Inside ATL (Programming Languages/C) [Paperback]

Steve Zimmerman (Author), George Shephard (Author), George Shepherd (Author)

Book Description

Series: Programming Languages/C | Publication Date: July 1, 1999

Early Chapters give an overview of COM and the use of ATL to develop components, controls, and document objects. Subsequent chapters analyze the key design considerations and explore specific programming techniques for such projects as tear-off interfaces, out-of-proc servers, and applications. Concluding chapters cover debugging and more advanced topics. Finally, the enclosed CD-ROM supplies programmers with the book's sample code as well as abundant sample controls and components.

ATL can help software development professionals accomplish more and be more productive. "Inside ATL" shows them how.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Written for readers with knowledge of C++, Inside ATL surveys the strengths of today's Active Template Library (ATL), used for creating lightweight, high-performance COM components on Windows. This book provides an excellent guide to ATL programming while introducing all its features, both for client- and server-side development.

One of the best features of Inside ATL is its thorough coverage of using (and understanding) the wizard-generated code in Visual C++. The authors describe each of the choices developers face when running these wizards, as well as examining and modifying the generated boilerplate code. (You'll find good detail on the various threading options available with ATL components.) The book also provides an excellent discussion of smart pointers and C++ templates to explain how ATL works by analogy. Another notable section is the full treatment of using ATL to build efficient client-side ActiveX components. (This last chapter alone will justify the cost of the book for many readers.)

Instead of long coding examples, Inside ATL is filled with shorter excerpts used to illustrate essential COM topics effectively. A complete example shows how to use ATL for efficient client-side ActiveX components, including using property pages and events. The book also covers ATL support classes available for both client-side and server-side programming, and it illustrates the use of ATL in writing Windows applications. A final section on Windows 2000 and COM+ looks at the future of ATL in the enterprise.

With the solid knowledge of two experts from the field of component development, Inside ATL does a fine job of exposing the most important inner workings of ATL. Its mix of savvy detail and thorough introduction to virtually every capability of ATL will allow this book to fill a critical niche for every C++ developer. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: COM basics, smart pointers, ATL wizards, threading apartment models, COM servers and client-side components, aggregation, wizards, building ActiveX controls, ATL window classes and collections, and COM+.

About the Author

George Shepherd is an expert on the Microsoft .NET Framework and develops some of the industry's leading third-party .NET-based tools. He is the coauthor of several popular programming books, an instructor for DevelopMentor, a speaker at industry conferences, and has served as a contributing editor for MSDN® Magazine. He's been programming with Windows since version 2.0, in the 1980s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572318589
• ISBN-13: 978-1572318588
• Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,653,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect, but ATL makes for tough writing, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside ATL (Programming Languages/C) (Paperback)

I feel sorry for any author who has to explain ATL. It must be a miserable job.

C++ Templates, COM, Registry entries, in-process and out-of-process servers-- these subjects each have to be discussed before you can really get into ATL, and learn what it does and how it can help you. Quite a bit of prep work there.

Like other ATL books out there, this one has it's confusing parts. After about the first 100 pages or so, the authors start explaining the internal workings of ATL objects, and man, does it make for a tough read. Various ATL classes are briefly mentioned here and there, this one is used as a template parameter for that one, and pity the poor reader who's new to the ATL game!

Still, I can't blame the authors here, but rather the subject matter. If you keep cool, and don't worry whenever the authors expand those ATL macros and try to explain their inner workings, you can progress along fairly quickly.

Most parts of the book are very well explained, and if you're someone who *must* know about ATL's internal workings in depth, then this book is a good one to start with. If you're new to ATL, you can definitely profit by reading this, but look for a beginner's companion to keep close by.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid ATL book if you have other reference books, November 16, 2001

By 

Mark M C Otero (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside ATL (Programming Languages/C) (Paperback)

Excellent book for readers yearning a stronger understanding of ATL and COM. The auther does a concise job of explaining some of the more difficult or less well understood aspects of COM - APARTMENTS and THREADS.

Apartments and threads, in most other COM books are often inadequete and rushed - not this book. The level of detail to apartments and threads can easily make this book worth buying all together, not to say, that the rest of the book isn't worth reading because it is.

Although, they did a wonderful job of explaining threads and apartments this book isn't without its challenges. For example, to understand many of the code samples you must have some Windows 32 programming experience or be familiar with some of the Win32 API calls and libraries. Make sure you have a Windows 32 programming book as reference (e.g. Advanced Windows by Jeffrey Richter).

Furthermore, I can understand how some readers may be intimidated by this book because they might not be as comfortable working with C++, templates, macros and the Win32 API...typical in most hardcore COM books I have read. However, don't let that stop you from reading this book. Just make sure that you purchase the necessary reference books to bring yourself up to speed.

So, if you want to understand the internals of "ATL" and "COM", do yourself a favor and buy this book. It should have an excellent shelf life, unlike some of the other COM books I've purchased, such as "Beginning ATL COM" from Wrox (save your money on this book).

Over the years I've come to rely upon a few trusted books on COM and Win32 programming and have provided them below:

COM:
- Essential COM by Don Box (COM primer)
- Inside COM by Dale Rogerson (COM primer)

WIN 32 PROGRAMMING:
- Advanced Windows by Jeffrey Richter (good advanced topics...threading, kernal, locking)
- Programming Windows by Charles Petzold (good all-around ref.)
- Learn Windows Programming in 21 days (excellent primer!)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alright overview of ATL, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside ATL (Programming Languages/C) (Paperback)

I found that the best way to grasp ATL is to understand COM in the first place. This book covers a lot about the basics of COM and does a pretty good job of mapping how COM maps to ATL. I did find some holes, but was able to fill them using Rector and Sell's book "ATL Internals". Definitely check that book out, too.