Product Description
This book is an expanded and updated edition of ClayShannon's previous book, Developer's Guide to Delphi Troubleshooting,which received the following praise:
"One specialized reference I found particularly useful was Clay Shannon's Developer's Guide to Delphi Troubleshooting, which is essentially an encyclopedia of Delphi error messages. If you've been programming for years in Delphi (or Turbo Pascal, for that matter), you'll encounter some 'old friends' here. At first I wondered if there would be anything new for me. I didn't have to wait long. Within a few days of receiving this valuable reference, one of the error explanations saved me hours of needless effort in getting an API call to work.
Alan C. Moore
"File | New" columnist for Delphi Informant

The revised The Tomes of Delphi: Developer's Guide toTroubleshooting covers all versions of Delphi, including Delphi6. This book is an alphabetical reference to nearly 800 design-time,compile-time, and run-time error messages of Borland's Delphi ObjectPascal language.Error message entries include an explanation of whatactions or omissions may have caused the error message, how to quicklyresolve the problem, and how to avoid receiving the error message inthe future.Code samples clearly demonstrate how to eliminate theerrors. ... Read more

Product Description
Secrets of Delphi 2 provides in-depth, comprehensive coverage of undocumented Delphi features for advanced programmers who want to know more about the inner details of Delphi. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Best
I have borrowed this book from a friend, it is the best and I hope I will find it to buy :)

The best book about Delphi
I read many books about Delphi programming. This one is the ONLY one I would recommend to understand WHAT IS Delphi.

Excellent book with info not available anywhere else!
Lischner gets into areas of both Delphi 1.0x and 2.0x that are not usually seen.His understanding of the internals of the VCL and Delphi's Tools Interface make this book a must-have for any serious Delphi developer

Buy this book...
Quite simply the best "techie" Delphi book I have seen. Covers 16 bit Delphi too.If you are serious about programming in Delphi, buy this book. Not recommended for Delphi beginners

Great information, Must have advanced book
Great book, a lot of hard to find information, the name secrets does not disappoint. A must have book if you want to know Delphi's inside working. ... Read more

Product Description
The previous edition of this book won Delphi Informant's"Reader's Choice" award as the best Delphi book of the year. This newedition is even better! It introduces programmers to all of Delphi 4'snew features, and more than 100 real-world examples to stretch Delphi4 to its limits, showing readers how to use direct calls to theWindows API to add features to existing applications. Begin with basicprogramming topics and end with detailed examples of COM, CORBA, andadvanced ActiveX implementations. New techniques for creatingInternet-enabled applications are also covered in depth. This book isa MUST for every Delphi programmer! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

There is no target audience for this book.
It's hard for me to say who this book is for. If I had to guess, I'd say it's for the dedicated intermediate to advanced Delphi programmer with lots of time on his hands. At over 1000 pages, it's going to take some time to get through it. Worse, since the writing style is not consistent, it's hard to get into the rhythm of the book. With a good programming book, I know what I'm getting, so I can skim through sections that I get right away, and read more deeply through tough topics. This book is patchy, if you don't read it carefully, you'll miss things. It's also not a book for beginners. It expects you to be proficient in the Delphi IDE and Object Pascal. In that respect it would also not be a good reference, since there's not even a short chapter with Pascal basics. Although I can't speak for expert programmers, I bet they'd have a hard time liking this book, there's too much style that experts would find fault with, and as others have pointed out, it is not complete on advanced topics. I'm not sure why I'm giving it a 2, perhaps I'm being generous in the hope that I will read it again and find some hidden treasure.

Excellent book from Cantu
I've been programming in Delphi for the past couple of years, and found that "Mastering" series from Cantu are most complete.The book contains many usefull information about almost anything you may need todevelop professional applications in Delphi 4.

Another book that is too complicated
I'm seriously considering writing my own book on programming, since there is a huge hole to be filled. From what I've seen the majority of books cater to advanced programmers, which is unfair and unfortunate. You can'tstart in the deep end. It's also like that in other fields as well. If youare new to Delphi don't buy this book, you won't derive much from it. Thetopics covered obviously deal with more advanced issues. Sharp lookingcover though.

Good but Patchy
A useful compilation especially of tips and tricks, but arguably not comprehensive enough in either scope or depth.Don't think that buying this book will let you off reading the Delphi help files, or lookingelsewhere for basic reference material.

