For those of you who develop standalone Windows applications for PCs and other devices, Microsoft's .NET Windows Forms provide a much better way to get it done. This new technology gives you more power and flexibility for a fraction of the effort compared to classic Win32 development, with a streamlined programming model that deals automatically with many tedious details that once plagued developers. As with most things .NET, the only hitch is the learning curve. But that's where acclaimed author Jesse Liberty makes the difference with Programming .NET Windows Applications. With this tutorial, you will explore all aspects of using .NET Windows Forms class libraries and the associated programming tools in Visual Studio .NET, enabling you to build applications for the Windows 9x, Windows 2000 and Windows XP desktop platforms. Step-by-step, you'll learn ways to design applications that either function alone on a PC, or work in combination with your web-based application server to take advantage of the richer interface and higher level of security. The book also explains how your new Windows applications can sidestep problems that used to arise from the use of DLLs (known collectively as "DLL hell"), and how .NET Windows Forms can be used as an alternative to ASP.NET and browser-based approaches for building web application clients. Jesse Liberty definitely knows his stuff when it comes to the .NET platform. As the author of O'Reilly's Programming C# and Learning Visual Basic .NET, he's well-known for his clear and concise style that prompted one reviewer to say, "It's as if he knows exactly what questions I'm going to ask ahead of time." Jesse also co-authored Programming ASP.NET with contract programmer Dan Hurwitz, and now the two have teamed up again to bring you this comprehensive tutorial--without a doubt, the best source available for learning how to program with .NET Windows Forms.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Correcting previous review - 2004-05-22
Reviewer Rating:
I almost never respond to negative reviews (not everyone will like every book) but the previous review by Mr. Qiu is simply incorrect.

I provide unprecedented support for my books, including a FAQ, errata, complete source code and a private free support discussion forum through my web site: http://www.LibertyAssociates.com. In addition, more information is available thorugh my blog and articles I write for O'Reilly.com.

All the code in this book is complete, and all the code is available for download.

Thank you.

-j

Complete! Well Documented! Superb! - 2004-07-04
Reviewer Rating:
I found myself searching for a book that covered the TreeView control and others in great detail. I needed a book that would give detailed examples of how to use the advanced features of Windows Forms Controls and this was it. I use C# but appreciate the fact that both the VB.Net and C# codes is included as I never know if I will be asked to work on a VB.Net project. I have several other C# books that documented the basics of how to program C#, but this is the first that really showed me how to use the power of Win Forms to build a user friendly UI.

Very Little Practical Information - 2005-04-03
Reviewer Rating:
Over 70 Percent of this book is code listings (much of it auto generated) that is available in the sample code. Why generate your own database when pubs and northwind provide adequate examples. If you want to learn how to design a database there are ample books out there that are quite good. Most of the examples have very little real world application. As an example of practical concise real world examples look at "Building Web Solutions" by Esposito. He provides four times the useful information in 350 pages that this book provides in 1200. Look elswhere if you want good insight and practical information.

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! - 2004-03-10
Reviewer Rating:
This book doesn't provide supports if you have any questions about this book, and don't have full codes in some chapters!

1200 pages of not much useful - 2007-10-31
Reviewer Rating:
Wow, what a disappointment! This book starts with Hello World and goes down hill. 3 pages describing how a label control works then 3.5 pages of code print out, then 2.5 more pages adding explanation to just about every line of code? No wonder it is 1200 pages.

With my last forms work mostly being VB5, and having done mostly ASP.NET, web service, and library work in .NET, I got this book thinking that I would learn a few useful tidbits. (Which is how I found the author's other C# book). Not the case. I'm not sure I learned anything!

I guess for the most timid beginner this book would be OK, but if you have any previous win forms program experience or an inclination to just try things out, save yourself time and money and simply open up a form and start dropping in controls and see how they work.

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