Visual C++6 For Dummies [Paperback]

Michael Hyman (Author), Bob Arnson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764503723 | ISBN-13: 978-0764503726 | Publication Date: September 4, 1998

Three good reasons to learn C++: It’s available for DOS, Windows, OS/2, Mac OS, and nearly every other operating system out there, making it one of the most portable languages around. C++ is very powerful. It’s used to create products such as Excel and Access, and it’s used in MIS departments and consultants to create mission critical applications for business and government. And, it’s one of the most popular languages in the world. But, before you master C++, you need to get a handle on Visual C++, a set of powerful development tools for writing C++ programs.

Visual C++ For Dummies is your complete guide to the Visual C++ environment and C++ programming. It gets you up and running with the code, confidence and cunning you need to start programming powerful utilities, cool games, or multimedia masterpieces. In no time you’ll:

• Master the Visual C++ development environment, libraries, wizards, editors, compilers, and debugger
• Develop reliable code using object-oriented programming
• Unravel the mysteries of variables, statements, and pointers
• Add class and inheritance to your programs
• Use streams and exception handling
• Manage complex projects using the visual project show
• Debug programs and correct syntax errors

Visual C++ Programming For Dummies covers all the bases of with clear, accessible instructions, sample programs and lots of source code. Ideal for complete newcomers to C++ and experienced C++ programmers alike, it’s divided in three sections:

• A quick-guide to Visual C++—covers the main features of the programming environment, tools, and utilities
• A practical overview of C++ programming fundamentals—walks you through the development of several C++ programs
• A practical introduction to object-oriented programming—a great primer for beginners and experienced C++ programmers

And as if all that weren’t enough, you also get a bonus CD-ROM featuring:

• All the code from the book
• Trial versions of Ultimate Toolbox, and Wise Installation System
• 15-day trial version of InstallShield Express
• Demo version of Objective Took Kit

Visual C++ For Dummies gives you everything you need to master Visual C++ and harness the power and portability of C++ today!

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Visual C++ 6 For Dummies Cheat Sheet includes a quick reference on the Debug Toolbar, the Build MiniBar, Visual C++ Keyboard Shortcuts, Regular Expression-Matching Commands, the WizardBar, Using AppWizard, and Creating a New Project

From the Back Cover

Free Visual C++ "Cheat Sheet" Inside!

Develop Powerful Visual C++ Programs Today! Get the code, confidence, and cunning you need to start programming in Visual C++ right away. Completely updated for Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0, Visual C++^®6 For Dummies^® covers everything you need to know to develop powerful utilities, cool games, or multimedia masterpieces — including object-oriented programming, editing, compiling, and debugging. Jump-Start Your Programs — All the Code from the Book on CD-ROM!

• Trial versions of Ultimate Toolbox, and Wise Installation System
• A 15-day trial version of InstallShield Express
• A demo version of Objective Tool Kit

Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs as you like — free — but they have no technical support. System Requirements: A Pentium 90 MHz PC or better; 24MB RAM (32MB recommended); Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 or later; Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0.1 (included with Visual C++ 6); CD-ROM drive (2x or faster); and Visual C++ 6

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Get the basics under your belt with a quick crash course on Visual C++'s development environment, libraries, wizards, editors, compilers, and debugger
• Develop reliable, reusable code using object-oriented programming
• Unravel the mysteries of variables, statements, and pointers
• Add class and inheritance to your programs
• Use streams and exception handling
• Manage complex projects using the visual project window
• Debug programs and correct syntax errors

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (September 4, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764503723
• ISBN-13: 978-0764503726
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,553,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in a small town in Western Maryland, and grew up on a farm surrounded by turpentine and linseed oil. Esli ti menja esish, eta ya!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Well, at least they've got a sense of humor, September 29, 1999

By 

Ron .F ([e-mail]) (New York Citehhhh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual C++6 For Dummies (Paperback)

