Customer Reviews

Using Powerbuilder 5: Special Edition (Using ... (Que))

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

 

 

I picked up this book becuase I scanned through the first chapters and found the it easy to follow. It was not until I had invested too much time to start a new book that it disappointed me. The book appears as if Mr. Wood got about halfway through the book, then had to finish in a hurry. The sample application begins to refer to objects that have not been created in the tutorial. Even when the book refers to objects that were created, the name is often different than the name used in the tutorial, making it difficult to follow. In short, I would wait for the second "Special Edition" if you really want this book. Maybe they will correct the errors.

I have purchased many books from QUE in the past but I have never had one fall apart on me in a week. The quality of binding is as poor as the worked examples. The fact that object names change from page to page leaves the newer user in total confusion. The only saving grace is that the reference section at the back is useful. Much better reading PB 6 Unleashed.

Dave Nicolaou, UK Developer, Powerbuilder

I am very upset with the last book I bought, "Special Edition Using PowerBuilder 5" (ISBN 0-7897-0754-3) by Charles Wood. I have bought several books of QUE before and have never seen so much mistakes. I have read up to chapter 11 with lots of difficulty because of the mistakes in datawindow names, object names, etc. If you try to follow the example given in the book you will end up lost because of scripts with errors in variable and function definitions.

I really have never read a book with that many errors. I bought it because I am the owner of "Special Edition Using Windows 95", "Special Edition Using Gupta SQL Windows" and "Special Edition Using Excel for Windows 95" and thought this book would keep the good quality of the other ones I had, but after reading it I am very disappointed.

I hope in the future you should spend more time and/or money controlling the quality of your products.

Sincerely yours

Hernan Boluarte

hernanb@telematic.edu.pe

Loved the book..I would like to learn more about the PFC services,,can not seem to find any books talking about PFC..this book does not even mention it..slight editorial oversights, but all in all a great book from beginner to intermiedate..chapter on visual object is great..like to see more about implementing non visual objects into a real database application..too many books say this is how you create a class but do not show you how to implement them in a realistic example

Great book for beginners. I started with PB using this book and by the end of it I was a professional developing complex applications using PB. Covers practically A to Z of P

Chuck Wood and Que make the best attempt I've ever seen at conveying programming savvy. The chapter on database design and normalization is one of the best. This is one of the only books on programming I've ever read that uses a REAL real world application as the subject of its development: an inventory and invoicing system.

The downfall is in the slew of co-authors and the resulting lack of cohesion. Not for the beginner, this book assumes that the reader can think through an exercise which is only 70% completed within the actual text. The usual summary information included at the end of a chapter in such books is also painfully missing.

In summary, if you're looking for the best in advanced techniques and foundational thought processes (and you're somewhat experienced), its a must read