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 Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
Great "intro" book, 19 Sep 2008
This book is an excellent introduction into the world of Visual Basic 2008 .NET language.
He gives you a list of the chapters you need to skip/ skim over and read thoroughly depending on your background (new programmer, coming from a different .NET language or a VB6 programmer).
He does a good job of pointing out the essentials within his book and his examples are easy enough to follow.
I've bought quite a few "Teach Yourself" books in the past and was so bored by chapter 2 that they were shelved. I've finished this now and will be looking for a book with more gritty details.
A great intro book for the novice programmer or a new programmer to the world of .NET programming.
One other important point...you do not need to purchase the Visual Basic language. You can download Microsofts free Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition and whilst the book mentions a couple of items that are only available in the bought version, but these are few and far between
Buy this book!, 22 Jun 2008
I've just started programming and I bought 'VB2008 for Dummies' which I found poor compared to other Dummies books. I decided to buy 'Step by Step' instead and I'm really glad I did. It covers everything the beginner really needs to know and alot more besides. It is extremely well written and not dry like alot of progamming books. Highly recommended!
Excellent introduction into VB 2008, 11 Jun 2008
This is an excellent introduction into the art of Visual Basic 2008 programming, from start to finish it comprehensively covers in enough detail to enable you to start cutting code.
If you're new to programming or just want to learn Visual Basic then I'd strongly recommend this book.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
Great "intro" book, 19 Sep 2008
This book is an excellent introduction into the world of Visual Basic 2008 .NET language.
He gives you a list of the chapters you need to skip/ skim over and read thoroughly depending on your background (new programmer, coming from a different .NET language or a VB6 programmer).
He does a good job of pointing out the essentials within his book and his examples are easy enough to follow.
I've bought quite a few "Teach Yourself" books in the past and was so bored by chapter 2 that they were shelved. I've finished this now and will be looking for a book with more gritty details.
A great intro book for the novice programmer or a new programmer to the world of .NET programming.
One other important point...you do not need to purchase the Visual Basic language. You can download Microsofts free Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition and whilst the book mentions a couple of items that are only available in the bought version, but these are few and far between
Buy this book!, 22 Jun 2008
I've just started programming and I bought 'VB2008 for Dummies' which I found poor compared to other Dummies books. I decided to buy 'Step by Step' instead and I'm really glad I did. It covers everything the beginner really needs to know and alot more besides. It is extremely well written and not dry like alot of progamming books. Highly recommended!
Excellent introduction into VB 2008, 11 Jun 2008
This is an excellent introduction into the art of Visual Basic 2008 programming, from start to finish it comprehensively covers in enough detail to enable you to start cutting code.
If you're new to programming or just want to learn Visual Basic then I'd strongly recommend this book.
Excellent book but not for beginners, 09 Oct 2008
Great book.Learnt a lot about how to develop applications in Excel.Would not recommend it to beginners though.
The standard text, 26 Jun 2008
Brilliant, just don't buy it until you are reasonably confident with the same authors Excel reference or similar - this is not an entry level text. Worth it for the naming conventions alone!
Excellent, 24 May 2008
If you are an Excel developer/advanced user and wanting to further your knowledge then this is the book for you. This is an excellent book overall but where it 'excels' (sorry) is in it's constant hammering home of best practise - and these skills can be transfered to other applications/languages. As many others have said - I thought I was an advanced Excel developer and that I knew it all, not so after looking at this book. I just hope they'll do an update for Excel 2007.
The best book for serious VBA applications, 17 Feb 2008
I have been building Excel models and using VBA for almost 10 years, and this is by far the best book that I have read about how to build robust VBA applications. Other books deal mainly with technical aspects of VBA, but this book also shows how to structure applications and how to put into practice the more advanced features of Excel and VBA.
If you know the basics this book will take you a new level, 26 May 2007
I have been writing Excel macros for sometime and when people wanted me to write macros for them I found this book invaluable. Before reading this my `applications' where merely taking the standard Excel interface and using the Active X functions it provides to maniple data as required. Now my applications have very specific interfaces and functions, most people who have seen them have said things like `I did not know Excel could do that'. If you are new to programming, Excel or Macro writing then this book is not for you (yet), the book is written assuming that the user knows a bit more then the basics. This book is all about creating an application, I.E using the readers existing knowledge to create that application. That said there is considerable coding included with practical examples showing how to implement the functions presented. Nearly everything is included in the accompanying CD and that is my only bug with this book, not all the code fragments are included with the result that some of the functions must be entered by the reader.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
Great "intro" book, 19 Sep 2008
This book is an excellent introduction into the world of Visual Basic 2008 .NET language.
