Mastering Delphi 5 [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Although it's a complete guide to Delphi programming, you also get a detailed examination of the new features in Delphi 5, including IDE improvements, ADO features, the Net additions to MIDAS and the impressive frames feature, which enables you to convert a form into a re-usable component. Many other new re-usability features also get coverage.

Mastering Delphi 5 takes an application-based approach to learning. There are around 200 examples all of which can be downloaded from Sybex' site as well as the author's. The book starts with an overview of Object Pascal, the excellent language which underpins Delphi. It also discusses integration with C++Builder code. Most of the book, though, is concerned with Delphi programming for Windows and explanations of the techniques used. This goes into quite remarkable depths in places, for example detailing the precise differences between programs written for the many legacy and other versions of Windows and how they relate to backward and forward compatibility. All in all, this is an excellent book that even owners of the previous version will want.--Steve Patient

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.