Core Java(TM) 2, Volume II--Advanced Features (7th Edition) (Paperback)

~ Cay S. Horstmann (Author), Gary Cornell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Picking up where the authors' first volume on Java left off, Core Java 2, Volume 2 covers the more advanced features of the Java 2 platform that can add polish and power to your Java programs. The authors' accessible--yet thorough--coverage of essential Java APIs help make this book an attractive choice for any working Java developer.

Several chapters here are especially useful for getting control of new and important Java 2 features. Sections on the new Java 2 collection classes and using advanced Swing classes (like tables and trees) are particularly good. (While many other books just list Swing APIs, this volume provides short examples and effective commentary, which will let you master these complex Swing controls.) When it comes to Java2D graphics, the authors do a nice job of comparing the old AWT to the new Java2D, including drawing basic shapes and doing text output. (These operations are surprisingly tricky in this new API). A section on the new JDBC 2 standard shows off new features like ResultSets and scrollable cursors to good effect.

More advanced topics include multithreading, internationalization, and security. Throughout, this text introduces important concepts illustrated with comprehensible examples. The APIs for individual classes are listed too, making it possible to use this book as a reference, but it is the tutorial sections that stand out here. (The authors also aren't afraid to point out where Java 2 is lacking--for example, in its printing support.)

Readers of the first volume will naturally want the second volume of Core Java 2 too. It's also a great choice for any Java developer with JDK 1.1 experience who wants a tour of new Java 2 features that are essential for serious corporate development. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Java 2 advanced APIs, multithreading and synchronization, Java 2 collections, networking, databases and JDBC 2 (cursors and result sets), RMI and remote objects, Swing user interface classes, printing, tables and trees, JavaBeans, security and deployment, internationalization issues, JNI and native methods. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

An indispensible companion to Core Java 2 Volume I, Seventh Edition, thisbook delivers the real-world guidance Java programmers need to solve even themost challenging programming problems. While many new editions tack onnew material, Horstmann actually rewrites all exisiting chapters and reworks allof the existing programs and examples featured in the book. The authorsindentify the problems experienced Java developers encounter most often anddelivers insightful, expert-level guidance for addressing them. The book alsoincludes all-new chapters on key features of J2SE 5.0 (formerly J2SE 1.5 or"Tiger") including generics and multi-threading. It has been three years sincethe last edition of Core Java Volume II and Java programmers have beenanxiously awaiting the arrival of the updated revision of one of their favoritebooks!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1024 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 7 edition (December 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131118269
• ISBN-13: 978-0131118263
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #291,904 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only if you don't own a previous edition, October 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Core Java 2 , Volume 2: Advanced Features (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is great for it's intended purpose, but some seem to have confused what that purpose is. Some feel that because the subtitle is "Advanced Features", this book would unravel the mysteries of the most advanced features of Java 2. Not so! You have to understand that this is nothing but a volume 2 of the Core Java 2 duo! The volume 1 has the fundamentals and this volume 2 goes to MORE advanced topics, compared to the first volume. This talks about JDBC, Corba, Swing, etc, but not very deeply, just advanced for those who have just finished volume 1.

I think the two books are the best option if you don't already have other similar books. If you have the previous 1.1 edition, or other very similar books like Just Java or Thinking in Java, then you'd probably get very little for your money from this one.

After finishing both Core Java 2 vols 1 & 2 you have a very good basic knowledge of using Java 2 for different purposes and then you can buy a more indepth book on some aspect that you especially need (JDBC, Beans...).

A Very good book when combined with volume 1.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear but brief overview of advanced features of J2SE 1.5, May 28, 2006

By	calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book does not substitute for all of the specialized books on the subjects that it covers, and it is by no means encyclopedic in scope. However, even in its 7th edition it is still the best and the clearest overview of advanced features of the language for Java 1.5. What is particularly nice is that the author has split his Core Java series up such that if your goal is just to learn the language you need only buy volume one, and if your goal is to get a handle on the changes in the advanced features of the language you need only buy volume 2. They are pretty much independent of one another. Add to that the fact that both of these volumes can be found used for about $20 each, and it is definitely worth the purchase. The writing style is very clear with much sample code. The author even gives a little bit of background showing how each feature of the language has changed over the years. I notice that Amazon only shows the table of contents for the previous edition, so I show the table of contents for the current edition next:
1. MULTITHREADING
What Are Threads?; Interrupting Threads; Thread States; Thread Properties; Synchronization; Blocking Queues; Thread-Safe Collections; Callables and Futures; Executors; Synchronizers; Threads and Swing;

2. COLLECTIONS
Collection Interfaces; Concrete Collections; The Collections Framework; Algorithms; Legacy Collections;

3. NETWORKING
Connecting to a Server; Implementing Servers; Sending E-Mail; Making URL Connections; Advanced Socket Programming;

4. DATABASE PROGRAMMING
The Design of JDBC; The Structured Query Language; JDBC Installation; Basic JDBC Programming Concepts; Query Execution; Scrollable and Updatable Result Sets; Metadata; Row Sets; Transactions; Advanced Connection Management; Introduction to LDAP;

5. DISTRIBUTED OBJECTS
The Roles of Client and Server; Remote Method Invocations; Setup for Remote Method Invocation; Parameter Passing in Remote Methods; Server Object Activation; Java IDL and CORBA; Remote Method Calls with SOAP;

6. ADVANCED SWING
Lists; Trees; Tables; Styled Text Components; Progress Indicators; Component Organizers;

7. ADVANCED AWT
The Rendering Pipeline; Shapes; Areas; Strokes; Paint; Coordinate Transformations; Clipping; Transparency and Composition; Rendering Hints; Readers and Writers for Images; Image Manipulation; Printing; The Clipboard; Drag and Drop;

8. JAVABEANS COMPONENTS
Why Beans?; The Bean-Writing Process; Using Beans to Build an Application; Naming Patterns for Bean Properties and Events; Bean Property Types; BeanInfo Classes; Property Editors; Customizers; JavaBeans Persistence;

9. SECURITY
Class Loaders; Bytecode Verification; Security Managers and Permissions; Digital Signatures; Code Signing; Encryption;

10. INTERNATIONALIZATION
Locales; Number Formats; Date and Time; Collation; Message Formatting; Text Files and Character Sets; Resource Bundles; A Complete Example;

11. NATIVE METHODS
Calling a C Function from the Java Programming Language; Numeric Parameters and Return Values; String Parameters; Accessing Fields; Encoding Signatures; Calling Java Methods; Accessing Array Elements; Handling Errors; Using the Invocation API; A Complete Example: Accessing the Windows Registry;

12. XML
Introducing XML; Parsing an XML Document; Validating XML Documents; Locating Information with XPath; Using Namespaces; Using the SAX Parser; Generating XML Documents; XSL Transformations;

13. ANNOTATIONS
Addition of Metadata to Programs; An Example: Annotating Event Handlers; Annotation Syntax; Standard Annotations; The Apt Tool for Source-Level Annotation Processing; Bytecode Engineering;

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Java 2 Reference, May 30, 2000

By	Gary Thomas (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Core Java 2 , Volume 2: Advanced Features (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I am a professional developer, recently switched from C++ and VB to Java. For my purposes, as an experienced OO programmer this book, and its companion volume could not be bettered. Every subject is covered sufficiently for me to write code, at a professional level. I cannot recommend this book highly enough as a reference. I would not suggest that anyone try and learn Java (much less OO) from it - that is not its purpose.