Customer Reviews

Special Edition Using Visual C++.NET

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

 

 

I bought this book because I was desperate to learn VC++ and the most current version of Visual Studio while I was at it. I consider myself to be a good C++ programmer, but feel lost when it comes to VisualC++. The book started off okay: she walks you through some simple SDI (Single Document Interface) programs. Unfortunately, she starts using the Wizard right away and I couldn't understand much of the code that it generates. She tries to explain some of the Wizard code, but it was never good enough for me. I quickly got lost and never seemed to recover. If you're the type of programmer who doesn't need to understand everything and can cope with tweaking existing programs to see how things work, then this book can work for you. If you're like me on the otherhand and tend to get lost in other people's code very easily, this book might not be the best. After reading only a few chapters, I gave up.

I think I've found a good book for total VC++ beginners like me: "Introduction to MFC programming" by Richard M. Jones. The major problem I have with Jones' book is that it uses an old version of Visual C++ and therefore, there's no .NET stuff. I've had to make some changes to the code in Jones' book to get my programs to work, but if I can figure out the necessary changes, so can you. Maybe that's one good thing about Kate Gregory's book: her code always works, and you get to use the latest version of Visual Studio.

The book, at first surprised me with the title. I first thought that is is a book on VC++.NET 2003, I was surprised to find out that it focuses on MFC. However, I don't take that away from the book. The book starts off with MFC, while I don't agree, it has its reasons. Managed code abstracts a lot of the low-level COM programming for you, to really build Win32 apps, you need to know MFC/COM first. Managed code is built-up from MFC/COM, and in Visual C++.NET, you're going to need to use both MFC/COM and .NET.

Good things? Unlike the Osborne book, it doesn't spend 2/3 of the book explaining C++ concepts. The bad thing? It's more of a "How to" on VC++.NET usage rather than writing managed code. Would I recommend it? Depends. If you're looking for just managed code, no. But if you want to learn MFC fundamentals and then move up to managed code, then I'd say yes. Even though I bought the book mistakening the title for something it's not, it will remain in my library because of its value in unmanaged and managed coding.

Save your money. It's mostly about MFC and there are much, much better books out there about MFC. The references to the .NET platform are too casual to be of much value.

Although the book focuses mostly on MFC, I still found it an excellent source and an effective learning aid.

Its an Excellent Master piece for Professionals who are Upgrading the Knowledge from VC6 to VC++.Net infact People who are interested in learning VC++ they can blindly go for this without VC6 knowledge.......

I used this for a course recently.

Its was written for VS 2003 (not VS 2005). It does have a nice mix of MFC and some of the newer .NET. Judging by job ads, its time to get more .net, this is more of an introduction. I'm told finding a V C++ book on .net is a problem, as more people are moving to C#.

The author has a newer book for VS 2005, which I might check out...

I found this book easy to follow and it provided a great 16 chapter review of how to use VC++, (the first 16 chapters). Great for those looking for a thorough review with a couple of latter chapters even dedicated to using managed code, bonus!

This is a fine book and it is got the information I am looking for. The introduction on .NET and organization are professional (it works). I like books that get you involved in examples with tips and suggestions and this book is one of them. I am not finished with book yet but so far so good. Also, author is prompt. She answered my question quick via email. That is nice. Keep it up. Sholea

This is one of the best C++.NET books I read. If you really want to learn; keep and buy ONLY ONE Visual C++.NET book, this book is for you.