A fantastic primer on Delphi from an experienced OOP view.
As someone who knew all about the concepts of OOP from a C++ perspective, and was new to world of Delphi, this book was fantastic value.It showed me how to get things done, and how OOP works with Delphi... now I thinkDelphi is fantastic.I read the first few chapters before attemptinganything in Delphi and now that I have started programming in it, use thebook as my first reference.Thank you Marco! ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive reference to error messages in the Delphi development environment, with an emphasis on design-time errors, compile-time errors, and run-time errors. The CD-ROM includes the entire book in electronic form for easy reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great time saver for troubleshooting Delphi problems
I've been using the book over the past month and it comes in real handy when trying to solve the occasional unexplainable Delphi error message. You certainly won't use this book everyday, but when a mysterious error doesoccur you'll be glad you have the book. Not only does it identify what'scausing the error message, it offers quick fix solutions and examples toget you up an running as fast as possible. If your time is valuable and youwant to minimize your "downtime", I'd recommend this book. Ifound it a little bit pricy compared to other Delphi books, but the time itsaves in solving Delphi errors will pay for itself several times over. ... Read more

Product Description
The Tomes of Delphi 3: Win32 Core API, the first book in Wordware’s best-selling Tomes of Delphi series, has been updated and revised for Windows 2000. This new edition is the most accessible and definitive reference to 32-bit versions of Delphi, providing an accurate and comprehensive guide to the Microsoft Windows application programming interface. The Tomes of Delphi: Win32 Core API— Windows 2000 Edition covers the most common Windows API functions, from window creation and message processing functions to memory management and text output functions. Each function entry includes the syntax, a description of what the function does, a list and description of parameters, acceptable constant values, return values, cross-references to related functions, and an example of its use in Delphi’s Object Pascal. Whether you’re an experienced Delphi programmer with a working knowledge of Windows programming or an intermediate Delphi programmer, this book will help you to extend the functionality of Delphi components and objects, and demonstrate what the Win32 API can do for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

GREAT BOOK!
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK ON THE SUBJECT AND IS RARE TO FIND BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF PRINT.

John Ayres is no Delphi expert and certainly no writer
You'd think the qualifications for writing a Delphi book would be 1) you must be a Delphi expert 2) you must write well.Well, I can tell you for sure that this guy doesn't meet either qualification.This is, without question, the worst programming book I have ever had the misfortune to buy.Ayres writes like a third grader.And the code is even worse.A person who'd never seen Delphi before could write this code.It is mostly warmed over MSDN example code converted to Pascal.Frankly, I'd be embarrassed to publish something like this.It's that bad.

Extremely Helpful for All Delphi Programmers
A must have for all Delphi Programmers

Literary garbage, and the code is no better.
When one reads the worthless pros expressed in Mr. Ayres latest manuscript, it causes one to contemplate how this dolt continues to be a published author. It is clear that based on his use of the English language that he is devoid of anything more than a High School diploma. It is sad to say that his command of Delphi appears to be equally as poor as his writing skills. The examples and sample code are so simplistic that they are literally worthless, and hardly expand on any topic in detail. I honestly think that the original "Delphi for Dummies" was a more informative and better-written book

It is clear that this latest book is yet another ego stroking manuscript of recycled work from his original books. Many of the API calls have not been updated and many of the samples are riddled with errors and are not syntactically correct for Windows 2000/XP.

It simply staggers my imagination why Wordware continues to use Mr. Ayres as an author. When reviewing all of the Tomes books, it is clear that when Mr. Ayres split company with his co-authors the quality of the book went down considerably. Perhaps Wordward should get them to re-write this book and see which one sells better.

Until then, go get Charles Petzolds API book. If you don't know C++ try DevGuru to get some help. They will gladly help translate the C++ calls to Delphi Syntax.

Simply put, this is a terrible book
Do yourself a favor and don't waste your money on this thing like I did.It's not worth reading.The coverage of the API is incomplete, to put it nicely, and the explanations are convoluted and confusing.Not worth the money at all. ... Read more

Product Description

Borland(r) Delphi 6 Developer's Guide is a new edition of the #1 best-selling Delphi book by authors Steve Teixeira and Xavier Pacheco. Steve and Xavier are of the winners of the Delphi Informant Reader's Choice Award for both Delphi 4 Developer's Guide and Delphi 5 Developer's Guide.

Developed and enhanced as it has been over the years, this latest edition to the Delphi Developer’s Guide series is the best yet. If you would prefer a gentler learning curve into the upper echelons as a Delphi developer, then Marco Cantu’s superb Mastering Delphi 6 may be preferred, but if you’re confident you can stay the distance, then you will not do better than this complete and authoritative guide.--Peter Lunn, amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Save your money
I have the Developers Guide for D2,D4 and D6.D2 Guide was the most imformative.Since then the books have been only for newbies.For someone writing an application, the book doesn't do anything to help resolve a coding problem.The only help I have gotten from it was the usage of bookmarks.I have jumped into it a number of time, but came out everytime with a zero.

Excellent book!
As I read through the pages in "Delphi 6 Developers Guide", I simply learned more than I expected (about Delphi 6). It compares with other programming languages, it has a CD included which contains All of the examples used in the book, and it covers everything you can do in Delphi 6.

Chapter 2 in the book gives you a nice review of the what you need to now to continue the book (I am happy that they included it); The Object Pascal Language.

