Beginning Visual C++ 6 Compiler Edition

What Is This Book?

Visual C++ 6 is the latest incarnation of Microsoft's premier development product for C++ developers.
It contains the latest version of the MFC ( Microsoft Foundation Classes ) which has virtually become the Industry-wide library used to write Windows programs. Visual C++ 6 also contains the Active Template Library 3.0 ( ATL ) , which is a framework and collection of Wizards for writing ActiveX & COM controls.
This book is a tutorial in the use of all the major functions of Visual C++ 6 and comes with a copy of Microsoft's Visual C++ Introductory Edition compiler. This is a complete version of Visual C++ 6 that Microsoft have developed to be packaged with tutorial books. The only notable difference between this version and the retail version is that the compiled programs are statically linked, making this the perfect self study learning tool.

What's Great About this Book?

• Amazon.com C++ Book of the Year for 1998.
• Comes with the Introductory Edition of Microsoft's Visual C++ 6 compiler.
• Proven teaching methods guarantee success to novice C++ programmers
• A complete tutorial from 'vanilla' C++ , through to OO programming, Windows and using MFC&T.
• Each concept supported by graduated code examples
• Reader will be coherent in writing a real Windows program and controls by the end of the book.

Who is This Book For?

What sets this book apart is Ivor's relaxed and informal teaching style, which makes even difficult concepts easy to grasp. It's perfect for Visual Basic, Delphi, Cobol & Unix C Programmers who see the new release of the software as an opportunity to learn the language and understand the professional way to develop Windows applications. Adept newcomers to structured programming will be able to progress in C++ and Window using this book, but they will have to apply themselves to the Exercises and model answers supplied with each Chapter.

What Does it Cover?

The book can be broken down into 4 sections. The first is a fast-paced but comprehensive tutorial to the C++ language, which is punctuated with interesting and worthwhile example programs. We then go on to learn about object orientation with C++ and how this relates to Windows programming, and the section ends with the design and implementation of a sizable class-based C++ application. Finally we look at how Visual C++ aids in the debugging process
The third part of the book walks the reader through creating Windows applications using MFC. This includes output to the screen and printer, how to program menus, toolbars and dialogs, how to debug your program and how to respond to a user's actions. To illustrate the theory, this section also includes the complete implementation of a simple but fully-featured drawing application.
The final section comprise an introduction to COM and examples of how to create ActiveX controls using both MFC and the Active Template Library (ATL)

Who is the Author?

Ivor Horton is the best-selling author of Beginning Visual C++ 4, Beginning Visual C++ 5, Beginning Java, Beginning C and Beginning C++ - The Complete Language.
He has been teaching programming to skilled and unskilled students for 25 years and has been chosen by Microsoft to support their developer products.

Summary of Contents