Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorial for Visual Basic Programmers provides 32 challenging programming "puzzles" that will test the skills of any intermediate or advanced Visual Basic programmer.

The problems start simply enough, with puzzles that look at the basics of Win32 API C API calls, such as retrieving error messages and graphics. However, the book quickly approaches tougher terrain, offering a series of problems on the Windows Registry. Other problem topics include programming with Remote Access Services (RAS), networked drives, and the DEVMODE structure (for polling printers and other devices). Finally, the toughest problems involve ActiveX programming and cover how to work with Global Universal Identifiers (GUIDs) and drag-and-drop file operations.

The back of the book contains hints for each puzzle, as well as complete solutions and comments. The author provides a tutorial on various aspects of VB Win32 C API programming, including C to VB data types, parameter passing (by value and by pointer) and some excellent material on how the call stack works for Windows DLLs. Two final sections discuss the Win32 Service API (for starting and stopping Win32 services) and how to access the Windows NT Event Log.

In all, this book provides expert knowledge on getting the most out of VB Win32 C API calls in a format that is always challenging and often entertaining. --Richard Dragan

Book Description
The key to accessing the power of every operating system is its application programming interface (API). Visual Basic can access only part of the Windows API without special help. To write the most powerful possible programs, VB programmers need to work with all of the API. The big problem for VB programmers in trying to do so is that all of the available documentation on the Windows API is written for C++ programmers. In other words, the directions for using the API is written in a language that VB programmers don't understand.

Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorials for Visual BasicProgrammers shows VB programmers how to turbocharge Visual Basic by teaching them how to understand Microsoft's documentation to control the entire Windows API. Appleman's unique puzzle format includes 32 sample programs that almost—but don't quite—work. Each puzzle has a solution with an in-depth explanation of the problem, why it occurs, and why the solution works. By avoiding the usual dry "lecture" style so common in technical books, this guide will keep you awake—in fact, some of the puzzles may keep you awake nights searching for a solution. And when you've finished, you'll have an understanding of the technology that will qualify you as a true API guru.

With a writing style that combines technical competence, humor, and a bit of "attitude," Appleman proves once again in this long-awaited complement to his previous bestseller, Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API, that learning advanced technology can (and should) be fun.

Download Description
The key to accessing the power of every operating system is its API (Application Programming Interface). Visual Basic can access only part of the Windows API without special help. To write the most powerful possible programs, VB programmers need to work with all of the API. The big problem for VB programmers in trying to do so is that all of the available documentation on the Windows API is written for C++ programmers. In other words, the directions for using the API is written in a language that VB programmers don't understand.

Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorials for Visual BasicProgrammers shows VB programmers how to turbocharge Visual Basic by teaching them how to understand Microsoft's documentation to control the entire Windows API. This is the long awaited complement to Dan's previous best seller, Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API.

Book Info
Presents instruction on the use of the 7500+ other API functions. Teaches how to interpret the Microsoft documentation and create declarations for even the most complex functions. Softcover. CD-ROM included.

Card catalog description
Most Visual Basic Professionals are Familiar with Dan Appleman's best-selling Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API, which teaches VB programmers how to access more than 900 core Win32 API functions. In this new companion title, Appleman teaches you the skills you need to use the 7500 + other API functions. You'll learn how to interpret the Microsoft documentation and create declarations for even the most complex functions.

About the Author
Daniel Appleman is the president of Desaware Inc., a developer of add-on products and components for Microsoft Visual Studio, including SpyWorks, StateCoder, and the NT Service Toolkit for .NET languages and VB6. He is a cofounder of Apress, a publishing company specializing in high-quality professional level books for computer programmers and IT professionals. He is the author of numerous books, including <i>Moving to VB .NET: Strategies, Concepts and Code</i>, <i>How Computer Programming Works</i>, and <i>Dan Appleman’s Visual Basic Programmer’s Guide to the Win32 API</i>, and he is the author of a series of ebooks on .NET-related topics.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

- Learn to create declarations for even the most complex functions- 11 Tutorials and API Puzzles offer programmers real world experience - - the best way to learn - Topics covered include registry, OLE, Remote Access, and more Most Visual Basic professionals are familiar with Dan Appleman's best-selling, Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API, which teaches VB programmers how wo access more than 900 core Win32 API functions. In this new title, Appleman teaches programmers how to use the over 7,000 other API functions not covered in his previous book. Readers will learn how to interpret the Microsoft documentation and create declarations for even the most complex functions. Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorial for Visual Basic Programmers features 11 tutorials that cover every aspect of declaring and calling Win32 functions from Visual Basic. In addition, a unique 32-puzzle format challenges the reader with puzzles that increase in complexity.

Author Biography: Daniel Appleman is the president of Desaware, Inc., a developer of add-on products and components for Microsoft Visual Development Tools including Visual Basic. He is also co-founder of Apress. Dan is the author of Dan Appleman's Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API, Dan Appleman's Developing COM/Activex Components with Visual Basic 6.0: A Guide for the Perplexed, Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorial for Visual Basic Programmers.

SYNOPSIS

Most Visual Basic Professionals are Familiar with Dan Appleman's best-selling Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API , which teaches VB programmers how to access more than 900 core Win32 API functions. In this new companion title, Appleman teaches you the skills you need to use the 7500 + other API functions. You'll learn how to interpret the Microsoft documentation and create declarations for even the most complex functions.

AUTHOR DESCRIPTION