In other words: I love the book, and I always use it as a reference book, if I forget what something is or how to use it. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to become a better Delphi programmer or just to those who want to know Delphi 6 better!

Very well written; Easy to understand; Excellent book! Get it!

If you want to become a Delphi expert, read this.
Simply put, if you want to not only learn Delphi, but learn some professional development tricks that can take you a long time to learn on your own or you want to learn how to be a better Delphi developer, you have to read this book. If you just want to learn Delphi in-and-of-its-own, then the Borland developer's guide is enough.

Pacheco, et al have included a lot of important, "real-world" and useable knowledge in this book and I know many people that overlook the breadth of knowledege imparted in its pages.

Read this if you want to be more than just a "Delphi" developer.

~ Michael Nigohosian, author - "The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches: An Expert Consultant's Step-by-Step Guide That..."

Well Rounded Title
This is an excellent book, covers the entire Delphi 6 product about as well as any single book could. The chapters on the COM related technologies are very helpful. The New Internet features of Delphi 6 are also given in depth treatment. If you do Delphi 6, this book should be within reach at all times.

Borland should ship this instead of their Developer's Guide
I am only a third of the way through this huge tome; but my opinion is confirmed.This is the book that Borland should be shipping instead of their Developer's Guide.This covers much of the same information with clearer examples and much better organization.It even has the same cover colors!

This book is neither exciting or wonderful.But for intermediate to advanced software instruction it does a more than adequate job.

I took away a rating star for getting too densely into some esoteric aspects of Threads and Component creation while skipping over some of the necessary basics.Neither the Borland Developer's Guide, nor this book, have much to say about graphical Form design or development.
I would think that many more developers are using Delphi to create user interfaces and displaying database information than create multi-threaded components.

The Borland Developer's Guide is very inconsistent.It is obviously written by a committee.Some parts have apparently been revised many times but have never been rewritten (sort of like a lot of corporate code).Some parts are excellent and some parts are terrible.The Devloper's Guide should be sold as a sleep inducer.

I love Delphi and have used every version from 1 to 6.I am studying for Borland Certification.But Borland does a lackluster job with documentation and examples.In the on-line help the examples given are usually extremely short and often irrelevant to the task at hand.I suspect that the on-line help and the Developer's Guide are written by the same people. ... Read more

Product Description
The Tomes of Delphi series from Wordware is recognized as the definitive reference to 32-bit versions of Delphi, providing an accurate and comprehensive guide to the Microsoft Windows application programming interface. The Tomes of Delphi: Win32 Shell API—Windows 2000 Edition covers the most common Windows API functions, from window information and file input/output functions to system information and help functions, including the Windows 2000 extensions for the Windows shell.

Each function entry includes the syntax, a description of what the function does, a list and description of parameters, acceptable constant values, return values, cross-references to related functions, and an example of its use in Delphi’s Object Pascal. Whether you’re an experienced Delphi programmer with a working knowledge of Windows programming or an intermediate Delphi programmer, this book will help you to extend the functionality of Delphi components and objects, and demonstrate what the Win32 API can do for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Every penny worth in programming profession
I could say 5 Stars and it would be all what to say - but if you are not shure, what a type of book to choose that would be to few. Well I have this book for a long time and it is my bible. It is very practice indeed and close to the problems. My own projects have gone much more easier to solve. My own focus is on automation sectors and so I did some work for automating rs232 driven radio controls for hobbie and HAM- interested people. If you are interested in it so you can look at my website http://www.peter-geisler.de - looking to results from which I can say are a lot of ideas from John Ayres Tomes of Delphi - I rating it 5 Stars.

Almost Complete...
I suppose it was just bad luck that the first API (ReadDirectoryChanges) I needed help with wasn't in this book.I ended up spending some time searching the news groups to get more information.Seems like ReadDirectoryChanges should have been included in a book that has been described as the "definitive reference for the Win32 API"...A bit disappointing.

Best Shell API Resource, AND EXEMPLARY DELIVERY OF MATERIAL
Imposing as the material in this book might otherwise be, I am most impressed with the clean authorship of the material. This book is more than a developer can reasonably hope for in a source reference. I expected to have to give maybe 10 days' time to absorbing it cover to cover, but it is written so well that most chapters require reading less than a page describing the chapter; and the rest of the material can simply be used. So full of treasure is this book that I spent hours the first evening just typing code into projects. All of it ran right the first time. I doubt a better book can be written on this subject, and will from here on consider any book with John Ayres' name on it the one to look at first on whatever the topic. A huge thanks to you John for doing your work so well. You made ours' far easier than we imagined.

Excellent Book
Have only been been using Delphi for 4 months now. This book and the Core API are very good. I found them very easy to understand.