He gives you a list of the chapters you need to skip/ skim over and read thoroughly depending on your background (new programmer, coming from a different .NET language or a VB6 programmer).
He does a good job of pointing out the essentials within his book and his examples are easy enough to follow.
I've bought quite a few "Teach Yourself" books in the past and was so bored by chapter 2 that they were shelved. I've finished this now and will be looking for a book with more gritty details.
A great intro book for the novice programmer or a new programmer to the world of .NET programming.
One other important point...you do not need to purchase the Visual Basic language. You can download Microsofts free Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition and whilst the book mentions a couple of items that are only available in the bought version, but these are few and far between
Buy this book!, 22 Jun 2008
I've just started programming and I bought 'VB2008 for Dummies' which I found poor compared to other Dummies books. I decided to buy 'Step by Step' instead and I'm really glad I did. It covers everything the beginner really needs to know and alot more besides. It is extremely well written and not dry like alot of progamming books. Highly recommended!
Excellent introduction into VB 2008, 11 Jun 2008
This is an excellent introduction into the art of Visual Basic 2008 programming, from start to finish it comprehensively covers in enough detail to enable you to start cutting code.
If you're new to programming or just want to learn Visual Basic then I'd strongly recommend this book.
Excellent book but not for beginners, 09 Oct 2008
Great book.Learnt a lot about how to develop applications in Excel.Would not recommend it to beginners though.
The standard text, 26 Jun 2008
Brilliant, just don't buy it until you are reasonably confident with the same authors Excel reference or similar - this is not an entry level text. Worth it for the naming conventions alone!
Excellent, 24 May 2008
If you are an Excel developer/advanced user and wanting to further your knowledge then this is the book for you. This is an excellent book overall but where it 'excels' (sorry) is in it's constant hammering home of best practise - and these skills can be transfered to other applications/languages. As many others have said - I thought I was an advanced Excel developer and that I knew it all, not so after looking at this book. I just hope they'll do an update for Excel 2007.
The best book for serious VBA applications, 17 Feb 2008
I have been building Excel models and using VBA for almost 10 years, and this is by far the best book that I have read about how to build robust VBA applications. Other books deal mainly with technical aspects of VBA, but this book also shows how to structure applications and how to put into practice the more advanced features of Excel and VBA.
If you know the basics this book will take you a new level, 26 May 2007
I have been writing Excel macros for sometime and when people wanted me to write macros for them I found this book invaluable. Before reading this my `applications' where merely taking the standard Excel interface and using the Active X functions it provides to maniple data as required. Now my applications have very specific interfaces and functions, most people who have seen them have said things like `I did not know Excel could do that'. If you are new to programming, Excel or Macro writing then this book is not for you (yet), the book is written assuming that the user knows a bit more then the basics. This book is all about creating an application, I.E using the readers existing knowledge to create that application. That said there is considerable coding included with practical examples showing how to implement the functions presented. Nearly everything is included in the accompanying CD and that is my only bug with this book, not all the code fragments are included with the result that some of the functions must be entered by the reader.
The best I've found, 11 Sep 2008
I'm a professional C# & WinForms developer who's moving over to ASP.NET. I've looked at a few books (and mis-purchased one) but luckily eventually found this book. The authors really know their ASP.NET, and they write about it and present it perfectly. The coverage is accurate, insightful, comprehensive (as far as I can tell), interesting and paced just right. I read it bit by bit on the train into work, and can't wait to get into the office to apply the new things I've just learned. Can't recommend this one strongly enough.
Very very good, 16 Jun 2008
I have a lot of asp.net books but this is the best by far. It's clear, well written and the examples are relevant. I've been programming .net since version 1.1, and its nice that I'm bumping into stuff that I just didn't know before. Anyway, to put it simply, I can't recommend this book enough, I've packed all my others away :)
Coverage and depth, 05 Feb 2008
What more can I say? Its all in here and with plenty of examples to show how it all works too. Nice writing style makes for easy reading - but at 1498 pages you ain't going to get through it in a day. Its great for dipping in and out of and for looking up the specifics of C#/ASP topics - or pick a chapter and enhance your knowledge.
