Beginning Visual Basic 6

by Peter Wright

Suitable for entry level programmers who are ambitious and who want to learn professional techniques in a single step., this guide features expanded coverage is given of the new features of Visual... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1861001053
• ISBN13: 9781861001054
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Wrox Press
• Length: 1028 Pages
• Weight: 3.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 7.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

I would like to give it more than 5 stars

I have been trying to learn VB for the past couple of years. I have been looking for a book that will do just that. I am a mainframe programmer (cobol) and therefore I am new to this type of programming. I searched and bought several books on how to learn VB, learn VB in 21 days, learn VB step by step etc. But none of them really taught me VB. I was so confused with all those books. Most of the time the author (after the 3rd chapter) will assume that you have become an expert on the subject. So I will be lost after that. What many authors do not know, is to TEACH a person who DOES NOT know the subject. But Peter is a true teacher. Reading this book is like sitting in a class and following the teacher step by step. He takes the time to re-iterate subjects covered before so that we can re-enforce what we have learned so far. The book is Sooooo organized that by the time you are done with the book, you have learned the VB beginning (basics). Initially VB was like a puzzle thrown at me with no pictures to follow up. But, this book was like showing a picture so that we can put that puzzle together. It helped me a lot. Now I am working on Peter's another book (VB6 Objects). I have not finished it yet. But these books have given be a good head start on VB 6. Great job Peter!!

Not too hard, not too easy, but just right!

I browsed through gobs of VB6 books with a background in programming, but knew jack about VB. Most fell into one of 2 categories. The first explaning too much about coding and logic flow and not enough syntax to be useful, and others that didn't explain the example code and were little more than souped up help files.This one was different though. Here are specific reasons:1.It assumed you knew practically nothing about VB6 2.It gave screenshots and STEP-BY-STEP instructions to help with doing examples 3.It anticipated questions and possible errors that may occur and gave reasons 4.Very few written mistakes (I found perhaps 2 minor ones) 5.It touches on enough topics to get your feet wet for more powerful applications, but doesn't bog you down.Oh, and to those who complained that the book was too easy for them or useless for making powerful apps: That's why it's called BEGINNING Visual Basic 6. Sheeesh.

Chris Baker

I rarely give 5 stars for anything, because anything can ALWAYS be improved on, but this book is close enough to perfect for me to warrant an exception. This book is perfectly suited for people new to programming, or to programmers who are new to VB. If you are already able to create projects in VB using objects, database support and ActiveX then you obviously need a more advanced book. It starts by familiarizing the reader with the VB environment and how programs are structured. Then he goes straight in to working with data and controls. He gives a Great intro into Obejct Oriented programming and what VB offers in the form of OO development. From there he smoothly guides the user through Database, Windows API, and ActiveX programming with a brief introduction to the principles behind COM. He even helps to guide the reader to additional resources after the book is completed. The examples are clearly explained and he even makes them fun. I would recommend this book to anyone who is beginning down the VB path as the FIRST book they should buy.

Great book, but not for the "total" beginner

Peter Wright's writing style may not suit everyone but it worked for me. Unlike many learn-to-program books, Wright doesn't spend much time explaining theory. He briefly explains complex topics like variants, arrays, and classes in a few pages, and then jumps right into coding. From the first chapter to the last, he brings the reader through a series of hands-on tutorials, which is great if you like to get your feet wet immediately.Personally, I like this style. I learned more by following the exercises and trouble shooting them than I have from other learn-to VB books that spend the first few chapters explaining theory and then walk you through a few tutorials. There was a couple times when I was pulling hair from my head trying to get the examples to work, but in the end I was able to figure everything out.But I could see where someone who doesn't have any programming experience might have trouble with this book. I am a self-taught JavaScript and Perl programmer and have some basic understanding of programming, but I think if I picked this book up without this background, I would have been frustrated. If you are a complete beginner, you might want to consider another book that does a better job explaining the basics, and if you are the type who learns best by doing, this is the book to buy.

Best VB Book I've Ever Found

I'm using this book to teach visual design courses at a university level. It is by far the best introductory book on Visual Basic that I've ever seen.What separates this book from other VB books is the detail concerning the nuts and bolts of using the language. Most books really just explain the stuff you probably could figure out yourself by reading the manuals. This book does a nice enough job of explaining the simple stuff, but it really shines in explaining the things that Microsoft does a poorer job with -- such as data access, creating classes, using ActiveX and even using the Windows API. And all of this is done with clear, concise explanations.If you are struggling to get past the basics with VB, this book will help.