This title brings the popular three-week tutorial format to aspiring Delphi 4 programmers, combining plenty of hands-on knowledge of the most essential features of Delphi 4, including its strong database capabilities. This book is a good choice for the beginner or intermediate programmer who wants to get a solid foundation in Delphi 4 development in a minimal amount of time.
The book begins with the basics of the Delphi programming environment and object-oriented Pascal. The author then explains the fundamentals of developing with the Visual Component Library (VCL) and discusses how to build basic user interfaces and menus using Delphi 4 design tools. This first section also includes excellent material on graphics and multimedia programming.
Further chapters examine the basics of building database programs, again using Delphi wizards. More advanced topics include building and using dynamic link-libraries (DLLs) and ActiveX components, plus creating Web-browser applications with Delphi's support for Internet controls.
Though this tutorial stresses the basics, there's quite a bit of material here on the finer points of programming using the built-in abilities of Delphi. There's also good attention to using the wizards and tools that help make Delphi a much more productive environment. --Richard Dragan
Sams Teach Yourself Delphi 4 in 21 Days contains 750 pages of all new content. The tutorial information for programmers and developers will include complete coverage of Delphi 4's enhanced features with a client/server emphasis. Topics will include compatible component development, enterprise-wide integration, Internet enabling tools, Intranet development and beginning coverage of Borland's MIDAS architecture. No other tutorial offers this level of coverage. A Sams Teach Yourself book is the perfect introduction to an upper-level development tool such as Delphi. Note: This book and CD will be an all new edition - both book and CD content.
