Mastering Delphi 5 (Paperback)

by Marco Cantu (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Marco Cantù's Mastering Delphi 5 revises this author's earlier title and brings it up to speed for the latest and greatest in Delphi 5. Weighing in at a whopping 1,100 pages, this comprehensive, thorough, and skillfully written book makes the strong claim that it is the most comprehensive resource available for Delphi 5. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, this text offers exemplary coverage of this powerful programming tool.

Mastering Delphi 5 does a great job of explaining the new and exciting features of Delphi 5, whether new IDE features, support for object-oriented design, databases, or Internet programming. Clearly, Delphi 5 is a tool ready for the new millennium, and the author shows you how to take advantage of a variety of database and Internet features (such as using Delphi to write CGI scripts or using ActiveForms). Plus, there's coverage of new support for ADO database programming, as well as sections devoted to higher-end enterprise computing with Inprise MIDAS for creating scalable thin-client Web applications.

Throughout Mastering Delphi 5, the author shares his considerable expertise, along with countless tips for creating better classes and components (both VCL and ActiveX components) and tweaking the functionality of existing Delphi controls (particularly with grids). On its own, Delphi 5 offers a lot of functionality, which this book covers in good detail, but the author also pushes the envelope with plenty of tips and tricks on how to do more (for example, using Windows APIs for better multitasking).

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned expert, there is a lot to glean from this impressively thorough tour of the new Delphi 5. This title sets a high standard as a source of information on the features of one of today's most powerful development tools. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Delphi 5 IDE features and tips, object-oriented programming in Delphi, class design, late binding, run-time type information, advanced object Pascal: method pointers, class references, exceptions, Delphi interfaces, VCL properties, methods and events, advanced standard components, menus, owner-draw controls, ListView and TreeView controls, Delphi forms, toolbars, ControlBars, scrolling forms, splitting forms, dialog boxes, message boxes, about boxes and splash screens, PageControls and TabSheets, MDI applications, database applications and BDE, data-aware controls, grids, the Data Module Designer, Data Dictionary and SQL Builder tools, master/detail records, extending DBGrid, transactions, client/server programming, SQL basics, triggers and procedures, ADO database programming how-to, building VCL and ActiveX components, building DLLs, COM basics, Automation and ActiveX, multithreading and synchronization techniques, debugging tips, Windows resources, printing, file I/O, the clipboard, Delphi Internet programming: HTML, ActiveForms, WinInet APIs, CGI, ISAPI/NSAPI, WebBroker applications, multitiered databases with MIDAS, using MTS and CORBA.

Product Description
Delphi is a rapid application and development tool which competes with Visual Basic. This text covers topics for Delphi programmers such as: building Web applications; using COM and CORBA; and making calls to the Win32 API.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1104 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Inc; 3rd edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782125654
• ISBN-13: 978-0782125658
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,053,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mastering Delphi 4 with little coverage of new components, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

Mastering Delphi 4 is a great book, however 5 falls short in both substance and coverage of the new features in Delphi 5. I used Mastering Delphi 4 to bring me up to speed with the Object Pascal language and it was wonderful. Hold out for the Delphi 5 Developers Guide, it should contain (I hope)more detailed information on the XML Broker, IBExpress, Office, etc.

Buy Mastering Delphi 4 if you are new to Delphi, if a veteran, hold out for the developers guide.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars still a good book, but I'm very disappointed, January 13, 2000

By	Da Pig (Pigsty, Swamp) - See all my reviews

I am very disappointed when I got this book. However, I can't give it any lower rating because it IS a good book for someone who wants to learn Delphi or for someone who wants to enhance their delphi skills. However, the book bare touches the new topics in Delphi 5 and it did not cover any detail on those new topics. To me, this book is identical to the last 3 books. It's just collecting dust sitting on my desk. Would someone please explore the revamped MIDAS, the new internet express? These are only 2 of the most important topics in Delphi 5 that's missing from this book. (ignore the topic holder chapaters....)

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Delphi Book for Real Programmers, December 27, 1999

By	Darrell R. Young (USA) - See all my reviews

I've bought a lot of Delphi books over the last few years, and this is one of the best! Excellent coverage of Database (including ADO, SQL, and N-Tier), Client/Server, and Internet programming. If you own Delphi 5 Pro or Enterprise...get this!

It doesn't waste your time with a bunch of silly sections on creating little overlapping circles on your screen, nor does it deal much with Multimedia (my only complaint). If you are writing a real world database or Internet application, this book is well worth the money! (With it I finally understand the Delphi "messaging system.")

This is a large book, with over 1000 pages, so it's no light read, but Canti's writing style is enjoyable. It's not really a book for absolute beginners, although it has an excellent language section for those who may need to bone up on Pascal.

With this book, and a good Multimedia book you'll be well equipped to write the next great killer app!