VB Web Review

This is one of the best VB books I have come across so far, written for both beginners and experts. Clear examples and figures are used, based on real-world applications. The first section (4 chapters) concentrates on the basics of VB, in a much more compact yet thorough style than any other I have seen, while retaining its simple explanations. It's main section (8 chapters) focuses on databases, using ADO. This is a section often left out, or breezed over by many books, despite it being one of VB's strongest points. The first two chapters in this section aim to give an introduction to databases. This is worth a read, even if you already regularly program databases in Visual Basic.

It then goes on to give clear instructions on creating bound and unbound forms, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each, so that you can make an easy decision when deciding what type to use in your VB applications. The next section of the book (another 4 chapters) focuses on other core VB programming skills. This includes using Class modules and ActiveX components, creating help, enhancing the user interface, creating an application for the internet, and how to distribute your VB programs using the Package and Deployment wizard. Whether you're a new-comer to VB, or a programmer who has always managed to avoid database programming, this book is for you! In fact, my only complaint (and this is a minor one) is that it describes creating Help for your application using the now outdated WinHelp, instead of HTMLHelp.

This single book explains a wide range of topics, in such depth, which normally would have required at least 3 separate books. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!