5 comments about Microsoft Office 2000/Visual Basic: Programmer's Guide (Microsoft Professional Editions).

1. This is a book designed for people that already know something about office and vba and who want to take custom development to the next level with more advanced techniques



2. The intro materials in this book reveal that the authors were working side-by-side with the office development team as this book was written. Such direct access to the people who know the most about the product is unusual and it shows in this book. A collection of truly "useful" information and sample code. This is not a rehash of online help or a collection of the "basic" programming info found in a lot of reference books. The discussion generally gives you useful information and, the part I like the most, gives you sample code that works just the way it is in my own programs. This is not sample code of the type "MyControl.Backcolor = Red" that I see so much of. It appears that a real effort was made to write code that not only illustrates a concept, but that is usable in other contexts without much, or any, modification.

   Thanks for the resource....check it out - you will not be disappointed.




3. It's very hard to find a book on VBA that isn't based in one application, and doesn't begin at the 'Hello World' level. This book does neither. Instead it provides a good introduction to the object models of the Office applications, and includes well-written code examples. The breadth of content is impressive--from shared Office components to class modules. What a pity it's out of print!



4. I would agree with the review that states the authors were working side-by-side with the office development team as this book was written. However, I would disagree that such close input was entirely helpful. While the information contained in this book is a nice introduction to how things are "supposed" to work, as with so much of Microsoft's software, things never quite work the way they were designed, unless of course, you're doing exactly what the folks at Microsoft assumed you would do. Not only do some examples in this book fail to work, most examples are simple and obvious, the kind of thing a person might generate from looking at Microsoft's help information. Often they illustrate how the designers assumed their software would work. They often fail to demonstrate what the software can do--or much more important--how to get around the artificial limitations set by Microsoft. Some simple examples involve such basic building blocks as dialog boxes and menus (commandbars in Micro-speak). Some built-in dialog boxes have over a dozen arguments, but try finding out what those arguments do from either this book or from Microsoft's help information. As for the commandbars, even the examples from the book fail to work.

   My advice? If you want to know what Microsoft intended, get this book. If you want to use Microsoft Office in a real world situation, keep looking.




5. I would disagree with many people on this book due to the fact that this book is very helpful on using codes and debugging tools although its a definition guide on computer programming in windows 2000 it can teach you a lot of details on programming it is more like a beginners guide using many symbols and differnt codes this book is more of a book for people wanting to learn how to write files store files also deals with rewritting web pages or possibley a guide on how to develop folders spreadsheets graphs and many othe features i would say this book is really great for anyone wanting to learn c programming in windows environment as well as in the assembly language or DOS enviroment; although this book does not teach you assembly language programming it is a way to start learning assembly language programming1

1 comments about Advanced .NET Remoting in VB .NET.

1. although the book is ok, it is just another one of these books that has been converted from an origional c # book. This book is also one of those where all's your going to get is a bunch of console examples. I might be biast against this book because I am sick of buying a book on vb.net just to find it was not origionally written for vb.net and there always seems to be confusing code in these books where whomever converted the code to vb forgot a line or 2. When oh when will publishers start writing vb.net books from scratch? Given the amount of these type of books and the over whelming majority of good example online being in c#, I do not see how vb will survive much longer. Anyways if you do not have a problem reading yet another re-write I guess this book is for you.

5 comments about .NET Compact Framework Programming with Visual Basic .NET (Microsoft .NET Development Series).

1. This is the first book I buy on compact .net. Granted, I can't compare with others.

   Still, there are things I miss. First and foremost, Amazon's description says the book covers "Custom controls with Windows Forms Designer support". This isn't correct. The book just says "in can't be done in VB due to a bug in .NET, so the following examples must be in C#".

   Also, there's no talk on locking your application so it's impossible to get out of it (for example when your app is the only application supposed to be used in a device - imagine the device that the UPS guys use).

   Regarding what IS on the book, it's well explained and (more or less) through... but everything is on MSDN or just google. No special material here.




2. I'm really impressed. I'm not usually much on the big tome books. This one is almost 1400 pages, which weighs in at 5 pounds on my bathroom scale. That being said, the text is really tight, the illustrations are cropped, not overwhelming in number, and are used effectively. And the book on the whole does not pander to the reader. The topics are also covered at a reasonable depth.
   
   The book is essentially three books, one on the compact framework, one on WinForms and one on database access, all in one book, in a well integrated form. And it works. If you need a book that is an end-to-end introduction to .NET on small devices, this is a great book to try.



3. At first glance I thought the book was well written. However after digging deeper I found that each time I wanted a particular question asked I had to result to other books. Throughout the book the examples are fragmented and are not tied together very well.
   
   When I downloaded the examples from the author's web site I found that every single example project I tested to be incomplete with missing files or code.
   