Very, very impressed by this - its my first APress book, but it won't be my last.
Excellent book about newest technology!, 27 Jan 2008
This is excellent book for all people who's interesting learn about ASP.NET 3.5. It also serves as a great reference.
In this book You can find all interesting important information about creating powerful web application in Microsoft Technology with C#. Interesting chapters have a lot of examples,
charts, and pictures illustrated all topics in this book. I think this is the best resource about the newest web technology.
This book is good for all developers, from people who's create first application on NET Framework and for experts and professional developers. Matthew MacDonald and Mario
Szpuszta prepare book, where You can easly find everything information about development with ASP.NET, from core concepts (NET Framework strategy, working with Visual
Studio 2008) to advanced security sections and building custom controls and weparts with ASP.NET technology. Additional, writers add to book some special chapters about Linq,
AJAX and Silverlight. This is good introduction to these technology, too.
Everyday I work with building internet application and websites, and I using this book in my work. It's incredibly source of examples, best practices and information about my
favourite web technology. I have a two, the best chapters,and I like read this two, three ... and when I read this I always found new features in ASP.NET.
I like chapters about advanced user interface techniques where developers can learn about user controls, customer server controls, using JavaScript in client-side features and
GDI+ with ASP.NET applications, and chapter about development applications with Internet Information Services 7, Microsoft's premier web hosting platform.
Mathew and Mario does a great job relating everything to real world scenarios. He also provides very usable code samples.
If you are developing in ASP.NET 3.5, this is a must have book. I recommend this book for everythink who thinking about creating good and professional applications for web.
Invaluable Reference, 21 Dec 2007
A brilliant book with real indepth coverage of ASP.NET 3.5, from the new features through to Silverlight, Linq and other related subjects.
A must buy for any ASP.NET developer who quickly wants to get up to speed with the new technologies.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
Great "intro" book, 19 Sep 2008
This book is an excellent introduction into the world of Visual Basic 2008 .NET language.
He gives you a list of the chapters you need to skip/ skim over and read thoroughly depending on your background (new programmer, coming from a different .NET language or a VB6 programmer).
He does a good job of pointing out the essentials within his book and his examples are easy enough to follow.
I've bought quite a few "Teach Yourself" books in the past and was so bored by chapter 2 that they were shelved. I've finished this now and will be looking for a book with more gritty details.
A great intro book for the novice programmer or a new programmer to the world of .NET programming.
One other important point...you do not need to purchase the Visual Basic language. You can download Microsofts free Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition and whilst the book mentions a couple of items that are only available in the bought version, but these are few and far between
Buy this book!, 22 Jun 2008
I've just started programming and I bought 'VB2008 for Dummies' which I found poor compared to other Dummies books. I decided to buy 'Step by Step' instead and I'm really glad I did. It covers everything the beginner really needs to know and alot more besides. It is extremely well written and not dry like alot of progamming books. Highly recommended!
Excellent introduction into VB 2008, 11 Jun 2008
This is an excellent introduction into the art of Visual Basic 2008 programming, from start to finish it comprehensively covers in enough detail to enable you to start cutting code.
If you're new to programming or just want to learn Visual Basic then I'd strongly recommend this book.
Excellent book but not for beginners, 09 Oct 2008
Great book.Learnt a lot about how to develop applications in Excel.Would not recommend it to beginners though.
The standard text, 26 Jun 2008
Brilliant, just don't buy it until you are reasonably confident with the same authors Excel reference or similar - this is not an entry level text. Worth it for the naming conventions alone!
Excellent, 24 May 2008
If you are an Excel developer/advanced user and wanting to further your knowledge then this is the book for you. This is an excellent book overall but where it 'excels' (sorry) is in it's constant hammering home of best practise - and these skills can be transfered to other applications/languages. As many others have said - I thought I was an advanced Excel developer and that I knew it all, not so after looking at this book. I just hope they'll do an update for Excel 2007.
