Learning a programming language can be a daunting prospect at the best of times, especially for beginners, but it's books like this that make the process just a little bit easier.

Visual Basic in Easy Steps is as comprehensive a guide to Microsoft's versatile programming, scripting and macro language as you could wish for.

Well presented and easy-to-follow tutorials on the basics of creating forms, dialogues and simple variable handling pave the way for the more complex functions such as ActiveX and database programming.

Along the way you'll pick up essentials on the creation and use of tables, menus and toolbars along with some excellent information on using VB to allow Windows applications to interface with each other. The book is filled with box-outs containing the key points and there's even a few tasty morsels thrown in to keep the more experienced user happy.

As far as books of this type go, this has to be one of the most comprehensive with a stack of very well presented and easy-to-follow examples. Definitely a great introduction to the language and for the asking price it represents excellent value for money too. --Steve Russell