Major problem with this book: The first 9 chapters start off very promising, as the writers very painlessly walk you through the Visual C++ program, really setting you up nicely to do some cool Windows programming. (That IS why we use Visual C++, isn't it: ...to create Windows programs?) As you read through the first few chapters, you start to think "Wow, this is going to be great: I've got these Wizards to build these buttons and toolbars and stuff for me, and now I'm going to learn how to fill in the code and use pointers and objects and stuff to make my very own Windows Apps! This will Rock!!! Microsoft will want to hire me tomorrow!!!" And just when you're ready to start learning some programming for Windows in Part II of the book, the authors say "ehhh-EEEEEEEEHHH!!! We ain't gonna be doin' no Windows Programmin', boy: That'd be beyond the scope o' this li'l book! We're gonna spend the rest of our days here learnin' ya' how to program C++ in a Win32 console (Read: Glorified DOS shell)!!!"

Um, excuse me, but if I wanted to learn about objects and scope and pointers and all that fun C++ stuff, wouldn't I just be reading "C++ for Dummies"??? What's the point of showing us how to create a Windows app using Visual C++ if we're just going to spend the rest of the book writing a completely impractical DOS jukebox program, for which, incidentally, they never do provide all of the necessary multimedia files on the CD?

Once you're over that major fault, however, the book does do a rather decent job of explaining the nuts and bolts of pure C++ programming in a simple fashion, with clever little humorous anecdotes and quips to keep it interesting.

Although I'd easily trade in some of the humor for a little actual Windows programming.

BTW, I'm sure the authors are not hillbilies: I just did that for effect. :-)

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, March 22, 2000

By 

Walter Johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual C++6 For Dummies (Paperback)

The content of Visaul C++ 6 for Dummies is not exactly what I expected when I bought the book. I am pretty good with writing my own C++ applications and I was looking for something to help me get around Visual Studio. So I thought, "Why not get a Dummies book that would explain everything in plain English?" Boy, was I wrong. Now, I'm not going to trash the book. I highly recommend it for those of you who have never written C++ applications before. It explains everything from variable declarations to polymorphism. However, if you are the type of person who knows what polymorphism means, then this is not the book for you. With more than 41 chapters, only 9 focus solely on discussing the Visual C++ Developer's Studio, leaving 32 chapters of "How to write C++ code" for those of you who don't know how. I rate this book 2 stars because of this fact. The title should have been "C++ for Dummies--Using Visual C++ 6.0." If you are looking for a Dummies book that helps you out with this topic, then I suggest getting the Quick Reference. It's cheaper and focuses more on the environment (somewhat). Otherwise, if you are looking for a Visual C++ 6.0 book, do what the author says and get the Visaul C++ 6.0 Bible.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only buy if you want to learn the C++ Language..., December 27, 2000

By 

Tim Edwards (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual C++6 For Dummies (Paperback)

As most of the other people who reviewed this book have said DON'T BUY IT TO LEARN HOW TO CREATE WINDOWS APPLICATIONS. It only teaches you how to use the visual C++ program- it only gives you enough knowledge to be able to create and compile programs. It doesn't teach you the 'how' of creating windows applications, using MFC, using Winsock, using ActiveX etc.

So what does it do? It attempts to teach the begginer to programming the C++ language. Part 2 of the book (part 1 teaches you how to compile and debug programs in VC++ 6, part 4 is really an appendix with a glossary and some help to fix common errors) makes a good effort at teaching C++. The author's sense of humour brings it down-to-earth enough to be readable without getting in the way too much. However I found that often they moved too fast. They explained the basic concepts well- by relating them to everday things it was easy to get your head around the concepts. The problem was that in some cases they moved too quickly over the practical implementation of these concepts- leaving the poor begginer programmer at the mercy of C++'s cryptic syntax. This happens a lot in Part 3 which teaches the concepts of object oriented programming in C++. The other problem was the jukebox application (the example program used throughout the book) began to get insanely complicated in part 3- giving the reader the urge to skip over it. This book will teach you C++ -if you put enough hard work into it-but to learn to make windows applications you will need to buy another book. It's probably more cost effective to get that Beggining Visual C++ 6 book by Ivor Horton that everyone goes on about which will teach you the whole lot in one go.