Graphic Java 2, Volume 2, Swing (3rd Edition) (Sun Microsystems Press Java Series) (2 Book Set) (Paperback)

~ David Geary (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you're developing software that will be used by a large group of people, you need to give it a good-looking front-end--in Java 2, that means you have to use Swing. An excellent resource, Graphic Java 2: Mastering the JFC, Third Edition (Volume 2: Swing) takes on the Swing components one at a time and shows you how to incorporate them into attractive, efficient programs.

In many ways, Graphic Java 2 is a cookbook. You search the table of contents or index for a reference to the kind of problem you want to solve, then examine the author's examples for the solution (or at least some clues to it). This is the book to turn to if you're wondering how to implement the JComboBox.KeySelectionManager interface (which enables users to select items in a combo box) or compare the various ways of making the JTree component into a file browser. Those are just two of hundreds of examples in David Geary's book.

While most examples don't serve any practical purpose by themselves, they do clearly illustrate how a specific aspect of Swing works. It's easy to adapt the details presented here into your own programs. Geary shows consideration for the reader by presenting all his examples as programs that can be compiled and including them on the enclosed CD-ROM. --David Wall

Review

"At over 1500 pages, Graphic Java 2 is a monolith, heavy with details and weighted with valuable information for all Java UI developers. The coverage is meticulous and fluid, instructive in countless ways, unveiling things you won't find anywhere else. Yet it remains accessible to even a novice Swing developer. The net effect is that the price tag seems trivial given the value you can get from this book...

The coverage is not just impressive in its sheer volume; it's also an easy read with clear, concise explanations and useful examples...

All the fundamentals--in eloquent prose and incredible detail--are laid out before the reader in logical chapters that build on each other to unveil the most complete picture I've seen in print. I can hardly wait to read Volume III." -- DevX Book Reviews, July 29, 1999

"Thinking about making that jump from the AWT to Swing? Not sure where to start or how to go about it? Your search stops with David Geary's Graphic Java 2: Mastering the JFC...

Part 2 covers all the Swing components and their properties in detail; each component allocated a chapter. Two of the most complex components--Table and Tree--are covered in great detail and Chapters 19 and 20, respectively. These two chapters alone are worth the price of the book for serious Swing developers...

All in all, Geary has done such a thorough job in Graphic Java 2 that it can truly be considered the Swing bible. Don't let the size of the book intimidate you, it provides a top-level view as well as microscopic details on all Swing components. It will definitely prove to be an asset in the Swing developer's arsenal." -- Dr. Dobbs Journal, September, 1999

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1600 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 3 edition (March 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130796670
• ISBN-13: 978-0130796677
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #518,610 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Guide to Swing for Serious JAVA Developers, January 5, 2000

By	"semplice" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This Book is not an introductory book, but for serious JAVA Developers who wants to know all about Swing features. It gives complete information about Swing's UI, the JComponent class, diff between lightweight and heavyweight component, Look and Feel features etc.... I would definetly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn everything about SWING. However this book requires some knowlegde of AWT, but this is not a must. I can't wait for David Geary's book on Advanced Swing which is due in Dec 2001.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Swing Book, December 1, 1999

By	Roger Williamson (Usa) - See all my reviews

I have five Swing books, and this book provides by far the most thorough and well-written coverage of Swing. Although it is a huge book, there is no fluff as there is in other Swing books. The writing is clear and concise and topics are presented in a logical manner.

The first quarter of the book covers fundamental Swing concepts including meticulous coverage of the JComponent class and the best explanation of Model/View/Controller, including Swing's version of MVC, that I've seen in print.

The last three quarters of the book discusses Swing components, with excellent coverage of Swing's most complex components: JTree and JTable.

Not only does this book show you how to use Swing components, it also gives you an understanding of how Swing is designed. If you're serious about using Swing, this is the book to get.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal, May 7, 2001

By	D. Hersey "Dashersey" (Athens, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Others have waxed eloquent about the merits of this book. I have owned it for 2 years and I am still amazed at the depth, clarity, and scope of the information inside. Swing can be confusing, and there are frequently many ways to accomplish a task. Geary takes you through from the ground up and shows how to harness this powerful API. Long as it is, the book builds on the foundation of the AWT 1.1 coverage in volume 1. Swing is heavily dependent on the revised AWT architecture, so volume 1 is a must-own for anyone serious in leveraging the full Java GUI API. I had been a Swing programmer for almost a year before buying this book, and it completely redefined how I thought about the API, as well as the results I have obtained. My hat is off to Mr. Geary, as well as the designers of this surprisingly powerful and complete API!