<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Hey, it's a Reference Library, not a novel.
Review: Coupled with the Programmer's Guide, these are the best books a VB developer can own. Yes they are the online help files in print form, but some of us still like to hold a book, rather than read the computer.They contain exhaustive information on EVERY command in VB6, ALL the standard tools that ship with VB6, and detail components like DHTML documents, ActiveX documents, ActiveX controls, and even (a little) IIS apps. I am confused by some other reviews: mine have an index, everything is laid out in multiple font sizes and weights, and it's all very well laid out and easy to understand. I have been developing with VB for over a year and a half and I still use these books on almost a daily basis.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, it's a Reference Library, not a novel.
Review: Coupled with the Programmer's Guide, these are the best books a VB developer can own. Yes they are the online help files in print form, but some of us still like to hold a book, rather than read the computer. They contain exhaustive information on EVERY command in VB6, ALL the standard tools that ship with VB6, and detail components like DHTML documents, ActiveX documents, ActiveX controls, and even (a little) IIS apps. I am confused by some other reviews: mine have an index, everything is laid out in multiple font sizes and weights, and it's all very well laid out and easy to understand. I have been developing with VB for over a year and a half and I still use these books on almost a daily basis.
Rating:
Summary: Dont' Leave Home Without It!
Review: Every other source will assume that you have read this material. It is well presented, once you get used to it's organization. This along with the Programmer's Guide is a must.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as other MS books
Review: Here it is the complete reference library. If u need a VB6 reference, look no further, it's HUGE! :)
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as other MS books
Review: I've always enjoyed the Programmers guide's MS puts out for the dev tools. The recent one for VB6 is no exception. It's a very good book, written in a captivating way. Sadly, the reference library is much different. I've had great difficulty staying focused enough to read through the component tools guide (volume 3). It's written in a very boring, and not very educational manner. The programmer's guide guides you through new concepts by having you type in examples you can execute. I think this is a good way to become a self taught VB programmer. The component tools guide doesn't work the same way. It gives you the same step by step instructions, but they are incomplete, and cannot work on their own. Example (p854) : "2. In the Add HTML Template dialog box, select the HTML page you want, then click OK." The programmers guide would walk you through creation of an HTML page that could become functional after this step. Instead the component tools guide gives you this step without any help on the HTML page that can be functional. Sure, a code example is included on the MSDN CD, but it doesn't have the same learning value if you don't create it yourself. Also, what good is this step 2 when you already have the code sample? People who have learned from the MS programmers guides will probably understand what I'm saying here. Those who have not are probably lost.
Rating:
Summary: Its a Reference
Review: There is less information in this book than is supplied in MSDN help function. In addition it is presented in a far less ogranized manner. If you are buying this book to clarify or get an overview of commands, functions, objects etc. You will be disappointed. It's like a history book in alphabetical order. Rather useless since history happens chronologically. At least the MSDN help screens have a contents tab that lists the functions, objects, etc. This book does not. Page 1 starts first with the A's and the last page ends on the Z's. Virtually nothing before or after. Not even an index or a simple command overview (list of commands, objects etc). You better know what you are looking for before you open this book. Buy it and you will see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: Its a Reference
Review: This book is not at all intended to be a novel, its a reference. I will admit that this book is not ordered as would have thought, although there is some logical way to work with the book. This is a reference that I trust and use, I am one to stand up for this book, it has a lot of example code. I would hope that any intermedite programmer would consider this book, it holds a hell of a lot more example code than many others.
Rating:
Summary: Next_Level = These_Books
Review: You probably can find most of the documentations on the first and second books on the MSDN CD or MSDN web site. But from experience, I find it a whole lot easier to look through the components' documentations and definition on printed books where they are in indexed format. The Component Tools Guide, which is the third book in this volume set, is a definite must have. From creating ActiveX components to multi-threading application -- "YES, MULTI THREADING" --to API calling to asyncronous call back, most of the essential guidelines, techniques, and rules were addressed and pointed out clearly. These books definitely pushed my programming to the next level.
<< 1 >>
| 