The best book for serious VBA applications, 17 Feb 2008
I have been building Excel models and using VBA for almost 10 years, and this is by far the best book that I have read about how to build robust VBA applications. Other books deal mainly with technical aspects of VBA, but this book also shows how to structure applications and how to put into practice the more advanced features of Excel and VBA.
If you know the basics this book will take you a new level, 26 May 2007
I have been writing Excel macros for sometime and when people wanted me to write macros for them I found this book invaluable. Before reading this my `applications' where merely taking the standard Excel interface and using the Active X functions it provides to maniple data as required. Now my applications have very specific interfaces and functions, most people who have seen them have said things like `I did not know Excel could do that'. If you are new to programming, Excel or Macro writing then this book is not for you (yet), the book is written assuming that the user knows a bit more then the basics. This book is all about creating an application, I.E using the readers existing knowledge to create that application. That said there is considerable coding included with practical examples showing how to implement the functions presented. Nearly everything is included in the accompanying CD and that is my only bug with this book, not all the code fragments are included with the result that some of the functions must be entered by the reader.
The best I've found, 11 Sep 2008
I'm a professional C# & WinForms developer who's moving over to ASP.NET. I've looked at a few books (and mis-purchased one) but luckily eventually found this book. The authors really know their ASP.NET, and they write about it and present it perfectly. The coverage is accurate, insightful, comprehensive (as far as I can tell), interesting and paced just right. I read it bit by bit on the train into work, and can't wait to get into the office to apply the new things I've just learned. Can't recommend this one strongly enough.
Very very good, 16 Jun 2008
I have a lot of asp.net books but this is the best by far. It's clear, well written and the examples are relevant. I've been programming .net since version 1.1, and its nice that I'm bumping into stuff that I just didn't know before. Anyway, to put it simply, I can't recommend this book enough, I've packed all my others away :)
Coverage and depth, 05 Feb 2008
What more can I say? Its all in here and with plenty of examples to show how it all works too. Nice writing style makes for easy reading - but at 1498 pages you ain't going to get through it in a day. Its great for dipping in and out of and for looking up the specifics of C#/ASP topics - or pick a chapter and enhance your knowledge.
Very, very impressed by this - its my first APress book, but it won't be my last.
Excellent book about newest technology!, 27 Jan 2008
This is excellent book for all people who's interesting learn about ASP.NET 3.5. It also serves as a great reference.
In this book You can find all interesting important information about creating powerful web application in Microsoft Technology with C#. Interesting chapters have a lot of examples,
charts, and pictures illustrated all topics in this book. I think this is the best resource about the newest web technology.
This book is good for all developers, from people who's create first application on NET Framework and for experts and professional developers. Matthew MacDonald and Mario
Szpuszta prepare book, where You can easly find everything information about development with ASP.NET, from core concepts (NET Framework strategy, working with Visual
Studio 2008) to advanced security sections and building custom controls and weparts with ASP.NET technology. Additional, writers add to book some special chapters about Linq,
AJAX and Silverlight. This is good introduction to these technology, too.
Everyday I work with building internet application and websites, and I using this book in my work. It's incredibly source of examples, best practices and information about my
favourite web technology. I have a two, the best chapters,and I like read this two, three ... and when I read this I always found new features in ASP.NET.
I like chapters about advanced user interface techniques where developers can learn about user controls, customer server controls, using JavaScript in client-side features and
GDI+ with ASP.NET applications, and chapter about development applications with Internet Information Services 7, Microsoft's premier web hosting platform.
Mathew and Mario does a great job relating everything to real world scenarios. He also provides very usable code samples.
If you are developing in ASP.NET 3.5, this is a must have book. I recommend this book for everythink who thinking about creating good and professional applications for web.
Invaluable Reference, 21 Dec 2007
A brilliant book with real indepth coverage of ASP.NET 3.5, from the new features through to Silverlight, Linq and other related subjects.
A must buy for any ASP.NET developer who quickly wants to get up to speed with the new technologies.
Ideal for a newcomer to ASP.NET, 02 Sep 2008
I made a decision about three months ago that I would use ASP.NET to create a new database-driven website. I immediately bought a couple of heavyweight reference books that came well recommended. However, as soon as I opened their covers I realised that my previous background as an Access VBA programmer was insufficient to let me leapfrog the early stages of the fairly steep ASP.NET learning curve.
