Amazon.com ReviewMarco 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.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Delphi Delight
I knew absolutly nothing about Delphi or any other programming language. As a complete beginner it can be very frustrating trying to find a book that explaines the basics well and continues into in-depth delphi programming. I have a number of other books, all of them assume that you know the basics of delphi programming and are not clear enough. This book was a bit hard for me to start with, however I was able to download an introduction to pascal and delphi from the authors website ... which made ... Read More
Rating: - Without high hopes!!
I give 5 stars because the book starts and end great, of course ther is a lot of things missing, and sometimes I tell my self sheize, but, for starters this book is great, i also have developer's guide wich is more complete but also leave us in the middle of something, i'm still looking for more specific books, i mean one book cannot cover all delphi potential, and you have to keep looking in market, i'm sure Marco will bring another piece of great work, and if he doesn't someone will, i'll keep looking ... Read More
Rating: - Maybe A Good Book But Definetely Not 4 Beginners
Maybe in a few months from now (June 2001) i will find this book an excellent one for Delphi. But right now i need a book that explains why his code is doing several things. From my point of view you don't have to already Know Object Pascal and old version of Delphi to read a book that is selfrated as All Levels. So if you are looking for something to start with THIS IS DEFINETELY NOT THE BOOK YOU NEED. Do i have any recommendations for alternatives? Well i don't but i am working on it...
Rating: - Beginner Luck.... NONE
I am usually quite nice when it comes to reviewing anything but i am a student studying IPT (Information Processing Technology) and doing Delphi. For me this book has done nothing but confused me. I am a beginner and am looking for a book to get me started and teach me code in the simplest form... if anyone knows any then EMAIL ME please. I believe that as soon as i have that experience under my belt that this book by MARCO CANTU will be very greatly appreciated. It is definately NOT a book for BEGINNERS! ... Read More
Rating: - Highly Unstructured
The content is spewed all over the place. The book is not well structured. Cantu knows Delphi extremely well but writing a book is a different ball game than development. Had the book had an excellent editor it would certainly come out better than what it is today. I doubt if the next version covering Delphi 6 is going to be any better.
If you are new to delphi or coming from VB than try tom swans book "delpihi bible". It is more coherent and structured. For an advanced Delphi book, I have yet to ... Read More
- Delphi Delight
- Maybe A Good Book But Definetely Not 4 Beginners
