Delphi COM Programming [Paperback]

COM, as the author of Delphi COM Programming points out early on, is hard. This is in part because of the way it has evolved from Microsoft's OLE, which is really DDE....OK, let's stop there. COM enables Windows programmers to create objects which are language and programming environment agnostic. This is especially useful for non-VB users.

Eric Harmon gets deep into the guts of Delphi's COM support, starting with the differences and similarities between Delphi interfaces and abstract classes. It's not a book for tyros. You're assumed to be a competent Delphi programmer, and you need to be as much of the discussion is in the form of program fragments, which can also all be downloaded from the publisher's Web site. (Some will wonder why so many were printed: even programmers aren't likely to need all the included multi-page code fragments, which make for uncomfortable reading and are more accessible and useful in a digital format.)

The information here, however, goes seriously deep. Harmon doesn't just tell you what you can do, but what you can't, what happens when you try, and why it happens. He covers type libraries, automation, ActiveX controls (including lots of background on why you should use ActiveX when Delphi provides its own VCL format, VCL to ActiveX gotchas and distribution issues). He also gets into DCOM, structured storage and Windows shell programming.

Delphi COM Programming is part of a series looking at programming areas in massive detail. This title succeeds brilliantly in its mission. With COM underpinning most serious Windows programming, this book needs to be on every Delphi developers shelf.--Steve Patient

Microsoft COM is prevalent throughout Windows operating systems—95, 98, NT-and is rapidly becoming the programming framework of choice. To build applications which interface with Windows systems, programmers must understand and learn to use COM. This book includes coverage of DCOM, Microsoft¿s distributed architecture that is based on COM. It will also covers the latest developments in Delphi 5. This book will teach COM programming to Delphi 4 and 5 programmers. After providing an understanding of the COM framework, it offers a practical exploration of COM to enable Delphi developers to program component-based applications. Typical real-world scenarios, such as Windows Shell programming, automating Microsoft Agent, and creating and using ActiveX controls, will be explored. Discussion of each topic will be illustrated with detailed examples.

Microsoft COM is prevalent throughout Windows operating systems—95, 98, NT-and is rapidly becoming the programming framework of choice. To build applications which interface with Windows systems, programmers must understand and learn to use COM. This book includes coverage of DCOM, Microsofts distributed architecture that is based on COM. It will also covers the latest developments in Delphi 5. This book will teach COM programming to Delphi 4 and 5 programmers. After providing an understanding of the COM framework, it offers a practical exploration of COM to enable Delphi developers to program component-based applications. Typical real-world scenarios, such as Windows Shell programming, automating Microsoft Agent, and creating and using ActiveX controls, will be explored. Discussion of each topic will be illustrated with detailed examples.

Eric Harmon is Director of Software Development at Advanced Estimating Systems, Inc.¿located in Delray Beach, Florida. Advanced Estimating Systems is the developer of The EDGE, the industry standard in construction estimating software. Eric is also a member of TPX (TurboPower eXperts), a volunteer group of programmers that assists the TurboPower Software Company in providing support for its newsgroups. Turbopower is one of the premier providers of tools coded in Delphi for Delphi programmers. Eric was recruited by TurboPower as the original member of TPX in 1997. Eric has been programming professionally in Turbo Pascal, Delphi, and Microsoft Visual C++ since 1983. He has also contributed Delphi and COM-related articles to Visual Developer Magazine. Eric can be reached at Eric.Harmon@tpx.turbopower.com.