The papers in this collection cover programming issues specific to the Windows 95 operating system. Topics range widely from issues regarding the Win32 application programming interface (API) to how to take advantage of Windows 95 features to extend existing MS-DOS-based applications. It is an important work for developers because it contains conceptual and reference information not available in any other document.

The guide includes 32 papers, grouped into seven parts. Part 1, “Understanding Windows 95,” discusses the Windows 95 architecture and the API differences between Windows 3.x–based and Windows 95–based applications.

Part 2, “Developing Applications for Windows 95,” discusses common controls and dialogue boxes, the registry, and dragging and dropping. It also describes how to create applications for multimedia and pen, and provides an overview of installing applications.

Part 3, “Extending the Windows 95 Shell,” discusses the shell’s namespace, shell extensions, application desktop toolbars, shell links, and the taskbar notification area.

Part 4, “Using Windows 95 Features,” presents information about file viewers, file parsers, briefcase reconcilers, the Passwords Control Panel, device I/O control, system policies, and tool help functions.

Part 5, “Using Microsoft MS-DOS Extensions,” discusses MS-DOS extensions, long filenames, exclusive volume locking, program information file management, and virtual machine services.

Part 6, “Applications for International Markets,” presents guidelines for developing international applications, and information about how to use double-byte characters and input method editors. It also outlines how to write Middle Eastern applications.

Part 7, “Advanced Programming,” discusses the Thunk Compiler, a tool that assists developers in porting existing applications to the Win32 API.

Many examples provided are useful to readers who want a better understanding of new concepts. The papers are by various members of the Windows 95 technical team and represent an interesting combination of styles, approaches, and points of view on programming for Windows 95. The book includes a complete index, but it has no bibliography, though there are frequent references in the text to the  Microsoft  documentation or to other works. The typography is good.

This guide is useful for those who want to know more about this new operating system and who want to use the robust features of Windows 95 in Win32-based, 16-bit Windows-based, and MS-DOS-based applications.