A must have for Windows Delphi developers...
you just cant afford not to get it, with the declining availability of good delphi source out there... its indespensible ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for the Delphi developer who wants to learn about XML, Delphi Developer’s Guide to XML covers all aspects of utilizing the power of XML through the Delphi environment. This book provides a solid introduction to the technologies that make up XML and its related specifications. In-depth coverage of the Document Object Model (DOM) includes investigation of the basic specification and three implementations: Microsoft’s DOM, CUESoft’s DOM, and Open XML’s DOM. Similarly, both Microsoft’s version and a native Delphi implementation are described for the Simple API for XML (SAX). Generating XML documents is detailed using simple text, Delphi’s Web modules and XMLBroker, each of the DOMs, and SAX. Developing applications that make use of XML is also covered, including XSLT and SOAP examples.

The CD includes the relevant specifications regarding XML, along with all the code from the book and various XML tools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

About XML, but not Delphi 6 BizSnap
To start with the disturbing fact: This book is about XML, but not about XML as supported by Delphi 6. Or more specifically, it is about XML, but doesn't cover any of the new Delphi 6 BizSnap XML features (XML Programming, Data Binding Wizard or XML Mapper).

The book starts with a first part to introduce XML. In seven chapters, we learn about the history of XML (and XML vs. HTML), the XML syntax, the old DTD, XSLT, XLink, XPath and XPointer, and finally XML Schemas.

The second part of the book covers the Document Object Model - all about parsing an XML document. DOM is one of the two main approaches you can take when parsing XML. The other is SAX (Simple API for XML), which is covered in part three.

Part four is about Serving XML. This is mainly about viewing XML as data and not as documents. It describes a number of ways in which XML can be generated automatically, for example as text, from a database, using web modules (or InternetExpress), using DOM or SAX, and finally as MIDAS data packet.

The last part of the book covers a number of applications that make use of XML, like an electronic e-mail sender, a customised client and XML examination application (both aWindows client and a Web client). The final chapter of the book even covers SOAP, but not the way Delphi 6 supports SOAP. In fact, I would not use the techniques in this chapter as they are far more complex than the Delphi 6 support (although they do help you understand what's actually happening).

All in all, this is a good book with some detailed coverage of XML and some nice example applications. The first part gives a solid introduction to those without XML knowledge or experience. However, the main thing missing is the lack of real Delphi 6 BizSnap XML coverage (which makes the book "good" but not "very good").

For the intermediate people ...
This book is okay if you like the procedural way to get an overview of the major vendors for XML components. It assumes you know something already about websites and gives a good but (for beginners and intermediate readers) tough layed out protocol and implementation view.

My advice: pick an XML implementation that fits your environment, read the first chapters on the RFC stuff (how it should look) and pass right on to the chapter for your implementation. Reading all the chapters can be quite confusing.

I look at this book as a complete developer's review and it does help me understand how to program XML quite well, but more real-world examples would be welcome (there is one example in it, but in my opinion it does not cover extensive use of XML in larger environments).

Good Reference for a Delphi/XML Programmer
This book is not a beginner's guide. You will feel helpful if you need some guides in XML programming with Delphi. ... Read more

Product Description
This book introduces programmers to all of Borland Delphi 3's features and techniques, including secrets of the environment, the programming language, custom components, and Windows 95 programming in general. Programmers will learn to master the Delphi 95 language to make professional client/server applications using aRapid Application Development approach. New techniques and Wizards for creating Internet-enabled applications are covered in depth. Readers learn how to construct more than one hundred step-by-step examples, starting with basic programming topics and ending with problems related to complex Windows applications. An included CD contains source code for over one hundred example applications used in the book, including many useful ready-to-use programs (some file viewers, a replacement Task Manager, several editors, and so on). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Start here first
Very easy to read.Marco takes you through Delphi from it's roots in Object Pascal.Marco's a very funny guy in person and it comes through in his code.Entertaining and educational.Has beginning material that youwon't find in Mastering Delphi 4.

Excellent!!Simply Excellent!!!
I think that other authors should copy the excellence of this book! It just contains all in one book!! Incredible!Congratulations Marco!

THE book to begin with!
I have taken a major part in the translation of this book to Hungarian, and I really liked its friendly and comprehensive language. Of course, the book does not reveal all the in-depth secrets of Delphi, but gives aperfect overall view, and makes you ready for furter exploring (on yourown, or with the help of other books).

The best $39.99 I've ever spent?
I loved Mastering Delphi 3, I loved all the sample code and other extras on the CD, My only gripe, I just wish Cantu spent a few more pages on each topic, got my feet wet, but left me at that. Add another couple hunderedpages and it would be a five star book

...it really depends which level you already have
if you are new to delphi but have experience on programming concepts Ireally can recommend this one. after reading this book you know the basicsand are prepared buying a book specialiced on databases or internetprogramming or client server programming (whatever you are interested in)because this advanced topics are not really coverd in detail.for abeginner on delphi (NOT on programming) it is a good introduction to delphi.......says Major Tom ... Read more

Product Description
Delphi is the premier development tool within Windowscomputing, and communications is one of the fastest growing segmentsof the Windows development platform. The Tomes of Delphi: Basic 32-BitCommunications Programming focuses on two essential communicationstechnologies—Windows Sockets and the Telephony ApplicationProgramming Interface—and provides a guide to using them in Windowsapplications.