A book called Beginning ASP.NET 3.5 seemed like an obvious choice to fill that gap. Luckily, it does that job very well. Unlike the two reference books I got initially, this is one that is worth reading from cover to cover. Imar Spaanjaars covers a very wide range of topics in the demo application that is the core of the book, without delving into them any deeper than is appropriate for the target audience (at various points, he suggests further reading if you want to investigate specific topics more thoroughly).
This book has proved invaluable in kick-starting my first ASP.NET development, which is now about halfway to completion.
Build Your Own Web Page Easily, 14 Aug 2008
I am very impressed with this book. There are many books out there to help you build a web page, but get this one - it's ideal.
The book is definitely designed for the beginner (like me) and the book is set out for you to work through as a course. It's easy to read, and contains regular practical exercises for you to follow in which you'll build an actual web site. The exercises are the key to it's success. It covers a topic, then gives you an exercise to demonstrate that topic, then does a quick review to reinforce the information.
It even gives you the information you need to get the right software to develop your web site (in this case Microsoft Visual Web Developer express edition - which is free to download) and shows you how to use that software. It does touch upon using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (which I'm using) but predominantly concentrates on Microsoft Visual Web Developer. On saying that, they are pretty much the same for the purposes of the exercises, so that isn't a problem.
The book covers things like CSS (which is used to style your web sites) and gives all code examples in both VB.net and C#.
Being a programmer already, I found the book a little simple in places, which is probably a good thing, because it means that non-programmers could pick this book up and use it. I just skip over the bits that are obvious to me.
I am really pleased I bought this. I needed to upgrade my skills to web development and this book is definitely helping me to do that. It's an absolute must.
Great introduction to ASP.NET 3.5, 28 May 2008
I've been using ASP.NET 2.0 for a few years now and wanted to find out about the new features in vers. 3.5, especially LINQ, Microsoft's new query language. Imar explains in plain English how to create a sample clean, efficient website from scratch using the best of ASP.NET 3.5's features. I've been using VB for years and am gradually switching over to C#. I found the sample code (in VB and C#) throughout the book is also a great way of learning C#. All sample code can be downloaded from Wrox's website.
The book is a great introduction to so much more than ASP.NET 3.5. Imar also introduces the reader to: Visual Web Developer Express 2008, SQL Server 2005 Express, HTML, CSS, Databases and programming (VB and C#). To summarise, £20 well spent.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent for programmers who don't know Excel, 17 May 2008
As a professional programmer I wondered whether this was going to patronise me too much; I needn't have worried, Walkenbach's approach is just right.
He tells it like it is, with plenty of good examples and real world applications for those examples. I'm sure Walkenback doesn't expect this book to teach you everything about Excel and whilst using it I searched for other examples on the 'Net which reinforced what he was teaching me.
But this was the book that provided me with the central learning experience and for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks John! A good book to start with., 09 Jun 2007
When I set out to learn a completely new technique in programming I like to start by reading a simple book, then follow that up by reading a higher level book. John Walkenbach's work is excellent for the first stage of this process. It is simply written (although I could manage without some of the "humor"), and he explains the basic techniques very well. I would argue with the "for dummies" part of the title, and would describe the book instead (apart from the humor) as suitable for the intelligent reader who starts Chapter 1 knowing little or nothing about VBA, but who is reasonably competent with Excel itself. By the end of Chapter 25, and after trying out some of the worked examples, such a reader should have a reasonable working knowledge of how to write VBA macros. Excellent for getting familiar with th VBA "basics"!, 24 Mar 2007
This book is fantastic for those who know nothing, or next to nothing about VBA programming in Excel, and want to learn the "basics" (no pun intended!).
You can read this book from cover to cover, practising examples on the way , and learning something every chapter. The author also makes reference to an accomanying website where you can download some of the programs to see them in action.
Furthermore, the book is written in very good humour, and you can have a laugh at the same time!
It is however very much a beginner's book, and does not go into great depth with VBA - if you purchase the book with that in mind then you really are on to a winner! If only I had an option to give this 6 stars !!, 13 Sep 2006
This book is a must have for anyone wanting to get to know VBA. Don't let previous books on VBA programming put you off, as these can either swing between patronising to the mega confusing (in my own experience). John Walkenbach takes you through this must have guide with patients and humour at an understandable and undaunting pace. Even when I was only half way through his book I was using the information I had gathered to streamline my many tedious excel spreadsheets and by the end of the book I wanted more. P.s. John, please bring part two !! Found this really useful, 01 Apr 2006
This book is really accessible, with loads of working examples. I needed to write a couple of custom functions for use in Excel 2002 spreadseets. And needed to get them working as addins. This book told me all I needed to know. A lot simpler to follow than some other books on this topic - such as one of the author's other books "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA". Brilliant.
