming (Paperback)

This book is THE best that i've come across in my long search of c++ books. The book blows away the popular myth that "you need to know c before you can even start c++". It teaches you c++ from a novice programmers point of view and does not assume you to be a c guru.

Another one of the book's virtues is that, everytime it encounters a new topic, it starts from the basics, moves on to the intermediate and then also the advanced features of that topic.