The book is divided into sections on Winsock and TAPI. Each section begins with an introductory chapter on that particular technology and following chapters discuss basic TAPI and Winsock programming and their functions. Each function entry contains the syntax, a description of what the function does, a list and description of parameters, acceptable constant values, return values, cross-references to related functions, and an example of its use. Where appropriate, the authors develop wrapper classes and components to further facilitate communications programming.

The appendixes include a glossary of communications terms and Winsock and TAPI error codes. ... Read more

Product Description
Delphi Developer's Handbook lets programmers master the Delphi 95 language, making professional client/server programming and Rapid Application Development accessible to every reader who needs to master these skills. The CD includes the full source code and compiled executables of all of the examples in the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The best.Period.
This book is certainly not for beginners. But if you can read and understand this book, you can become one of the elite Windows programmers.

The material starts out with the assumption that youunderstand Delphi, Pascal, and object oriented programming.Each chaptergrows progressively more complex, and explains the inner workings of theDelphi IDE itself, as written in Delphi.

This is THE book to own for anyserious Delphi developer.

Not for Beginners, but superb for experienced programmers
After browsing through countless books that introduce me to Delphi basics, it is refreshing to find a book that dives right into some real hard-core programming.This book is not for beginners, but is indispensible forexperienced Delphi programmers who are looking to improve their skills. This is, without a doubt, the best and most useful Delphi book I have everread.

Excellent, 6 stars out of 5 - need I say more...
If you are a serious Delphi developer who wants to work smarter instead ofharder this book is essential reading. It shows you loads of really neattricks and ideas which are not available in any other books on the markert.Some of the examples are a bit raw, but the underlying concepts can beconverted into successful commercial products.

Excellent!
John Lam is like aspirin for all of my COM headaches - well done!

Excellent coverage of Delphi I have not seen in other books.
Certainly not for the entry level but probably the most insightful Delphi book I have purchased.Advanced everything!The first 4 chapters are the best.Class references, casting, "Fake" casting. Excellent reference for the RTTI (an ablsolute neccessityfor Components and Com).Excellent reference for messages and how Dephi handles them, and how you can handle them.Excellent reference on OOP implemented in Delphi (finding classes, components; Owning, parenting; Creating, Destroying).Many explanations on the techniques used throughout the Dephi source code.If you really want to learn Delphi inside-out, I HIGHLY recommend this book.To Marco Cantu, Thank you.I have purchased quite a few books on Delphi that wound up right in the trash can. ... Read more

Product Description
This book teaches developers how to go full-throttle with Delphi, no matter which version they're using. Approximately 50 percent of the book's material applies to Delphi for Windows (the current, 16-bit version) while the other 50 percent deals with Delphi32 (the new 32-bit version for Windows 95 and Windows NT). Each chapter focuses on a particular area of Delphi development, such as making Windows Application Program Interface (API) calls: using OCXs: creating dynamic link libraries; designing components; building client/server applications; creating databases, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Delphi book written
The book is written for the developer by experienced people who did not use worthless examples.The examples are what is required in real world programming.The book is excellent to learn from and also to use as a reference even though Delphi 2 was the latest release at the time of publication.I have used this as a reference in the majority of cases.I have been using Delphi for over 6 years now for desktop development.

One of the BEST books on understanding and using DELPHI
'Delphi in Depth' is the best book I have found on understanding Delphi.I have 14 books on Delphi and this book is a must have, for anyone serious about learning and using Delphi.It is useful for both the novice and expert programmer.The explainations and CD examples are simple and direct, showing you HOW, but also explaining in plain english WHY and WHEN to use properties and methods. ... Read more

Product Description
The Delphi 5 Developer's Guide is a complete reference showing developers what they need to know most about Delphi 5. The text begins with a tour of Delphi 5 basics, including improvements since version 1. After observing object-oriented Pascal programming, including advanced language features, the authors turn to the strengths of using the Visual Component Library (VCL) application frameworks. They include several invaluable sections for corporate developers, including a "coding standards" document. Sections on combining VCL with ActiveX controls round out the basic tour. Advanced topics include graphics programming, building dynamic link-libraries (DLLs), printing, and multithreading. Amazon.com Review
Weighing in at over 1,500 pages, Delphi 5 Developer's Guide updates a classic text on Delphi programming with a new edition that highlights the latest and greatest in version 5. Whether you are new to Delphi or a seasoned veteran, this book will help you get the most out of this powerful development tool, including database, Internet, and thin-client computing.

The sheer size of Delphi 5 Developer's Guide makes it a standout. (This already massive book bundles 11 "extra" chapters on the accompanying CD-ROM on such topics as graphics programming and coding standards.) The text presents how-to information on a wealth of topics, along with short code excerpts and complete programs where appropriate.

