According to the introduction,
This book covers Delphi--both 1.0 and 2.0 (and no doubt, will be applicable in many instances to future versions as well).…This book is for every Delphi developer. This book assumes that you are already familiar with the basics of Delphi.
Not being a Delphi expert, I found reviewing this book somewhat difficult.
The “Skill Level” note on the back cover states that this book is for every programmer; in fact, effective use of the information in this book requires a significant background in both Delphi programming and Windows application development. The table of contents makes promises that the body of the text does not fulfill. The technical descriptions are disappointing, and the claims on the cover are exaggerated and misleading. One gets the impression that the best intentions of the authors have been compromised by a rush to print.
The book does not adequately describe the capabilities or uses of Delphi 1.0 or 2.0. For those unfamiliar with the origin of Delphi, it would be helpful to mention on the cover that this software development package is based on Object Pascal. Regarding the book’s content, there needs to be much more information on the use of .WAV and .AVI files in Delphi. These features are lauded on the cover and in the introduction, along with several other popular topics such as Common Gateway Interface (CGI) and Java codes. However, discussions of their integration or use in a Delphi application are minimal.
The writing style varies from one chapter to the next, which is probably due to the large number of authors involved. Whatever the reason, it results in a book that is difficult to understand and unpleasant to read.
According to Appendix A, the code located in the Delphi16 subdirectories of the CD-ROM is for Delphi 1.0. When attempting to load files or projects from these directories into my version of Delphi 1.0, however, multiple errors occur due to missing or incorrectly referenced files. Perhaps different versions of Delphi 1.0 exist, but this possibility is not raised by the authors.
The book is divided into three parts: “Foundations,” which includes the first three chapters; “Techniques,” which includes chapters 4 through 16; and “Case Study: Delphi and the Web,” which includes chapters 17 through 20. The chapters are:
Overview of Delphi for Developers
Developing the Delphi Way
Object Orientation in Delphi
Property Editors
Databases and Database Components
Using Database Components
Database Features in Delphi 2
Building Client/Server Applications
Using ReportSmith
Reporting with QuickReport in Delphi 2
Graphics
Advanced Graphics: Animation and Moveable
Resource Files
Controlling Applications Using OLE Automation
Using Multithreading in Delphi 2
Thread Synchronization in Delphi 2
Introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web
Core WebHub Technology
Tracking Surfers and Their Data
Integrating Delphi CGI, Java, and JavaScript
Each topic is presented with diagrams and sample code where appropriate, but there are no exercises. The absence of exercises limits the work’s utility as a textbook.