   There are several syntax errors in the VB code and it is obvious that they were just copied over from the C# examples with out testing. This is also probably why the VB projects did not work. It is this reason that I decided to return the book.



4. The right book, at the right time!
   
   I wish I had bought this book 1 week earlier, it would have saved a lot of time and frustration.



5. This book started well, with a good high-level overview of the CF. However, the authors then put the reader in deep water, they don't explain examples hardly at all, use very technical language without explanation and to top it all most examples didn't work, even when downloaded from the author's site. When used as a reference, there are not clear examples of how to do even simple things, instead there are very long and complex examples which confuse and overwhelm. Unless you want to spend hours trying to do simple tasks, stay well away from this book.

5 comments about Security for Microsoft Visual Basic .NET.

1. Security is becoming an essential topic and there is a lot of information available already, but up until now, no reference that brings it together for the VB programmer. I was after a book that gave me the basic knowledge for writing secure apps. This book is great.

   Ed Robinson and Mike Bond have previously written about VB migration. I often find that authors like the rest of us mortals grow in our jobs and this book is very well written. It starts out with the basics, and gets more advanced as the book goes on. I like the fact that the book has loads of example code which is designed to be cut-and-pasted into your applications.

   As a final note, I think this is definitely one of the best MSPress .NET books. Unlike the other security books, which seem to be rushed to be first to market, this books is well thought out, and created by people who know VB.NET as well as knowing about security. This brings security down to earth, and is more relevant to the VB programmer than anything else I've read on security. This book is worthy of five stars.




2. My only criticism of this book is that it wasn't released sooner. Security for VB.NET covers what should already have been part of the VS.NET help or MSDN online library. I *love* the chapters on role-based and code-access security, which actually explains how you would use this stuff in real life. But my favorite chapter is the one on locking down Windows, IIS and .NET - this is exactly what I was looking for, a simple, unambiguous checklist for how to secure the platform.



3. I was a little bit skeptical to buy this book since Amazon hasn�t put up a description yet, so I went to my local bookstore to check it out. I got to readin it and couldn�t put it down. I was never really sure if my VB code was secure or not.. I�ve read other books that are heavy on security options, but light on recommendations. This book gave me both the options and recommendations. It told me exactly what I needed to do to use encryption in my program. Something I was never able to figure out from the documentation. Plus it gave me plenty of other ideas on how to make my VB code better and more secure. Now I feel like I�m in control of my VB code again. It was well worth the trip!



4. When I first saw this book, I thought "How can they write a whole book on security?" So out of intellectual curiosity, I started flipping through the pages. It was like getting kicked in the stomach, not because it was wrong, but because it was right. It made me fundamentally re-think how I write my code and really shifted my whole mental image. Too many times developers think that if an app does what users want and runs fast and is reliable, that's all there is to it. Not anymore. The most killer app written wouldn't impress anyone if it got hacked and cost them a lot of money. There days, too many people are trying to hack your stuff, and having your app busted is no less 'bad' than having a logic flaw miscalculate tons of money. Moreoever, security breaches often make the headlines so it's a lose/lose for everyone if your security is breached.

   The good news... buy this book, follow their guidelines religously, keep up to date with security issues, and sleep easy at night.




5. I purchased the book in order to get some depth on the inner workings of code access security and version management as it pertains to strongly named assemblies. In neither case did the book offer anything more than a rehash of the documentation -- and not in a particularly well thought out or organized manor.

5 comments about Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Developer's Workshop.

1. This book is obviously not for beginners - it already said in the introduction . And it's not written in any order. It's a good idea to just jump around the book and read the sections you 're intersted in - Most chapters discuss a new area and not related to the previous one.

   This book is well explained - I personally like the User Assisstance , most book doesn't cover on this . Overall , this book will not teach you basic concepts but to enhanced your skills.




2. This book has MANY provocative examples of things that can be done with VB6. The examples are non-trival and not necessarily to be comprehended in one sitting (by me at least). This is definitely a book to work with while learnng to use VB6 and its many features (like the Microsoft msscript.ocx control (p. 506) which has really grabbed my attention). I give the authors high marks for producing this book.



3. I can't say it's a bad book but it wasn't for me. If you are relatively new to Visual Basic or you want to know what version 6 can do, take a look to this book.

   Beside that, look for more specific books like those from Wrox on VB6




4. Although the book wasn't all I was looking for, it gave me more than I originally expected. I bought this book because I was tired of skimming through 10 different VB web sites looking for a quick and dirty answer to a question - and SAMPLE CODE. :)

   This book met my expectations very well, it answered more than half of the questions I had...and had answers to some questions I hadn't yet thought of asking. Although it doesn't hit many of the real advanced topics I was really hoping for (i.e., calling/using C DLLs...besides just knowing you can do it), I am more than happy with it -- and recommend it to other non-VB gurus. :)




5. I got this book about 2 years a go when I was starting on VB. It helped a lot on my learning. This is a cook book or "How to..." book that teaches you how to do many usual things so it's very useful when you are a beginner so you don't have to figure out how to do this things and It save you many time. Once you get in practice probably you won't need it any more.

