Customer Reviews

Waite Group's Visual Basic Source Code Library (The Waite Group)

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

 

 

While building my own comprehensive Visual Basic library (inproc DLL), I found that I had to browse the web for hours looking for a particular routine that I needed for my newest programming projects. I came across this book while browsing the VB library at a book store, and found that it contained a lot of the code I was looking for to complement my growing library.

What really sold me was the ZIP compression code included with the book. The code as presented is based on the freeware Info-Zip DLL library, and the example was not done well. The author didn't spend any time developing the ZIP routines other than showing how to access the DLL. So I took the sample and built a wrapper for the code, which gave me access to individual files inside the ZIP. I can now add and delete any file stored in a ZIP using my new wrapper. But it was based on the code and hints included with this book.

There are just TONS of routines in this book that I have found very useful, including a number of network API functions that are very difficult to come by without a reference like this.

If you are building a Visual Basic library of your own, then this book is a great asset, and I believe provides more functionality than many of the "commercial" Visual Basic libraries out there. The benefit is that you can see the code for yourself and make use of it in any way you see fit.

Visual Basic Source Code Library is the first book I've seen with such a wide range of useful code - that works. Everything from control and form enhancements, file manipulation, graphics and multimedia, database, and Net API (very rare). Each function is described and commented, and noted with an icon for the versions of VB the code works with - including VB4 16-and 32-bit, VB5, VB6, VBA, and VBScript. Extremely handy! This book has paid for itself overnight.

There are some issues with the code in this book, and it is obvious that the files on the CD were NOT bug tested. For example, the Zip32.dll file is an outdated version and does not work with the code given and the website for the new .dll file is gone. Even though there are some issues I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS BOOK! It is the best resource out there for small problems that you would otherwise need to go to a forum and post a question. If you are new to VB or are semi-experienced, GET THIS BOOK!

I bought this book and immediately used 3 string routines. Several days later I used some more.

This is a great book filled with source code that you can immediately apply to your job.

Easy to read and use. These routines are now replacing several of my routines that do the same thing.

I will say upfront that I have only just started using this book.
But it doesn't take long to realise that at least some of the code has NOT been bug tested (or tested to see if it even works).
Specifically (so far) the Thayer encryption routine (doesn't work - had to download an alternative) and the Getfile routine (locks up after multiple uses).
Will post a further review if matters change for better (or worse).
The book still has a good layout and has lots of useful routines for everyone just dont expect them to work without a little 'tweaking'.

I'm not going to babble on meaninglessly, I just want to say simply "Great Book" within 2 minutes of opening it I was able to look up a procedure as well as find several others of interest on the way to the page I wanted. Within 10 minutes I had the concise code typed into a program and succesfully ran it - that is what I got the book for! Money well spent!

For a beginner or a intermediate user this book is definitely a must have. It contains a lot of useful codes that are commented and easy to understand. For the advanced user there isn't much to get. If you consider the fact that there are 11 authors to this book then the book seems to be a bit thin. I had hoped for much more code. The language can sometimes be a bit confusing: The code analasys is sometimes more difficult to understand than the code itself.

I am learning Visual Basic 6.0 in another book that I adquired via Amazon.com and as soon as I feel better with programming using VB 6.0 I wiil begin to test some of the program that I already copy in my hard disk från the CD-ROM.
Thank you very much
Nicolas Renne