Broad but neither deep nor concise, 20 Nov 2008
I can recommend this book but only to programmers experienced in an OO language.
I have only read 500 pages so far but am sufficiently annoyed that I felt the need to write a review. I have covered all the core and advanced C# features and am now heading in to the .NET assemblies section.
I have found the phrasing imprecise and the editing substandard. I am surprised that no errata has appeared on the publisher's "Pro C# 2008" web page despite it being released last year. Code examples are copious but frequently differentiate themselves very little from previous examples and could save hundreds of pages by being cut down.
Despite my criticisms, I feel that I have now gained a working knowledge of C#. I am sure that any experienced OO programmer could do the same but I shudder to think that somebody might rely on this book to introduce them to OO concepts.
To be completely subjective, I really dislike Troelsen's writing style. I had the opportunity to dip in to the text before I bought it and at that time I felt it was written in an approachable style but after 500 pages I am grinding my teeth. Sentences that equate to, "X is a feature of C# but is useless until it is made use of," are not uncommon. The phrase "to be sure" now makes me flinch. Some sentences just stagger me with their irrelevance.
It doesnt get much better than this, 23 Sep 2008
I have read a couple of the previous versions and for me Andrew is the best technical author bar none. This isnt a light book to carry around but its worth it if you have to. You might think "how can this be a good book as it covers everything" but Andrew covers every subject with enough detail so that by the end of each section you know the concept, understand what is required for that concept, and have sufficient code examples to work with and even take further. Top drawer work
Great Technical Book, 04 Jul 2008
This is a really excellent technical book that you can actually enjoy reading from cover to cover. It assumes a reasonable level of competance, but actually goes through learning C# and .NET in a way that would be an excellent beginners method too (especially if you went through every example, to which source code is available online). The author even manages to get in the odd bit of dry humour too which never goes amiss in a thick technical book such as this!
The book regularly points you at a number of web resources which the author has built up over the years which give excellent additional information about topics which are outside the scope of the book. Overall, I'd say this is one of the best technical books I have ever read.
For seasoned programmers only, 09 Jun 2008
An exhaustive reference book on all things C#... But I would disagree with some of the earlier posts that recommend this for novices. If you've been programming in other languages and you want to transfer your Knowledge to C# 2008 terms, then yes, you don't need to have read another book on C#, this is the definitive guide. There doesn't seem to be anything better out there to take you from Non-C# Professional Programmer to C# Professional Programmer. But if you're starting out from scratch in programming, you won't be programming for long if you count on this to take you from zero knowledge to pro.
From the very first pages, the reader is expected to follow streams of self-referencing jargon which will be quite clear to programmers, but to the novice, here's a little how it feels like:
[H.Mpp] is a derin picker (see chapter 59) without all the rumms and can be divided into Yoos and AD2s (unlike G.O. which objectivies even without greeling the original Z and we all know how annoying that can be!)Here's an example:
?hy/
HYYu (lks) ?
So you see how much easier it is to code in C#?
Joking aside, the point is that if you are already familiar with the jargon and what it actually refers to, this is a goldmine of information, but if you're just starting off, I would go for the Head First C# book. It'll get you up to speed in no time.
The best programming book, 13 Mar 2008
This is the scond book i bought from the same author(Andrew Troelsen) and I am glad to do so. The first book was about vb2005 and the .net framework or simlar title to this, which I liked the style and depth of explaination. This writer doesn't leave any room for confusion. He explains everything in details. This book is very useful for biggeners as well as a must a have for advanced programmers who wants to learn C#. This book is highly recommended
Great "intro" book, 19 Sep 2008
This book is an excellent introduction into the world of Visual Basic 2008 .NET language.
He gives you a list of the chapters you need to skip/ skim over and read thoroughly depending on your background (new programmer, coming from a different .NET language or a VB6 programmer).
