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

by Brian Shea (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Written by a team of authors, Visual Basic Source Code Library presents dozens of useful tips and plenty of sample code for novice and expert Visual Basic developers alike. Samples here range from just a few lines to several pages of code, grouped by topic.

Early examples extend the functionality of simple Visual Basic controls such as list boxes and combo boxes. The beginning of the book also includes tips for getting better control of Visual Basic forms and for better process control, including starting and stopping applications and parsing program arguments. Additional topics include working with serial ports and fonts.

Later the book explains functions for retrieving error information and converting back and forth between hex, decimal, and binary numbers. This section features an excellent and extensive sample that simplifies the Remote Data Objects (RDO) object model for easier programming with SQL Server. Graphics examples include a variety of techniques for using bitmaps and animations.

When it comes to files, there are superb samples for reading and writing INI file entries and working with ZIP files. There are relatively few Internet examples here, but there are several useful techniques provided for sorting arrays and playing WAV, AVI, and MPEG files for better multimedia applications.

Final sections provide a variety of useful miscellaneous tips, such as how to reboot Windows and work with the taskbar. The very last chapter provides a library of Windows NT network administration functions in Visual Basic (with support for such features as adding and deleting users and changing passwords).

Throughout Visual Basic Source Code Library, the authors provide access to many useful Win32 functions through Visual Basic and provide a grab bag of tips and tricks that can speed the development of your next Visual Basic project. --Richard Dragan

Product Description
As the only book of its kind, The Waite Group's Visual Basic Source Code Library follows in a line of classic Waite group programming titles. For Visual Basic programmers of all levels, this book offers you as a beginner a useful source for new ideas and insight, and as an experienced programmer a vast collection of well-organized information to further your ability. This book will specifically help you add to your own librabry of functions and modules- that you use over and over -by presenting more than 200 complete functions, listings, and routines that have been proven and tested by Visual Basic professionals. Consisting of logical sections for the programmer, this book makes it easy for you to find the function you need. Whether you're a beginning or experienced Visual Basic programmer, The Waite Group's Visual Basic Source Code Library will have you creating better programming in no time.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 696 pages
• Publisher: Sams (December 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672313871
• ISBN-13: 978-0672313875
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #838,772 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tons of cool Visual Basic routines to add to any library., July 28, 1999

By A Customer

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific! Extensive library of useful code., January 18, 1999

By A Customer

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!, March 9, 2003

By A Customer

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!