Customer Reviews

Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic 6 in 21 Days

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

I bought this book bundled with More VB6 in 21 days and a copy of VB6 working edition, all for less than... Based on previous experience with Sams 21 Day books, I thought this package was a bargain.

I've made it through the first 7 of 21 days. What a piece of excrement this book is! It is riddled with typos and other errors. Unclear and obtuse writing. No examples when introducing critical new concepts (example -- lesson 7 on advanced keyboard and screen support provides few examples and none at all on some of the functions). I'm going to look for a better introductory text. And will not be going on to waste my time with the "More" volume!

To keep this in context, note that I'm not a novice -- I've been a FORTRAN and BASIC programmer for nearly 30 years. I generally don't bother to post unfavorable reviews here, but be warned!

By the way, the working edition of VB (which doesn't compile or come with any of the MSDN documentation) can be had for the price of shipping from Microsoft. Save your bucks for the VB Learning Edition (which has MSDN) or the Professional edition (which does lots more).

If you are new to VB (like I was) buy VB6 Step by Step (Professional), Michael Halvorson. Now about VB in 21 days: VB is a tool for building programs rapidly, with little formal experience. Once you have the basics down, and want to expand your capabilities, VB allows you to do this. Halvorsons book allows you to enjoy VB enough to learn it. VB in 21 days goes through all the pain of 'software engineering', which is required for complex projects - most people never need this formality. If you work for the government and enjoy writing 'shelfware' buy 21 days. If you want to make some small, useful VB programs, particularly DB front ends and DHTML web programming, get Halvorsons book first.

This is the second book about Visual Basic, out of three, that I have read. I think this book is best for someone that has already worked with Visual Basic a little. Someone that is on the way to an intermediate level, but not there yet. All in all the book was very helpful to me, as I had already read an Introductory level book on Visual Basic. In particular I liked the definitions that the book included. My only criticism is that the book does not provide a broad enough perspective on the subjects it covers. In other words, as long as you are programming exactly what the book is programming you are OK, However if you are trying to apply the lesson in another way the book is not much help. I felt prompted to write this after reading some of the other entries I have seen. I believe that some of these entries are written by people trying to promote or hurt the sale of this book. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. And to all the real people out there, good luck learning VB.

I purchased this book as a relatively new vb programmer. I'd had Visual Basic 6 for 3 days, and i already knew most of the very Basics of Visual Basic programming. With this book, however, i learned about so many more functions not obviously available without reading through all of the documentation. I learned about arrays and the Windows API and saving data and a lot more. Without this book I would still be at stage one. Since reading it, i've programmed a 2 applications, a game and an addressbook program, and they are great! By the way, it says "21 days", but I had finished several "days" in one day, and it really is much faster. Another nice thing about this book was that though it did provide source code, i didn't have to be sitting at the computer while reading to understand the concepts. I still use this book constantly as a reference. It is great for new programmers.

I have been struggling to learn VB 6.0 with this book, and I will tell you, it is terrible. The book starts out great, with a very thorough explanation and it doesn't overwhelm you. But, all the details it tells you not to worry about come back to haunt you as you progress. They don't just come back to haunt you; they slam you hard. This book goes from a snail's pace to WAYYYYY too fast, in a matter of pages. The book leaves out a ton of details. In one instance, you are asked to create a form with option buttons (radio buttons) that respond to the user clicking them with messages; well, they never even tell you how to write the code for an option button in the section that was supposed to cover it!!!!!! Horrible stuff here, people. To make matters worse, the book is strewn with a ton of errors! The very first problem they have you code has a mistake in it, that only a more advanced programmer would pick up on. The errors continue thoroughout the book and, in some cases, the whole program is completely out of wack. Not only this, but there are not many good sample problems to solve and the examples they give are incomplete, which only adds to the confusion. Simply do not buy this book if you are a true beginner and if you are not, then why would you need this book anyway???? I cannot recommend this at all, and am only giving it 2 stars based on the fact that it has a decent introduction to the VB world, but the substance is flawed. This book almost made me hate VB. Please stay away everybody:(

Sams' could have done better than this. They didn't spend much time on it and neither should you.

Lots of syntax errors that will really trip up a beginner. They say that learning a programming language is easier than a language like Spanish or French, however in programming, your whole entire program is usless if one word is mispelled and you can't continue until it's fixed.

For example: there's a bonus project at the end of every chapter that takes about an hour to go through. Then, when you're finally done, BLAMM!! COMPILE ERROR!!! That's one whole chapter that you won't learn anything. They're not just typos either. There is actual code that doesn't do what he sais that it's supposed to and you'll have to decypher it on your own.

This guy seems like a good teacher and this book covers alot of importance, but errors and errors. If you're at least 6 months or more experienced with VB you might like this. Just don't pay attention to anything in the book.

If you are retired or just about to retire and looking to use your computer for other things besides surfing the net and playing games this is the book for you. It can help you learn to write cute little applets to amuse yourself and your grandchildren. Apples to drawn flags, create circles. A great alternative to crocheting, needlepoint, and watching the TV. Absolutely NOT a book for professional programming if you are looking to get into Visual Basic 6.

I bought this book because I got my start in computer science by learning ASP with a Sams book. Since that time I have earned my associates degree and am about to complete my BS in computer science.
As everyone else has already stated the book has many type errors. The most basic and obvious concepts are repeted over and over while the most complex issues are glossed over completely. My final and ultimate dissapointment in the book can in chapter 19, Connecting to the internet. The book has the reader do this in the very begining with a small paragraph explaining how you select 'yes' for the internet browser option while using the VB Aplication Wizard. So why devote an entire chapter explaining the same thing? Oh, the author does tell you about two other very important types of internet connections you can make using VB but it is just a mention. He does tell you what HTML is and show an example. HTML? give me a break I want the VB! Finally the chapter is concluded with a note, "This chapter is a high level overveiw of internet connectivity using VB. for a compete understanding buy another book." I would say by "high level overveiw" he means from far, far away, glossed over. Chapter 19 should never been put in print. I don't think the author thinks his readers are up to the task of comprehending the more complex programming issues. Or, he thinks we are just going to run out and buy another book in hope of finding the rest of the details. Well, he is correct I will be getting another book but it will not be one of his, and I don't know if I can ever trust Sams Publishing again.
This book should be re-named "Sams Give Yourself a breif Introduction to Some of Visual Basic's Easy Concepts."

I own the Professional Refrence Edition (Hardcover), and I find Teach Yourself Visual Basic 6 in 21 Days a good book for reference. While it isn't the best for teaching beginners, anyone with a bit of understanding of Windows who has fooled around with the program can find the guide easy to use and full of information. I use this book whenever writing programs, along with Microsofts Programmers Guide. A good buy to start a beginner programmer off, or to add to a VB Programmers Collection.