Murach's C# (Paperback)

~ (Author), Doug Lowe (Author) "The .NET Framework (pronounced "dot net framework") defines the environment that you use to execute Visual C# .NET applications and the services you can use..." (more)
Key Phrases: products combo box, data grid control, active child form, Product Maintenance, Code Editor, Form Designer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What this book does...

Section 1 tours the .NET Framework and teaches the basics of working with Microsoft’s development environment, Visual Studio .NET. In this section, you’ll learn how to develop a simple Windows application. To do that, you’ll use the Forms Designer to design a Windows form, and you’ll learn use the Code Editor to add and edit the code for the form.

Section 2 presents the data types, control structures, and other essential elements of the C# language as well as the core .NET classes you’ll use to develop basic Windows applications. Along the way, you’ll also learn how to handle the tasks that are required in most business apps. In chapter 7, for example, you’ll learn professional data validation techniques that we haven’t seen presented in any competing book, even though data validation is an essential part of every business application.

Section 3 teaches the powerful object-oriented programming features of the C# language. You’ll learn how to create and use your own custom business objects, and you’ll learn how to use database classes to populate those objects with data from files or a database. That, of course, is how applications work in the real world, even though most C# books don’t show you that. In this section, you’ll also learn how to use inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces, and much more. Even if you’re an experienced programmer, we think you’ll find that this book brings a new clarity to all of these subjects.

Section 4 teaches you how to use ADO.NET to develop database applications because these applications account for most of the applications in the business world. Here, you’ll start by learning how to use a wizard to create the ADO.NET database objects and how to work with typed datasets that use bound and unbound controls. But then, you’ll also learn how to use untyped datasets and data commands to create database classes that work with the three-tiered architecture that’s commonly used by object-oriented applications.

Section 5 shows how to work with text files, binary files, and XML. You’ll also learn how to enhance a Windows interface with a Multi-Document Interface (MDI), menus, toolbars, and help, all finishing touches that make your applications thoroughly professional.

From the Publisher

Who this book is for…

This book is for anyone who wants to learn how to use Microsoft C# .NET for developing professional Windows applications using Visual Studio and the .NET Framework. That includes the entire range from beginning programmers to experienced Java, C++, and Visual Basic programmers.

To be able to work equally well for beginners, experts, and everyone in between, this book uses a unique, modular instructional method that allows you to set your own pace through the material. For example, section 1 expertly guides you through the basics of using the Visual Studio IDE and the .NET Framework. Whether you are a Java or C++ programmer or a complete beginner, you can get up to speed quickly with this development environment by reading this section and doing the exercises at the end of each chapter. On the other hand, if you’re a Visual Basic programmer who is already comfortable with this IDE and Framework, you can skip or skim this section.

Sections 2 and 3 use the same modular, self-paced approach to methodically teach the coding skills that you need to become productive with the C# language. If you’re already familiar with another language in the C++ family, such as Java, you should be able to move through this section quickly, focusing on the classes and methods that are available from the .NET Framework. Conversely, if you’re already familiar with .NET, you can focus on the details of the C# syntax. Either way, you’re going to learn C#, and you’re going to learn it at a pace that’s right for you.

Once you complete the first three sections of this book, section 4 shows how to use ADO.NET to develop database applications with C#. Unlike most other C# books that only have one introductory chapter on ADO.NET, though, this book has five chapters! And these five chapters show how to develop ADO.NET applications the way they’re developed by the best professionals. In fact, we think you’re going to find that this is really two books in one: a C# book and an ADO.NET book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 749 pages
• Publisher: Mike Murach & Associates; illustrated edition edition (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890774227
• ISBN-13: 978-1890774226
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #604,426 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Will you really wish you bought this book first?, August 28, 2005

By	John Salerno (Hoboken, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This is actually my third C# book, after Programming in the Key of C# by Charles Petzold and Programming C# by Jesse Liberty. I'm learning C# as my first programming language, basically just for fun and out of an interest in programming. I bought Murach's C# as a way to reinforce the basics that I've already learned, and it's doing a good job of that. And I suppose if you are already a programmer and are learning C# (but already know C++ or Java, etc.), then this book is a good intro. But is this really a good book for a beginner to start with?

I'd have to say no. It seems more like a good book to go back to once you already know some things about C#. As I read the chapter in which the "C# Essentials" are introduced, I felt like that's all that was happening: they were being introduced. Here is what the data types are, here is what an if statement is, etc. One page for each topic, and then the authors move on. Furthermore, they introduce some methods of the Math class before they even cover what methods are (or how static methods differ from instance methods, and so on). If I were reading this book as my first intro to C#, I think I'd be very confused. I feel like I can understand what's being said only because I've read two other books on the subject already.

One advantage this book has over all other books I've seen is that it takes the time (two chapters) to introduce you to Visual Studio (the development environment for C#). This is great since programmers will presumably be using this IDE as opposed to an external text editor, for example.

Two complaints I have about the book are these:

1. The paired page format is nice, but at the same time it leads to a lot of redundancy. Often the points made on the left-hand page are repeated in bullets on the right-hand side. Sometimes there's a bit of new information on the right side, so I still felt obliged to read it anyway.

2. It is often difficult to tell which parts of the right-hand page correspond to the left-hand page. The left side is paragraphs of text, but they are not broken up to indicate that we should direct our attention to the right side. I often find myself reading the left side and getting too far ahead before I look to the right side (or vice versa, I continue reading the examples on the right side until I reach a point that I haven't read the explanatory text on the left yet, which can be confusing).

My ultimate opinion is that this book is a good reference or refresher for those who already know another language, or who want to 're-learn' C#. It is not the best book for a complete beginner.

For the beginner with no prior programming experience, I highly, highly, highly recommend Petzold's Programming in the Key of C#. He takes the time to explain everything in great detail, and you will learn so much. It is an excellent foundation for reading other books, such as Murach's C#.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for teachers and students, April 29, 2005

By	Thomas Paul (Plainview, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book for the beginning C# programmer. The book uses a "paired-page" format where the page on the left gives descriptions of a concept and the page on the right provides examples, syntax, and additional information. Although this does lead to some repetition, overall it provides clearer explanations of concepts that are laid out in front of you all at once. It also makes it easier to go back, find, and review information read previously.

The book starts with a tour of C# which leans heavily on Visual Studio. The first three chapters cover using VS.NET and very little C# code is presented. In fact, explanations of how to work in Visual Studio are provided throughout the book. The next two sections, covering 12 chapters, cover the details of programming in C# and writing object oriented code. The coverage of OO is excellent and it will remove much of the mystery associated with OO programming. Database programming using ADO.NET is covered at a good level of detail in five chapters. The final section covers reading and writing files including using the .NET classes to read and write XML files.

In many ways this book provides a level of detail not found in other books with plenty of code samples to help clarify the material. The only thing not covered is ASP and web forms. I can highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning C# or to anyone planning to teach a C# programming course. The book is well designed as a textbook for a programming class. It includes objectives, a summary, a list of important terms, and programming exercises at the end of each chapter. A student workbook and an instructor CD are available.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your own personal instructor!, January 5, 2007

By	G. T. Sanford III (Nolensville, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Murach's C# 2005 (Paperback)

All of Murach's books follow the same format: the left page of the open book provides the commentary for the illustrations on the right page. The examples and tutorials in the book are real-world and offer the best possible scenario for the student. I have over a dozen books on C#; if I had purchased this one first, I wouldn't have needed the others. Get this book if you need to learn C# in the shortest possible time.