5 comments about Visual Basic 6 for Dummies Deluxe Compiler Kit.

1. This product is learner's manual for VB6 combined with a cd-rom allegedly containing a learner's version of the software. Good idea, problematic execution. After a few chapters into the book, I am less than impressed. The accompanying cd-rom of Visual Basic is a scaled down version that does not have all the bells and whistles that are talked about in the book itself. For example, an early exercise directs the reader to put certain icons in a program. According to the book, these icons come loaded with Visual Basic 6. Maybe, but they don't come loaded on the scaled-down, companion CD version. Additionally, the book identifies a particular basic portion of the VB 6 interface called the Immediate Window, characterized as a debugging tool. This tool also does not come with the scaled down version. I am considering returning the product, purchasing the book alone for approx. half the price, and then getting a copy of the software.



2. They say it takes an honorable person to admit an error. I'm not necessarily honorable, but I was wrong about some facts in my previous review, and I'd like to correct the situation now. 1) I found the Icons folder I couldn't find earlier. It doesn't install automatically, but if you put the installation CD back in and search, you'll find it. 2) I found the portion of VB6 I couldn't find earlier -- it was just hidden from view. So the product isn't problematic, just the user. I'm still reading the book and using the application, and I am actually, in a truly basic sense, programming. And now, because I have not yet finshed the book, and becuase I don't want to have to apologize again, I resolve to say nothing more.



3. The title of this package is outright wrong. I've been programming for over ten years and when something says "COMPILER" I expect a compiler. The working model included in this package lets you build programs that run in the IDE but does not compile to EXE's. As for the book, no great shakes. It spends a great deal of time on the RAD but if you want to learn useful VB code, better look elsewhere.



4. While the book will get you started, alot is asummed. Previous programming experience is helpful.



5. If you are serious about learning V.B. 6.0, this book is not for you. The software that comes with the book contains no online help and does NOT compile. Spend a few extra dollars and buy "Visual Basic 6.0 Deluxe Learning Edition". It has the complete online MSDN library for all the help you need, and you can compile your projects into actual executable files.

1 comments about OpenOffice.org Base (Basic Star Office Series) (Basic Star Office Series).

1. I am coming to Base from MS Access. I have certain expectations from having used Access, and I find Base different enough that it presents problems simply to import and export files and stuff like that that should be very simple. This book hasn't helped much in that respect, although it does provide the basics for someone new to databases.
   
   I sort of wish I had just laid out $50-$60 and bought Solveig Haugland's book which, from the reviews, sounds like it handles non-conventional situations and problems which I mostly deal with. I may still do that.

5 comments about From Photoshop to Dreamweaver.

1. I thought the book could be done a little better. If I wasn't familiar w/ Photoshop 7, then I would have been lost on several occasions while following the examples in the book.



2. Yes, I did learn how to use Photoshop, Image Ready, and Dreamweaver in about a week. So the book must be O.K. However, I found it to creatively uninspiring and utterly lacking in basic make-up. Often there were there sections devoid of real instructions on how to get things done. I would say that if you want to learn the meat and potatoes of making web sites, you will be out of luck on this one. And please, "Footprint Design"? that is ridiculously lame.
   Thanks--David Bowie



3. This book is a great book. It will show you how to use Photoshop to create your design and how to ultimately bring it into Dreamweaver. However, there is a reason I didn't give the book 5 stars.
   First of all, I think the book presumes that you are more than just a novice in Photoshop. So if you know nothing about PS, then you could get frustrated. Also, as another reviewer mentioned, the book is not designed with creativity in mind. That is, I don't think anyone would create a masterpiece using this book. What I did was use a Photoshop template already designed and started from there. The book eventually tells you how to create slices and import them to Dreamweaver.
   As for Dreamweaver, it will tell you how to set things up in DW after you've sliced things up in PS. Again, its pretty much basic stuff. Although if you don't know much about DW, the book does a good job in pointing the reader in the right direction. However, again, I think the books lacks a bit of creativity because it doesn't tell you how to do a lot once you've got it in DW. I'm proficient in DW and so was able to do what I wanted to do. That is, add forms, hotspots, etc. However, for the person that doesn't know much HTML or no HTML at all, they will probably be left with the empty feeling that they haven't accomplished much because you may be wondering what to do next once you've got your slices in DW.
   Overall, its a good book. I think I know a lot more about PS than I did before reading this book.