Two areas deserve special mention. First, essential Windows programming techniques, from calling Win32 APIs to Microsoft COM in all its guises, are examined especially closely. (Besides the basics of building ActiveX controls and OLE Automation in Delphi, there's material on using MTS and ADO.) This book also sheds some insight on programming "thin clients," with solid coverage of Borland's MIDAS middleware solution, as well as Delphi's support for creating browser-based applications (through its WebBroker classes). Later chapters contain in-depth code examples that contrast "traditional" two-tiered client/server programming with thin-client versions (using both MIDAS and HTML). This material can help get your existing Delphi skills up to speed with current browser-based Web application requirements.

There aren't many books out there on Delphi programming, so this text meets an essential need with its thorough tour of what's available in version 5. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Delphi 5 basics, history of Delphi, Delphi IDE features, the Object Pascal language, object-oriented programming techniques, exceptions, Win32 programming APIs, the Delphi application frameworks, Windows messages and Delphi events, dynamic link libraries, printing, multithreaded applications, threads and synchronization objects, file basics, directories and drives, memory-mapped files, programming the Windows shell, hooks, system information, using the clipboard, the Visual Component Library (VCL), building custom components, COM basics, building ActiveX controls, ActiveForms, OLE Automation, OLE containers, DCOM and MTS programming, Delphi CORBA support, BDE and databases, ODBC and ADO support, client/server programming techniques, WebBroker, NSAPI and ISAPI Internet applications in Delphi, thin clients, and MIDAS applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Good but
The book is well written, however some chapters are avaliable on CD only with no print permission. I do not like reading books on my computer screen. If you don't like ebooks like me find another book

Good Information, but the usage of the CD drove me crazy
This book had a lot of useful information, but the formatting and the usage of the companion CD drove me crazy.Here is and example: I'm reading along and I finish chapter 5 only to find chapter 6, 7, and 8 are on the companion CD.For now I skip them, and go on to chapter 9. When I'm finished with that I find that chapter 10 is on the companion CD and it has all of the coverage on printing (one of the subjects I need), so I open the CD and start reading chapter 10.This is something like 54 pages, and it has some good subject matter.I decide to print a couple of the pages only to find that they have their security setting set so you can't print ANY of the book chapters (or highlight, so you can't copy and paste items).In all, the companion CD contains 447 pages of non-printable text from random parts of the book.If any subject interests you all you can do is write a note as to the page number and location on the CD, nothing else is allowed.I found it very hard to read an electronic page or two and then try an example and keep on flipping back and forth electronically.If this doesn't bother you then this may just be the book for you.I felt the information was good, but a book that can't be put on paper isn't for me.

Love It
Great book for intermediate programmers.Plenty of source code but it's chopped up and difficult to follow.The section on Creating Components was very useful to me.The CD is great, has many undocumented toys on it.

Some parts are ok.
I found this to be a fairly useful book.I usually refer to it AFTER I have looked at Mastering Delphi 5 by Marco Cantu.Probably the most useful thing that I found was not in the book at all.It was on the included CD...Chapter 8 of the PDF document has a section on Raster/Vector fonts that I found VERY useful.

Not bad at all
I just got a new programming job based in a Delphi environment. I was trained to work in Java and VB; fortunately the syntax was not too different so I picked up this reference book.I was pleasantly surprised to find that a single reference book made the transition go that smoothly. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the Delphi Object Pascal object model. Covers VCL component architecture, multi-control components, and component DLLs. Explains component creation, field protection, access rights, and debugging. Demonstrates the ins and outs of data-aware controls. Teaches how to create ActiveX controls with Delphi. Tells about implementing properties, property editors, events, and event handlers.Amazon.com Review
Writing software is no longer about building monolithic, do-it-allapplications: high-output programmers know the benefits they can derivefrom using others' objects and, to an even greater extent, creating theirown reusable components. Developing Custom Delphi 3 Components is acomprehensive how-to manual for Delphi 3 programmers who want to buildrobust components that they--or other programmers--can reuse time andagain. Konopka builds up to this task by explaining Delphi's object modeland giving an overview of the component building process; although the bookassumes a fair amount of familiarity with Delphi, it never fails to providea conceptual framework and explain why you would or wouldn't want to usevarious techniques. Whether you want to build your own Delphi componentsfrom scratch or simply extend existing components for your own purposes,Developing Custom Delphi 3 Components has the information you needto produce professional results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Book for Component writers
This is one of the best books which explains the creation of Delphi components. If you are a person who's concerned the way you've been creating your components or a person who wants to guide yourself through the steps of components creation, this book is for you.

