Customer Reviews

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0: Programmer's Guide

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a contract programmer that has used VB since 2.0, I recommend this set, along with the "Reference Library" for any serious programmer, from rookie to pro. With each VB generation, I reread the Programmer's Guide. For example, chapters 9 and 10 are a must before the reader is ready for Reference Library's "Component Tools Guide" (which teaches you how to design and build ActiveX components.

Caveat for the rookies: Visual Basic has become a very complex and powerful language since its first release, when it was supposed to be used for GUI prototypes. You will need to spend time and effort learning the language and the various Microsoft strategies. I recommend SAM's "Teach Yourself VBx In 21 Days" and other beginner books in addition to this one. You can do a lot useful programming without ever touching the ActiveX component development.

BTW, there is an index and, yes, you will be referred to the online help for details in a lot of subjects. But that will be details and broader understanding. This book is already over 900 pages. "War and Peace" we don't need.

Even though this book runs to over 900 words it contains none of the padding and waffle found in many VB6 books. Maybe this would make it tough reading for complete beginners and it might be better to read an introductory book such as Sams "Teach yourself Visual Basic 6 in 21 days" first.

To really get into VB6 you would also need Microsoft's "Visual Basic 6 Component Tools Guide" as component creation is really central to the VB6 programming paradigm and isn't touched in this book.

Even after reading and understanding this book there's still a lot of subjects that aren't really covered in any sort of depth (like ADO). This is more a consequence of the enormity of the new VB6 environment rather than any shortcoming of the book.

The book content is available electronically on the VB disk but I find reading from the screen very difficult and miss the contents and index.

If you can read and understand everything in this book you will be completely equipped to tackle any of the more advanced VB6 books.

Though I had a few gripes, given the task of providing a reasonably complete programmer's guide, and the constraint of cramming it all into 900 pages, Microsoft have done a good job with this book.

I learned how to program about a year before I bought this book. I bought this book because I just couldn't remember all the little specifics of some codes. After I got it home and started trying to use it, I realized I also needed the Microsoft Visual Basic Reference Library. At the end of every section in this book, it says, 'For more information on....look at the....section in the reference library.' I kind of wish I had looked through the book some more before I bought it some I would know that, but I didn't. This book is still helpful when I'm just trying to do a little something, but I found that I use the reference library more and more.

Yes, it is the online help files in print form. Yes, it DOES have an index. Yes, it has some errors. And yes, coupled with the Reference Library, it's the most useful set of books a VB programmer can own.

I've been developing with VB for a year and a half, and I still come back to the Programmer's Guide, because it never hurts to review the fundamentals. Plus, if you think it's only for beginners, try explaining how to implement polymorphism through multiple ActiveX interfaces in a class module. The Programmer's Guide does.

Last, but not least, it's a book. Some people just like having a book, rather than reading the computer all the time.

This was an very good book. I thought it had a lot of good information. that the other books I have do not. I used it to study for the Desktop Exam and passed. This is also a great refernce as well as a learning tool.

This is a great book, but I am afraid it will be bashed upon by people buying it and expecting to learn how to program just by reading it. This book is not a learning guide, it is a reference. And a good one too! Everything you ever wanted to know about VB programming is covered.

It's only (and in my opinion minor) ceveat is the lack of material on COM/ActiveX programming. This is just a minor ceveat, as COM is a huge topic, which can fill three like-sized books (this book is 950 pages).

All in all, a handy reference for every-day programming.

This poor book always is getting slammed by someone somewhere. Why, I don't know. It is not the greatest book in the world on Visual Basic programming nor does it try to be. It is a reference work for the user of the language. In some cases it does a wonderful job of teaching the basics of VB programming. I don't think it would be my first choice as a beginning book if you have never programmed in any language before; however, if you have been programming with other languages this is a great intro to VB.

There are times when it starts to get a bit dry and sometimes it does leave one going "and the point is?", but in general I find this to be a well designed and well spoken text on the language. One can find it bundled with VB and "VB Step by Step" from Microsoft and after reading both books goodness knows how many times, I think the Programmer's Guide in many ways is superior to "Step by Step".

A must read for anyone who considers themselves a VB programmer, this is not the best intro for a novice, but is a great primer for an experienced programmer or one who has some experience with Visual Basic and is ready to go beyond the basics laid out in an intro book.

This is a handy printed version of the MSDN online help, but still full of errors. It is nice to be able to carry around for tutorial reading. The main complain about the printed version is the lack of the copyedit process. It's just a strainght port of the online manual without error corrections. Even the first application sample in the book contains the exact same errors of the online help. This's very unfortunate considering that the Microsoft Press had the opportunity to correct those errors easily.

This is Microsoft's introductory guide. It walks you through pretty much everything in an efficient manner. Despite the fact that it's long it's not repetitive and you don't get the feeling they're trying to pad it (like some publishers).

There's a good chapter on error handling, which is a little confusing for the novice. There are also good intros to objects and components.

I don't have any real complaints with the book other than, somehow, I don't find myself referring to it that frequently. If I want quick reference of keywords or commands I end up going to the Nutshell book.

I would recommend this book for someone who knows nothing about VB but has programming experience. This will definitely get you up to speed.

If your a newbie to Visual Basic do not buy this book! This book in geared towards the intermediate to advanced programmer I have been using VB for several years and take it from me, don't buy it. Even for the intermediate programmers this book makes numerous references to the Library Reference, If your serious on vb then get it too otherwise don't bother, try a website.