Murach’s C++ 2008

Finally, a great training and reference book for Visual C++ by Dr. Prentiss Knowlton, an instructor of C++ since its inception. This book helps you master C++ 2008 quickly and easily by using all the time- and work-saving features of Visual Studio. That’s true whether you’re a:

• Java developer who wants to learn Visual C++
• C# or Visual Basic developer who wants to master another .NET language
• C++ developer who wants to move into .NET
• new programmer starting from scratch

Murach’s C++ 2008 will show you how to:

• create bulletproof applications like a professional
• develop object-oriented applications using business classes, inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces, and generics
• compile, run, and enhance legacy C and native C++ code on the .NET platform
• learn more about native C++ (if you should ever need to do that)
• have another set of skills to make you more valuable on the job

To ensure mastery, this book presents 12 complete, real-world applications that demonstrate best programming practices. And, all of the information is presented in the distinctive Murach “paired-pages” style that allows for self-paced training and reference, just like Murach’s best-selling C# book.

What makes this book so effective? Here are several things it does that other C++ books don’t do:

#1: The OOP section deals with business objects, not cats and dogs
Object-oriented programming is the basis for C++ and C#. But while other books try to explain it using whimsical examples (like mammals or cars), this book explains it in terms of true business objects, like customers, invoices, and products. So right from the start, you’ll see how OOP is applied in the real world.

#2: Complete applications show how all the pieces interact
The key to mastering C++ development is to have plenty of real-world examples that show you how the features you’re learning interact…and that help you avoid the problems that you can run into as you build complex applications. That’s why this book gives you complete applications for everyday business functions (these can be downloaded for free from the Murach website).

#3: The paired-pages format lets you set your own pace
Murach books have a distinctive format, where each two-page spread presents a single topic. You can read every page if you’re new to the subject…skim or skip material you already know…quickly pinpoint the reference details you need when you’re on the job…use the book however it works best for you. To see how this works, you can look at some pages in “Look Inside” above or download sample chapters for free from the Murach website.

#4: The last chapter shows how to work with legacy C and native C++ code
One thing you won’t find in any other C++ book: The last chapter shows you how legacy C and native C++ code that’s 10, 20, even 30 years old, will run unchanged on the .NET platform. That means you can port legacy applications to the .NET platform or use tested and proven code to create new .NET applications.

#5: The approach in this book has been proven to work!
Since C++ now parallels C#, Pren aligned the content and organization of Murach’s C++ 2008 with the best-selling Murach’s C# 2008. That means you can take advantage of an approach that’s been proven effective for thousands of developers in the last 5 years. It means that readers already familiar with the C# book can learn C++ in record time. And it means that if you page through the books side-by-side, you can gain a synergistic understanding of both languages.

Table of Contents

Section 1 An introduction to Visual Studio
Chapter 1 How to get started with Visual Studio
Chapter 2 How to design a Windows Forms application
Chapter 3 How to code and test a Windows Forms application

Section 2 The C++ language essentials
Chapter 4 How to work with numeric and string data
Chapter 5 How to code control structures
Chapter 6 How to code methods and event handlers
Chapter 7 How to handle exceptions and validate data
Chapter 8 How to work with arrays and collections
Chapter 9 How to work with dates and strings
Chapter 10 More skills for working with Windows forms and controls
Chapter 11 How to debug an application

Section 3 Object-oriented programming with C++
Chapter 12 How to create and use classes
Chapter 13 How to work with indexers, delegates, events, and operators
Chapter 14 How to work with inheritance
Chapter 15 How to work with interfaces and generics
Chapter 16 How to organize and document your classes

Section 4 Other skills for C++ developers
Chapter 17 How to work with files and data streams
Chapter 18 How to work with XML files
Chapter 19 How to work with legacy C and native C++ code

Appendix A How to install and use the software and files for this book