He does a good job of pointing out the essentials within his book and his examples are easy enough to follow.
I've bought quite a few "Teach Yourself" books in the past and was so bored by chapter 2 that they were shelved. I've finished this now and will be looking for a book with more gritty details.
A great intro book for the novice programmer or a new programmer to the world of .NET programming.
One other important point...you do not need to purchase the Visual Basic language. You can download Microsofts free Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition and whilst the book mentions a couple of items that are only available in the bought version, but these are few and far between
Buy this book!, 22 Jun 2008
I've just started programming and I bought 'VB2008 for Dummies' which I found poor compared to other Dummies books. I decided to buy 'Step by Step' instead and I'm really glad I did. It covers everything the beginner really needs to know and alot more besides. It is extremely well written and not dry like alot of progamming books. Highly recommended!
Excellent introduction into VB 2008, 11 Jun 2008
This is an excellent introduction into the art of Visual Basic 2008 programming, from start to finish it comprehensively covers in enough detail to enable you to start cutting code.
If you're new to programming or just want to learn Visual Basic then I'd strongly recommend this book.
Excellent book but not for beginners, 09 Oct 2008
Great book.Learnt a lot about how to develop applications in Excel.Would not recommend it to beginners though.
The standard text, 26 Jun 2008
Brilliant, just don't buy it until you are reasonably confident with the same authors Excel reference or similar - this is not an entry level text. Worth it for the naming conventions alone!
Excellent, 24 May 2008
If you are an Excel developer/advanced user and wanting to further your knowledge then this is the book for you. This is an excellent book overall but where it 'excels' (sorry) is in it's constant hammering home of best practise - and these skills can be transfered to other applications/languages. As many others have said - I thought I was an advanced Excel developer and that I knew it all, not so after looking at this book. I just hope they'll do an update for Excel 2007.
The best book for serious VBA applications, 17 Feb 2008
I have been building Excel models and using VBA for almost 10 years, and this is by far the best book that I have read about how to build robust VBA applications. Other books deal mainly with technical aspects of VBA, but this book also shows how to structure applications and how to put into practice the more advanced features of Excel and VBA.
If you know the basics this book will take you a new level, 26 May 2007
I have been writing Excel macros for sometime and when people wanted me to write macros for them I found this book invaluable. Before reading this my `applications' where merely taking the standard Excel interface and using the Active X functions it provides to maniple data as required. Now my applications have very specific interfaces and functions, most people who have seen them have said things like `I did not know Excel could do that'. If you are new to programming, Excel or Macro writing then this book is not for you (yet), the book is written assuming that the user knows a bit more then the basics. This book is all about creating an application, I.E using the readers existing knowledge to create that application. That said there is considerable coding included with practical examples showing how to implement the functions presented. Nearly everything is included in the accompanying CD and that is my only bug with this book, not all the code fragments are included with the result that some of the functions must be entered by the reader.
The best I've found, 11 Sep 2008
I'm a professional C# & WinForms developer who's moving over to ASP.NET. I've looked at a few books (and mis-purchased one) but luckily eventually found this book. The authors really know their ASP.NET, and they write about it and present it perfectly. The coverage is accurate, insightful, comprehensive (as far as I can tell), interesting and paced just right. I read it bit by bit on the train into work, and can't wait to get into the office to apply the new things I've just learned. Can't recommend this one strongly enough.
Very very good, 16 Jun 2008
I have a lot of asp.net books but this is the best by far. It's clear, well written and the examples are relevant. I've been programming .net since version 1.1, and its nice that I'm bumping into stuff that I just didn't know before. Anyway, to put it simply, I can't recommend this book enough, I've packed all my others away :)
Coverage and depth, 05 Feb 2008
What more can I say? Its all in here and with plenty of examples to show how it all works too. Nice writing style makes for easy reading - but at 1498 pages you ain't going to get through it in a day. Its great for dipping in and out of and for looking up the specifics of C#/ASP topics - or pick a chapter and enhance your knowledge.
Very, very impressed by this - its my first APress book, but it won't be my last.
Excellent book about newest technology!, 27 Jan 2008
This is excellent book for all people who's interesting learn about ASP.NET 3.5. It also serves as a great reference.
