Customer Reviews

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Language Reference

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Coupled with the Programmer's Guide, these are the best books a VB developer can own. Yes they are the online help files in print form, but some of us still like to hold a book, rather than read the computer.

They contain exhaustive information on EVERY command in VB6, ALL the standard tools that ship with VB6, and detail components like DHTML documents, ActiveX documents, ActiveX controls, and even (a little) IIS apps.

I am confused by some other reviews: mine have an index, everything is laid out in multiple font sizes and weights, and it's all very well laid out and easy to understand.

I have been developing with VB for over a year and a half and I still use these books on almost a daily basis.

As a contract programmer that has used VB since 2.0, I recommend this set, along with the "Programmer's Guide" for any serious programmer, from rookie to pro. I particularly like the "Component Tools Guide." I used it to teach myself ActiveX control development fundamentals.

From here go to the specialized third party books, like Appleman's "Developing ActiveX Components With..." whatever applies if you need a software engineering level understanding of the technology.

I keep this three volume set and the Programmer's Guide in my car's trunk at all times.

A MUST-HAVE , for me . What a pity it is this bad .

Volume One The Language Reference . */2

WORST REFERENCE TEXT I HAVE EVER BOUGHT

It's ALL there . Fine . And it's a very second rate piece of design publishing . The Language Ref volume isn't cross indexed . The volume doesn't have an index full stop ! SO , WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS , ---- WHY ARE THE PAGES NUMBERED ?? Is it so you can tell mom how far you've got already ? Text layout throughout is about as bad as it gets . Large lists of properties and methods are set out as plain text paragraphs . These lists should have been columnar in the same page area . Many of the code examples use the VB line sharing {space and underscore } , yet on these pages there is plenty of room !! i.e. Nobody has even bothered to layout the code for this publication ( Two days work for an apprentice ) . These books are rushed out ; but this is " version 6.0 " , there has been plenty of time to ammend those errors . In other words ------ here is a reference text which is very hard to refer within . Maybe the guys at MS Press are kinda learning about this kind of stuff . ------ slow learning !

I have also purchased "Microsoft Office 2000 Visual Basic Programmer's Guide " ISBN 1-57231-952-6 . WHAT A CONTRAST . This Office 2000 book is fine . Really quite good . Layout, text organisation , indexing , cross referencing { even the idiot slogan on every single page to remind you of what book you are currently reading has been moved to the footer , out of the way } .

Finally , a detail point for the book trade , Microsoft Press have failed to mark the jacket of the book with an ISBN number . The set sells in a box , and the ISBN is on the box . On the MSOffice2000VBA set , the ISBN is on the box AND ON THE JACKET OF EACH VOLUME . So it's not that hard . Real Publishers know about all this stuff . GreedySoft seem to be taking their time .

Volume Two , Controls Reference . *

Index at the rear , but STILL NO CROSS REFERENCING WITHIN THE TEXT . {Something that used to be very hard to do before computers came on the scene ! } So , you look up an object . Properties are listed straight after the definition/remarks . Every single one of them is labelled "property" and they are listed in plain paragraphing . So finding one is like playing that stupid childhood game "Can you find a donkey hidden in this picture of the clowns " === except , the fun has gone out of it !! How about , you want to check for the absence of a property .

Volume Three , Component Tools Guide 960 pages *** Using ActiveX Controls , Creating ActiveX Controls , ..... " the Controls formerly known as Prince etc .. etc . " The one of the set with a pass grade . An extensive account of what you can do with controls , and how to make your own . Shines , compared to the other two of this sad set . Useful .

A MUST-HAVE , for me . What a pity it is this bad . (sounds familiar ? , -- where would you have liked to have gone , today ? )

Here it is the complete reference library. If u need a VB6 reference, look no further, it's HUGE! :)

This sets a new low for Microsoft. The cover says Visual Basic 6, the contents, code sample, and screen shots are from Visual Basic 5.

If you're looking for examples and explanations on VB 6 subjects like ActiveX DLLs and such, this is NOT what you want. It is very sad to Microsoft doing things like this. As a professional developer, it is very frustrating when the vendor's own documentation is wrong. I am not talking about typo's, this is outright deception.

This book is not at all intended to be a novel, its a reference. I will admit that this book is not ordered as would have thought, although there is some logical way to work with the book. This is a reference that I trust and use, I am one to stand up for this book, it has a lot of example code. I would hope that any intermedite programmer would consider this book, it holds a hell of a lot more example code than many others.

These books is a must have for all developers, developing on MS VB 5.0-6.0 or Office VBA 5.0-6.0. Packed with information about controls and objects. This book has helped me with my Development needs as a quick reference. For more advance needs on VB or VBA go with MS Press or Wrox Press VB books.

There is less information in this book than is supplied in MSDN help function. In addition it is presented in a far less ogranized manner. If you are buying this book to clarify or get an overview of commands, functions, objects etc. You will be disappointed. It's like a history book in alphabetical order. Rather useless since history happens chronologically. At least the MSDN help screens have a contents tab that lists the functions, objects, etc. This book does not. Page 1 starts first with the A's and the last page ends on the Z's. Virtually nothing before or after. Not even an index or a simple command overview (list of commands, objects etc). You better know what you are looking for before you open this book. Buy it and you will see what I mean.

I'm a VB programmer who finds Microsoft Press books in general to be great introductory books to Microsoft's technology, and this set is no different. It's very informative, covers all the basics any novice would want to know -- but also covers advanced features that many programmers who consider themselves experts would benefit from. I relied heavily on the VB 5.0 set of these books to learn structured-style VB, and I'm relying on the VB 6.0 set now to learn object-oriented, component-based development.

Every other source will assume that you have read this material. It is well presented, once you get used to it's organization.

This along with the Programmer's Guide is a must.