Programming Windows with C#: Amazon.co.uk: Charles Petzold: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Aimed at aspiring C# programmers of all levels, legendary Windows expert Charles Petzold's Programming Windows in C# provides an extremely in-depth and intelligent tutorial to the APIs underpinning Microsoft's .NET Framework.

For a generation of programmers Petzold's Programming Windows, The Definitive Guide to the Win32 API book provided a virtual bible of how to get started with Windows development. This massive, handsomely bound hardcover edition attempts the same breadth of coverage for Microsoft's new C# language and the new .NET. With several examples clearly inspired by the earlier C title, this book demonstrates the author's keen eye for showing off and explaining the capabilities of low-level APIs to good effect.

The book first outlines basic "Hello World" examples for both a console and Windows Forms. Next, there's coverage of basic support classes (such as points and rectangles) before turning toward using these structures in extensive sections on graphics programming. Petzold's traditional strengths as a computer author are in ample evidence here, with many short examples presented that exercise the capabilities of the new .NET APIs.

Veteran readers will recognise the basic shape of the early Win32 title in the organisation of this (completely rewritten) C# version in the flow of topics from graphics, keyboard, mouse and timers and the like. (One production note here is that the order of later chapters does jump around somewhat, circling back to graphics topics several times instead of presenting related APIs in order.)

The sections on graphics transforms and how to manipulate images are worthy of note. There's excellent coverage of the possibilities of working with text and fonts output in. NET. Nifty working samples for several types of clocks and shape-drawing demos will let you explore graphical APIs in detail.

Several chapters cover basic Windows forms, control programming with buttons, labels and edit controls, then splitters, ListView and TreeView controls. This volume closes out with references to files and streams, math and string APIs. For any developer who wants to create state-of-the-art, "traditional" client-side software, this book is sure be required reading for its in-depth look at graphics and other leading-edge .NET features. It proves once again that learning low-level APIs in detail is still a good way to learn Windows programming. --Richard Dragan

Product Description

“Look it up in Petzold” remains the last word on Windows development. In this .NET-ready Windows programming guide, the best-selling author shows you how to get the most out of Windows Forms—the next-generation Windows programming class library. You’ll discover how to use C# to create dynamic user interfaces and graphical outputs for Windows applications. With dozens of examples of client applications to illustrate common techniques and plenty of no-nonsense advice on best programming practices, you’ll be C# sharp in no time. Topics covered in this guide include:

A tour of C#
Windows Forms
Essential structures
An exercise in text output
Lines, curves, and area fills
Tapping into the keyboard
Pages and transforms
Taming the mouse
Text and fonts
The timer and time
Images and bitmaps
Buttons, labels, and scrolls
Béziers and other splines
Menus
Paths, regions, and clipping
Dialog boxes
Brushes and pens
Edit, list, and spin controls
Font fun
Toolbars and status bars
Printing
Tree view and List view
Metafiles
Clip, drag, and drop

INCLUDED ON CD-ROM: * Sample source code for all the examples presented in the book

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to booktech@oreilly.com.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

The classic book revised for .Net 21 Jan 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is essentially the same content as his classic book, which has remained the classic API manual for Windows GUI programming for over 10 years.

This book does not examine the whole .Net framework. It concentrates of GDI+ and Windows Forms; essentially the same content as his previous book, but updated for the new technology.

This book will undoubtedly be the technical 'bible' for these areas in the .Net framework for its breadth and depth, combined with Petzold's easy to follow style.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Another classic 18 Nov 2003

By S. Spencer

Reading some of the other reviews might well give you the idea you won't learn much from this book. Unlike the Visual Studio based stuff, it doesn't cover how to use the IDE to create forms and projects. However, it does show you how to use the .NET framework from C#, just as "Programming Windows" showed you how to use the Windows API from C.

In my experience, knowledge of what's happening behind the scenes of a flashy IDE or wizard will help you make your code more reliable, more robust, and give you a better understanding of the development as a whole.

It's an ideal book to start with, especially if you take into account the fact you don't NEED to buy any software to make use of it. You can just download the 1.1 Framework and SDK, a copy of SharpDevelop, and you can start learning today!

I also have the Troelsen book, and it would be very hard to choose between them. The subjects in Petzold are all familiar, since I've been developing under Windows for some time, so it would really be a question of whose style you prefer. (I bought both).

All in all, an excellent first C#/.NET book to have.

Good introduction for a new Windows C# programmer. 4 July 2002

By Adam Pridmore

I think I was expecting more from this book. Its content is probably more aimed at introducing new programmers to Windows C# programming, and not Win32/MFC converts. It doesn't cover any detail into .Net and how C# applications run in the clr which is a shame. I think it would be an excelent place for new windows programmers to start, and a good quick reference for Win32/MFC programmers to get up to speed with basic User/GDI programming in C#. Very clearly written, with good examples.

If you've read Petzolds original classic on programming windows, this is it converted to C#, with a few extras.