Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and Custom Controls in C#, Apress
Microsoft .NET Framework, ASP.NET, Visual C# (CSharp, C Sharp, C-Sharp) Developer Training, Visual Studio
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C# Online.NET Book Review
C# developers need to know more than how to add simple controls to windows. They must be able to devise complete user interface frameworks. And, the frameworks must be designed for flexiblity, reusability, and scalability. To achieve this, the developer requires a thorough knowldge of interface design, Windows Forms, and GDI+.
This book contains detailed discussions and examples of the user interface elements developers need. The book teaches how to use .NET controls and—more importantly—how to extend .NET controls. The book is based on C# and the last beta of NET 2.0. It covers Windows Forms and GDI+ namespaces. Plus, it features detailed expositions of user-interface design principles. This book is a NET 2.0 update of a previous edition which enjoyed widespread community recognition.
This book encompasses, virtually, everything you need to know about Windows Forms and custom controls. It is well written, well organized, and comprehensive. The sample code works. This is not a reference manual. Nor is it a book on building rich clients; although, it does explain how to create a rich client interface. After studying and practicing with this book, you would know how to design state-of-the-art Windows interfaces, how to build custom controls, and how to create graphics programmatically.
Significantly, the author benefitted from the support of the Microsoft Windows Forms Team. This support enabled the author to write a book which exceeds all others on this subject in terms of both range and depth. In short, you will often find better coverage here than on the Microsoft Developer Nextwork (MSDN). And, of course, the use of graphics is far superior to MSDN illustrations. For example, the book offers tips for using multithreaded user interfaces, for using layout engines, and for combining Web and Windows content.
Our author studied English literature and, occasionally, it shows as when the phrase "Lorem ipsum dolor sit arnet..." appears in a text box illustration. Fortunately for most of us, we are not subjected to that much Latin. But, I like when the author's background and personality show through the writing; otherwise, you are just reading an API. Throughout the book, the author stresses proper user interface architecture, solid design principles, and the banishment of business logic from the user interface code.
This is a great book for beginner through advanced C# programmers. You will soon find yourself recommending it to others. One word of warning: do not leave this book on your desk in your cube without writing your name on it—it will disappear.
Bottom line
Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and Custom Controls in C# is a "must have" for your C# / .NET library.
Other books in this series
- Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and Custom Controls in C#, Apress
- Pro ADO.NET 2.0, Apress
- Pro C# 2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform, 3rd Ed., Apress
- Pro PayPal E-Commerce, Apress
- Pro SQL Server 2005 Assemblies, Apress
- Pro WCF, Apress
- Pro WPF, Apress
- Pro WF, Windows Workflow in .NET 3.0, Apress
Other reviews
"While many other resources read more like technical reference docs, Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and Custom Controls in C# does an excellent job of filtering the information down to what developers really (need) to harness the power and innovations we've added to Windows Forms 2.0."
— Shawn Burke, Development Manager, Windows Forms Team, Microsoft Corporation
Publisher's description
By using C# and the final beta of NET 2.0, this book covers Windows Forms and GDI+ namespaces thoroughly for the .NET programmer in 2005. Experienced author Matthew MacDonald achieves this by combining careful treatment of the API with detailed discussion of solid user-interface design principles. This is an update for .NET 2.0 of MacDonald’s previous edition (1590590457) which gained wide community recognition. Upon reading this edition, you will be equipped to design state-of-the-art Windows interfaces and program graphics, and know how to create your own controls.
As a developer, you must know more than simply adding a control to a window. You must be able to create an entire user interface framework that's scalable, flexible, and reusable. Although this book is not a reference manual, it contains detailed discussions about user interface elements you’ll use on a regular basis. You will learn to use .NET controls, as well as extend them with your own custom controls.
From the publisher's Web site
Renowned author Matthew MacDonald combines careful treatment of the API with detailed user-interface design principles. Further, this book incorporates C# and the final beta of .NET 2.0. The result: thorough coverage of Windows Forms and GDI+ namespaces for you .NET programmers! You will become equipped to design state-of-the-art Windows interfaces and program graphics, and learn how to create your own controls.
As a developer, you must know more than just how to add a control to a window. You must be able to create an entire user interface framework that's scalable, flexible, and reusable. This book is not a reference manual. Instead, it contains detailed discussions about user interface elements that you’ll use on a regular basis.
About the author(s)
Matthew MacDonald is an author, educator, and MCSD developer who has a passion for emerging technologies. He is a regular writer for developer journals such as Inside Visual Basic, ASPToday, and Hardcore Visual Studio .NET, and he's the author of several books about programming with .NET, including User Interfaces in VB .NET: Windows Forms and Custom Controls, The Book of VB .NET, and .NET Distributed Applications. In a dimly remembered past life, he studied English literature and theoretical physics.
