Windows Forms Programming in Visual Basic .NET review

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Verdict:

Review Date: 20 Feb 2004

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Reviewed By: Mike James

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

This is another big book, but it deals with just one aspect of programming in Visual Basic .NET: using Windows Forms.

It does this in a clear and easy-to-understand way. The pages are clean, open and easy on the eye. It's not a beginner's book but it is easy to read. It even has a small section of colour illustrations in the middle showing the various graphics effects described by authors Chris Sells and Justin Ghetland.

However, this isn't a rehash of the documentation combined with some obvious examples. It explains the basics and builds on them in a straightforward and well-presented way that saves the reader having to do the research and experimentation that the authors have.

Starting with the basics of the user interface, the book is essentially about using the WinForm class library. From basic forms, through non-rectangular forms, using the GDI+ and using and building controls, it moves on to more advanced topics such as data binding, putting multithreading to use and deployment. A final chapter covers the problems of moving from Visual Basic 6 to VB .NET.

An advanced yet easy-to-read book with understandable examples is particularly welcome. This isn't a particularly language-dependent book and there is a version for C# programmers (ISBN 0321116208) that is just as excellent. If you buy only one book on using WinForms make it this one, in the language of your choice.

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