Windows Forms Programming in C# [PB,2003]

by Chris Sells

Everything changes in the Microsoft .NET Framework and the C# language, including the creation of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Windows Forms Programming in C# explains the Windows Forms (WinForms) environment to programmers who have some experience with .NET programming, and in the process (thanks to a clear and deliberate expository style) reveals a lot about .NET to less experienced developers. The overall effect is that almost every reader comes away with better knowledge of .NET, not just its user-interface libraries and behaviors. Author Chris Sells takes care to balance code samples with explanatory text, meaning that most chapters take on a characteristic "code, explanation, effect" style (in which "effect" is usually documented with a screen shot). This approach is effective, and serves both to answer "How do I..." questions and inspire "I should give that a try!" exploration. Once in a while, callouts will link two or more screen shots with a sample of code, graphically illustrating how code affects the appearance of a form and how it's represented in the Visual Studio development environment. On top of his clear teaching style, Sells calls attention to workarounds for shortcomings in the .NET environment (particularly where similar limitations don't exist in Microsoft Foundation Classes), helping to improve programmer productivity in the growing .NET environment. --David WallTopics covered: How to use the WinForms environment within the Microsoft .NET Framework. Dialog boxes, drawing, printing, and controls all are covered by means of explanations and lots of illustrative examples, and there's good coverage of the WinForms event model, too. An appendix compares MFC and the .NET Framework.

Genres: Programming, Reference

Paperback

First published September 6, 2003

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book that helped me go from "using" Windows Forms to "understanding" it. The section on 2D graphics was indispensable to me in completing a custom graphics/visualization project that I was working on at the time. The tone was a little dry, but what do you expect in a programming book? Judging from his more current writing("Programming WPF"), Chris Sells has since taken his writing skills up a notch.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

goodbye swing - i hardly knew ye