Chien provides a tutorial on Visual C++ (VC++) and Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) for novice and somewhat experienced Windows developers.
The author does a good job of introducing the programmer to the VC++ programming environment and to the use of MFC. He does this by providing detailed examples using wizards, and by providing numerous screen shots and pictures to help the reader along. The book includes chapters that introduce the beginning programmer to Visual Studio, VC++ Projects, and the C++ language. The author has created a good introduction to the features and capabilities of MFC, as well as a good discussion of single-document interface (SDI), multiple-document interface (MDI), document, and view concepts. He also provides an introduction to Visual Studio.NET, managed extensions for VC++, and C#.
The book has a very nice layout, with chapters grouped logically into parts, and an adequate index. The parts are as follows:
- (1) The Visual C++ Developer Studio
- (2) MFC GUI
- (3) VC++ Projects
- (4) The Document/View Paradigm
- (5) Working with MFC Data Classes
- (6) Database Processing
- (7) Component Programming
- (8) Professional Software Development
- (9) Beyond VC++ 6.0
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about VC++ and MFC development. It provides a good introduction to the subject, but would not be very useful as a reference for more knowledgeable readers.
