Delphi 5 Developer's Guide (Developer's Guide) (Hardcover)

~ Steve Teixeira (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Weighing in at over 1,500 pages, Delphi 5 Developer's Guide updates a classic text on Delphi programming with a new edition that highlights the latest and greatest in version 5. Whether you are new to Delphi or a seasoned veteran, this book will help you get the most out of this powerful development tool, including database, Internet, and thin-client computing.

The sheer size of Delphi 5 Developer's Guide makes it a standout. (This already massive book bundles 11 "extra" chapters on the accompanying CD-ROM on such topics as graphics programming and coding standards.) The text presents how-to information on a wealth of topics, along with short code excerpts and complete programs where appropriate.

Two areas deserve special mention. First, essential Windows programming techniques, from calling Win32 APIs to Microsoft COM in all its guises, are examined especially closely. (Besides the basics of building ActiveX controls and OLE Automation in Delphi, there's material on using MTS and ADO.) This book also sheds some insight on programming "thin clients," with solid coverage of Borland's MIDAS middleware solution, as well as Delphi's support for creating browser-based applications (through its WebBroker classes). Later chapters contain in-depth code examples that contrast "traditional" two-tiered client/server programming with thin-client versions (using both MIDAS and HTML). This material can help get your existing Delphi skills up to speed with current browser-based Web application requirements.

There aren't many books out there on Delphi programming, so this text meets an essential need with its thorough tour of what's available in version 5. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Delphi 5 basics, history of Delphi, Delphi IDE features, the Object Pascal language, object-oriented programming techniques, exceptions, Win32 programming APIs, the Delphi application frameworks, Windows messages and Delphi events, dynamic link libraries, printing, multithreaded applications, threads and synchronization objects, file basics, directories and drives, memory-mapped files, programming the Windows shell, hooks, system information, using the clipboard, the Visual Component Library (VCL), building custom components, COM basics, building ActiveX controls, ActiveForms, OLE Automation, OLE containers, DCOM and MTS programming, Delphi CORBA support, BDE and databases, ODBC and ADO support, client/server programming techniques, WebBroker, NSAPI and ISAPI Internet applications in Delphi, thin clients, and MIDAS applications.

Product Description

The Delphi 5 Developer's Guide is a complete reference showing developers what they need to know most about Delphi 5. The text begins with a tour of Delphi 5 basics, including improvements since version 1. After observing object-oriented Pascal programming, including advanced language features, the authors turn to the strengths of using the Visual Component Library (VCL) application frameworks. They include several invaluable sections for corporate developers, including a "coding standards" document. Sections on combining VCL with ActiveX controls round out the basic tour. Advanced topics include graphics programming, building dynamic link-libraries (DLLs), printing, and multithreading.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1200 pages
• Publisher: Sams (December 27, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672317818
• ISBN-13: 978-0672317811
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #628,391 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Delphi Guru Wants To Be Without This Bible, February 4, 2000

By A Customer

Ok, first things First. Click The Buy Button and come back and read this review. You simply cannot go wrong with this book. Previously I had brought Mastering Delphi 3 & 5 and thought they were good (which they are), but sorry Marco, the best delphi book mantle has been past on.

Ok, D5 Developer's Guide. What this book doesn't cover isn't worth knowing. A brief contents listing... * History Of Delphi (Interesting Read) * Object Pascal Language Overview (For the newbies) * Win32 API overview (and yes, you do need to deal with the API from time to time) * Coding Standards (I mean, this book even tells you how you should write the code! ) * Using ActiveX Controls * Graphics Programming * DLLs * Printing * Multithreading * Help with Porting your apps to Delphi 5 (And we are only half way through the book) * Writing your own components (400 pages to this alone) * Database Development (Desktop, Client Server, Midas and Corba) (4 Chapters)

Over 1500 pages of information. What with this book, the two Tomes Of Delphi, Win32Api references and Mastering Delphi 5, there should be enough information there to make a Guru out of a first year college student. Seriously, I cannot rate this book high enough. Don't worry about it not being worth the money - it is. Every Penny.

The only problem with this book is that some of the chapters are on the CDROM (however, they are the ones that you might want to read once in a while) and that you might pull your back picking the book up. (Just remember the correct lifting stance).

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book, January 23, 2000

By	Kevin Morris (Canada) - See all my reviews

I recieved it within one week. I've been a Delphli developer since D1, but since my usual work requires a narrow focus on projects of similar type, I've not been exposed to all the "acronyms of the day". I needed a book that would spell out, in recipe format, HOW to get into MIDAS, and Web enablment. This book reaches it's target audience very well. It catches the developer up on the new syntax available, tells 'beginer' developers where more info is available, and for experienced developers it SPELLS OUT step by step HOW to get MIDAS and Web enablement going. Some of the chapters are written by other authors besides Steve and Xavier, but the format of each chapter is consistent. JOB WELL DONE!

As an example, I learned this from the book:

D1 Syntax:

S := Table1.FieldByName('EmpNo').AsString;

D5 Syntax:

S := Table1['EmpNo'];

I skipped D4 because it was a bag of bugs. I told the Delphi development team not to 'do that again' at BorCon/INPR Conference '99. D5 is a SOLID product Borland can be proud of, and Delphi 5 Developer's Guide is a SOLID BOOK, the authors can be proud of! It's about 8 pounds, not including the chapters that are on the CD only.

It also has a beautiful cover and because it's so big, it makes me look real important while I walk around the office reading it. Ha ha ha! Plus I'm actually getting what look like small BICEPTS from holding it up while I read. COOL!

BUY THIS BOOK! It's a WINNER!

Kev.

Hey, BTW, Teixeira, Pacheco, are those Spanish names? Portugese? They sound cool.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of information, February 23, 2000

By	Zach Smith (KS/USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book contains a lot of technical and undocumented information about Delphi programming, the IDE, components, etc. Not written for the novice but it does compliment Marco Cantu's "Mastering Delphi 5". I highly recommend it. Only "drawback" is the chapters on the CD. I certainly understand wanting to keep the physical size of the book down but it does make it hard to read in bed (monitor takes up a lot of room). All kidding aside, you can't go wrong purchasing this title.