One way of improving your writing is to read the best authors. How can you become a more proficient programmer and a better problem solver? First, select a high-level tool, such as Delphi 2 by Borland, rich in functionality. Then read a “compendium of truly advanced Delphi techniques…from the gurus for the experts.” (The “gurus” are, in addition to those mentioned on the cover, Ray Konopke, Jon Shemitz, Richard Haven, Ed Jordan, and Jeff Duntemann.) Each author’s name appears above the chapter he wrote. The gurus include a member of the Borland Delphi development team, consultants, programmers, makers of Delphi add-on products, and experienced authors.
The chapters are easy to follow, and example code is included. The chapter on “32-Bit Console Applications for Windows 95 and NT” includes a reusable command line parser, file reading and writing code, and an example of the use of the Object Repository. “Drag and Drop the Windows Way” covers file manager drag and drop, which is not covered in the Delphi documentation. “32-Bit Delphi DLLs--When, Why, and How” describes the dynamic link library, a Windows executable that is designed to be used by other programs. In “The Delphi WinSock Component,” a Windows Socket component is created and put into the Visual Component Library. It is used to communicate with the Internet.
“Shopper: an FTP Client Component” addresses the use of ftp by this component to communicate with a server. In “3D Fractal Landscapes,” a routine for drawing landscapes using fractals is created. The attention to detail in “Problems with Persistents and Other Advice” will save readers from problems later on. In “Animated Screen Savers in Delphi,” readers are shown how to use the Windows application programming interface to create a screen saver. The collection of financial, statistical, arithmetic, and trigonometric functions in “The Shadowy Math Unit” is used to create a statistics component. “Dynamic Database Interfaces” shows how to set up a program so the user can change properties at runtime. “Hierarchical Data in Relational Databases” shows how to deal with hierarchical data, including the use of SQL.
In “The Oracle Vanishes,” routines for keystroke translation, database compression, and linking text and pictures are presented. More information on the Win95 codependency group would have been useful here. “A Revelation in the Mud” covers setting a minimum size for a resizable form, creating a pop-up screen, creating a global data module, and techniques for obtaining Win95 system information. “The Oracle Returns” presents instructive routines to show sharing of event handlers; to prevent more than one instance of a program from running in a Win95 environment; to prevent execution if Delphi is not running; and to create floating toolbars. “An Age-Old Problem” presents techniques for Windows 95 broadcast messaging, for registering Windows message IDs, and for message sender and receiver components.
The titles of the last four chapters may be cute, but they are irrelevant to the content. These titles would have been better if they were more informative and told readers what topics would be discussed. The bulleted subject lists at the beginning of each chapter are useful. This book will make life easier for many Delphi programmers.
The accompanying CD contains source code for all example projects and demo programs in the book; a basic WINSOCK VCL component; a family of VCL components for expressing hierarchical data; and shareware and freeware Delphi add-ons.