In this book You can find all interesting important information about creating powerful web application in Microsoft Technology with C#. Interesting chapters have a lot of examples,
charts, and pictures illustrated all topics in this book. I think this is the best resource about the newest web technology.
This book is good for all developers, from people who's create first application on NET Framework and for experts and professional developers. Matthew MacDonald and Mario
Szpuszta prepare book, where You can easly find everything information about development with ASP.NET, from core concepts (NET Framework strategy, working with Visual
Studio 2008) to advanced security sections and building custom controls and weparts with ASP.NET technology. Additional, writers add to book some special chapters about Linq,
AJAX and Silverlight. This is good introduction to these technology, too.
Everyday I work with building internet application and websites, and I using this book in my work. It's incredibly source of examples, best practices and information about my
favourite web technology. I have a two, the best chapters,and I like read this two, three ... and when I read this I always found new features in ASP.NET.
I like chapters about advanced user interface techniques where developers can learn about user controls, customer server controls, using JavaScript in client-side features and
GDI+ with ASP.NET applications, and chapter about development applications with Internet Information Services 7, Microsoft's premier web hosting platform.
Mathew and Mario does a great job relating everything to real world scenarios. He also provides very usable code samples.
If you are developing in ASP.NET 3.5, this is a must have book. I recommend this book for everythink who thinking about creating good and professional applications for web.
Invaluable Reference, 21 Dec 2007
A brilliant book with real indepth coverage of ASP.NET 3.5, from the new features through to Silverlight, Linq and other related subjects.
A must buy for any ASP.NET developer who quickly wants to get up to speed with the new technologies.
Ideal for a newcomer to ASP.NET, 02 Sep 2008
I made a decision about three months ago that I would use ASP.NET to create a new database-driven website. I immediately bought a couple of heavyweight reference books that came well recommended. However, as soon as I opened their covers I realised that my previous background as an Access VBA programmer was insufficient to let me leapfrog the early stages of the fairly steep ASP.NET learning curve.
A book called Beginning ASP.NET 3.5 seemed like an obvious choice to fill that gap. Luckily, it does that job very well. Unlike the two reference books I got initially, this is one that is worth reading from cover to cover. Imar Spaanjaars covers a very wide range of topics in the demo application that is the core of the book, without delving into them any deeper than is appropriate for the target audience (at various points, he suggests further reading if you want to investigate specific topics more thoroughly).
This book has proved invaluable in kick-starting my first ASP.NET development, which is now about halfway to completion.
Build Your Own Web Page Easily, 14 Aug 2008
I am very impressed with this book. There are many books out there to help you build a web page, but get this one - it's ideal.
The book is definitely designed for the beginner (like me) and the book is set out for you to work through as a course. It's easy to read, and contains regular practical exercises for you to follow in which you'll build an actual web site. The exercises are the key to it's success. It covers a topic, then gives you an exercise to demonstrate that topic, then does a quick review to reinforce the information.
It even gives you the information you need to get the right software to develop your web site (in this case Microsoft Visual Web Developer express edition - which is free to download) and shows you how to use that software. It does touch upon using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (which I'm using) but predominantly concentrates on Microsoft Visual Web Developer. On saying that, they are pretty much the same for the purposes of the exercises, so that isn't a problem.
The book covers things like CSS (which is used to style your web sites) and gives all code examples in both VB.net and C#.
Being a programmer already, I found the book a little simple in places, which is probably a good thing, because it means that non-programmers could pick this book up and use it. I just skip over the bits that are obvious to me.
I am really pleased I bought this. I needed to upgrade my skills to web development and this book is definitely helping me to do that. It's an absolute must.
Great introduction to ASP.NET 3.5, 28 May 2008
I've been using ASP.NET 2.0 for a few years now and wanted to find out about the new features in vers. 3.5, especially LINQ, Microsoft's new query language. Imar explains in plain English how to create a sample clean, efficient website from scratch using the best of ASP.NET 3.5's features. I've been using VB for years and am gradually switching over to C#. I found the sample code (in VB and C#) throughout the book is also a great way of learning C#. All sample code can be downloaded from Wrox's website.
The book is a great introduction to so much more than ASP.NET 3.5. Imar also introduces the reader to: Visual Web Developer Express 2008, SQL Server 2005 Express, HTML, CSS, Databases and programming (VB and C#). To summarise, £20 well spent.
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