Great code examples, poor explanation of what is being done
This is a solid publication that I have learned a lot from. The code examples are clean and work well. I would like though a little more explanation on what is going on in the code. The writer assumes to much about the readers ability in delphi. For instance, when he is painting a control he assumes that we all know how to use the paint method and all the associated commands of the canvas object. This is of course not a direct component design issue but those of us who have done a lot of business programming aren't familiar with this code and since you need to be in order to override the look of a component I don't think it is out of the realm of this publication to provide some explanation. I do realize that to write a publication that covers all sorts of different areas could consume volumes but one quote stands out in a recent review I read for another component guide, "About 90% of the books written about software development are useless to serious developers". Further explanation of the code examples would make this book that much more useful to this developer.Thanks,Todd Flora

This is one of the best Delphi 3 books available.
Ray Konopka's _Developing Custom Delphi 3 Components_ stands as one of the best books ever written for Delphi.It is an exhaustive and rigorous description on component creation in Delphi 3 and might be daunting for the novice, but if you are serious about this subject and you want to learn more, then you should buy this book.

Look no further
If you've been looking for a book that explains Delphi deep down technical, look no further.Ray has done a tremendous job in explaining every thing in detail.To me it was like novel when I started I could not stop reading it.VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE.If you are a serious Delphi developer you have to have this book in your library.Great job by Ra ... Read more

Product Description
Here's an extensive exploration of Delphi 2-its programming language, custom components, and myriad features. This massive, authoritative book makes professional client/server programming and Rapid Access Development a reality for every level of programmer. In hundreds of step-by-step exercises, readers master everything from basic techniques to advanced Windows 95 and NT programming. The companion CD includes the full source code for all the book's examples, plus file viewers, editors, and other ready-to-run programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very Good Book
Nobody will become a Delphi master reading Mastering Delphi 2. In fact, I think that there isn't a book that does this miracle (only experience made us masters).

But it's still an excellent book. It's funny. It's clear. It covers most Delphi topics: from the simpliest to the most complex.

Well, some reallycomplex topics (like Delphi's built in assembler) aren't covered, but all I looked for was there.

Mastering Delphi 2 is not recommendend for begginer programers. The author expects that the reader knows some basic topics about programming (just simple topics like "What are loops?)

This book is for anyone that already knows something about computer programming and wants to learn a lot about Delphi (including some undecumented tips and "obscure" topics).

A good book, lots of examples, but a poor index
A very good book for people starting with Delphi 2.0. Everything is described from the ground up, the book has a lot of examples and reads easily. There are also SQL and OOP chapters, which cover standard SQL commands/knowledge and OOP concepts. The poorly organized index (a lot of missing keywords on important subjects) and missing chunks of program code in some examples are serious drawbacks.

The absolute best book on learning the Delphi language!!
I wasted my time and money buying OTHER Delphi books (I have 10 Delphi books in total) only to find out they simply regurgitated Borland's reference material or they just skimmed the material.

Cantu's book is the first and only book that actually teaches you the Delphi language in depth, from scratch. What sets this book apart from the rest are the 250+ code examples that you can experiment with as you read along. This makes the book more interactive and actually makes learning Delphi fun. You learn as you go along which is great at building up confidence when learning a new language. Unlike some "21 day books", these examples are useful and they actually work! The examples are so practical I usually end up implementing the same techniques in my own programs. They're also found on the CD-Rom which makes compiling a snap.

I've used this book so much, the spine is broken, it's dogeared, full of yellow highlighted text, and it is riddled with tape flags marking the "must read again" portions of the book. The other Delphi books I have are sitting on the shelf, most of them as new as the day I bought them. The reason Cantu's book is so beat up is because I never put it away. It's sitting beside me now, opened in a book stand as I write this. It's 70+ page index makes finding topics easier than any other Delphi book I own. If it's not in the index, then chances are it's not worth knowing.

Here's the best way to learn Delphi:
1) Give the programmer the book "Mastering Delphi 2..." by Marco Cantu
2) Lock the programmer him in a windowless room with a computer
3) Every day slip a TV dinner under the door
4) At the end of 2 weeks unlock the door and you'll have yourself a darned good (but smelly) Delphi 2 programmer.

The bottom line is this. If you want to learn Delphi 2, get this book, TODAY! Save your money on those other Delphi books and get yourself some TV dinners instead.

Barry McClure

It's simply the best programing book I've ever read!
I've tried to learn some computer programing languagesby reading books before, but I couldn't finish reading the them (sometimes because they assumed I was some kind of rocket scientist, and sometimes they assumed that I was totaly stupid) . Then I've heardabout Delphi 2 everybody told it was very powerfull and easy too, so I've decided that I would try once again to learn something simply by reading a book. So I bought this book and when I've started reading it I saw that it had the right level of information for the begginer and the experient programer.Mastering Delhpi 2 is , by far , the best coputer programing book I've ever read. ... Read more

Product Description
Another addition to the highly successful Programmer's Example series, Wallace's title provides a programming reference to Borland's Delphi development environment, one of the most popular software development tools currently on the market. The title provides comprehensive coverage of the compiler and specific examples of programming code as well as unique abilities and shareware on the CD. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Nathan Wallace's Delphi 3 Example Book
A total waste of money. Includes a CD which only has hyperlinks to a non-existent web site, the contents of the CD is contrary to what is described on the back cover. Email's sent to the publishers regarding theCD were ignored.