4. This is my third book from Friends of ED (Apress). I also own Flash MX Most Wanted and Photoshop 7 Professional Photographic Techniques. Each friendsof Ed book is packed with useful, easy to understand information and links to download support files. All their books are well organized with easy to follow steps and plenty of screenshots/illustrations.
   The book takes you through the steps of building and publishing a complete web site. From initial planning to uploading and updating the completed site.
   The first chapter gives you tips on how to plan for your site, such as deciding who your target audience will be and layout/navigation of the site. You'll then start to build a site using Photoshop and Imageready. Some of the things you'll do is create a textured background with some filtered effects like motion blur. You then start blocking out the main areas of your site. They also show you how to use layer styles and custom shapes to enhance your website.
   One of the most important steps when building a web site is slicing and optimizing your site. Photoshop to Dreamweaver does an excellent job explaining and demonstrating how to slice your page properly. They go into great detail to make sure the reader understands how and why optimizing your images is important.
   The chapter(s) on Dreamweaver was awesome. They do a great job at taking a novice designer and explaining how to define your site. The screenshots of different palettes in Dreamweaver was very helpful too. I especially liked the fact they dedicated several pages to CSS.
   To finish out the book, friendsof Ed leave you with some useful advanced tips for both Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
   I would have liked to seen some different looks/situations when slicing the site and a chapter for troubleshooting when things don't quite go as planned. Overall the book is very good. I really like how you have the exercise files so you can work along with each chapter. I give the book a strong 4 out of 5 stars and suggest anyone who isn't quite sure of how to tie the two programs together; Photoshop to Dreamweaver is for you. Even those who have used the two programs would find this book helpful. It's well worth the time to read this book.
   
   Ernest Phillips
   Member, D-MAG.org



5. This is my third book from Friends of ED (Apress). I also own Flash MX Most Wanted and Photoshop 7 Professional Photographic Techniques. Each friendsof Ed book is packed with useful, easy to understand information and links to download support files. All their books are well organized with easy to follow steps and plenty of screenshots/illustrations.
   The book takes you through the steps of building and publishing a complete web site. From initial planning to uploading and updating the completed site.
   The first chapter gives you tips on how to plan for your site, such as deciding who your target audience will be and layout/navigation of the site. You'll then start to build a site using Photoshop and Imageready. Some of the things you'll do is create a textured background with some filtered effects like motion blur. You then start blocking out the main areas of your site. They also show you how to use layer styles and custom shapes to enhance your website.
   One of the most important steps when building a web site is slicing and optimizing your site. Photoshop to Dreamweaver does an excellent job explaining and demonstrating how to slice your page properly. They go into great detail to make sure the reader understands how and why optimizing your images is important.
   The chapter(s) on Dreamweaver was awesome. They do a great job at taking a novice designer and explaining how to define your site. The screenshots of different palettes in Dreamweaver was very helpful too. I especially liked the fact they dedicated several pages to CSS.
   To finish out the book, friendsof Ed leave you with some useful advanced tips for both Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
   I would have liked to seen some different looks/situations when slicing the site and a chapter for troubleshooting when things don't quite go as planned. Overall the book is very good. I really like how you have the exercise files so you can work along with each chapter. I give the book a strong 4 out of 5 stars and suggest anyone who isn't quite sure of how to tie the two programs together; Photoshop to Dreamweaver is for you. Even those who have used the two programs would find this book helpful. It's well worth the time to read this book.
   
   Ernest Phillips
   Member, D-MAG.org

1 comments about Microsoft VBScript Professional Projects.

1. There just are not that many really good VBScript books out there. And there are even fewer well written VBScript books that target power users, system admins and advanced readers. Well, this book is one of them. It provides a quick review of VBScript (for those that need a primer or a quick overview) and then procedes to demonstrate how to use VBScript to tackle several different projects. This approach provides a great balance between theory and practical hands-on application.

3 comments about Professional ASP.NET Web Services with VB.NET.

1. I reviewed the orginal version of this book which was in C#. I've been lucky enought ot get my hands on the new VB.NET edition and it is even better than the original. I am more used to VB as it is, and I spent quite a lot of time translating some of the code snippets in the original, but now I don't have to! The book has changed a bit, it looks better than the first edition, and it is now completely 1.0 compliant. I've used the first book a lot, it's told me more or less everything I've needed to know. If you need to know about web services and you prefer VB then this is the only book you'll need!



2. I'm always hesitant buying books written by multiple authors. I often find the writing annoyingly inconsistent and the overall structure lacking in cohesiveness. I'm happy to report that this book does not suffer from these conditions. It is a pretty smooth read and provides some insight into the ASP.NET world not provided by standard MSDN documentation. I realize this book is quite old at this stage, but for those still working in that environment it is still worth considering. Overall, I had few complaints with the book. Let's hope a second edition will be made available with .NET 2.0.



3. Since the book has moved to Apres, the link to download the code for the book has moved to http://support.apress.com/books.asp?s=0&bID=1861007752