Do not include this book in your library. The DelphiOnline Help is of better value.

Book is redundant
I was very dissatisfied with the content of the book.The examples given were very rudimentary and offered less than the Delphi help file.

Don't Purchase this Book
Well...I agree with all the comments submitted by the other customers. The website cannot be found and there's no Source Code in the CD. Those who have purchased this book have been cheated by the publisher and the author.I think all of us deserve our refunds.Don't buy this book or u will regret.I've no choice to put 1 star..in fact no star at all for this book.Triedcontacting the e-mail add in the CD but no such mail.Spread this newsaround to avoid others being cheated.

This book sucks. Don't buy it (honest)
Well all I can say, every now and then you get a bad apple in the bunch. If your a beginner to Delphi start with something *Lite*. Best book i've found so far is called "Beginning Delphi 2.0: Instant WindowsProgramming, by Wrox publishing. But iterateonce again- SAVE YOUR MONEY, DON'T PURCHASE "Nathan Wallace's Delphi 3Example Book...." !!!

Poor, lacking in content, CD worthless
I bought this book on spec. More fool me.The CD contains *nothing* in the way of source code, apart from many projects comprising of one form, and one button - which links to a duff web-site.

Do yourself a favour andskip this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Aimed at the intermediate to advanced programmer, Using Delphi 2, Special Ed. includes over 300 pages of new and updated coverage of key topics and new features. New material includes coverage of Windows 95 features, OLE, the Visual Control Library, and DLL creation. The CD contains third-party controls, sample applications, and author's code. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beware: This book has errors
I haven't used this book much so I can't speak for it's overall quality. Iwould like to point out a significant error in the text which calls thatquality into question. On page 363 it is stated that "A custom suppiedconstructor does not allocate memory" which is false. It also goes onto give an example which uses a constructorjust for initializing analready existing object. An ordinary procedure would sufficed for this. Inother words the author missed the point of the constructor keyword: itallows for custom methods which both create and initialize objects.

Buy a different book.
This Book, while covering a lot of ground only touches on each subject. The writing style is very terse, and generally left me more confused about a subject than before I began. In short, I found the delphi manuals more helpful

Makes a good door stop.
I have 10 books on Delphi, this is by far the worst. Nothing else even comes close. This book has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I've had it for a year and have yet to find anything useful in it. This was my first Delphi book and I got roped in by all the pretty screen snapshots. Yes, it has a pretty face, but nothing of any substance whatsoever.

This book is without any depth at all. Pick any topic and it just summarizes what's in the Borland manuals. And it doesn't do a good job at that either.

The cover has a title saying it's "The Most Complete Reference". I think that must have been a typo. It should have read "The Most InComplete Reference". It also has "Special Edition" on the cover in large italic letters. Lordie! I wonder what the standard edition must have been like.

It has very very few code examples for you to learn Delphi programming. It goes on chapter after chapter showing you the various windows in the Delphi IDE and a brief summary of what it does.

The appendix has 167 pages of useless tables that the average person would never use. I suspect they added this in order to make the book look larger than what it really is. You could read this book from cover to cover and I doubt you could learn to program a single thing in Delphi. The only redeeming feature of this book is the CD-Rom which makes for a good coaster for your coffee mug.

This book will suck an incredible $49.99 (USD) out of your pocket. If you see this book lying on the floor in a book store, don't pick it up. To borrow a line from Monty Python, "Run away! Run away! Run away!" ... Read more

Product Description
Providing the most concise and valuable treatment of Delphi 2--the 32 bit version for Windows 95, this book includes coverage of all the programming topics that Delphi programmers need to know, including OLE, the Windows API, Internet development tools, and Database Management System (DBMS) programming. It shows readers how to create extensions for Delphi with other prgramming languages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This book deserves to remain on the shelf at the bookstore.
This book lacks any real substance about the Delphi language and merely glosses over topics. Leave it on the shelf and the money in your pocket.

Good Info on How to Interact with a Network
While this book is mostly unremarkable, it has an informative chapter onhow to interact with a network via the Windows API, dynamically map drives,capture printers, etc.

Rubbish
Tthis is not only the worst technical book I have ever seen, but is worse than I could have ever imagined.It totally fails to meet any of the promises on the cover.It contains a very superficial look at Delphi using a cookbook approach, padded out with long sections of irrelevant material (e.g. descriptions of Windows API functions, a section on writing DLLs in C), some of which are just inaccurate (e.g. the sections on the Registry and OLE).It is quite clear that the author only has a superficial knowledge of Delphi and prefers writing about other subjects he understands or half-understands ... Read more