Recommended books about Delphi

Still the Best Delphi Resource--Now Fully Updated and Expanded
Whether you're new to Delphi or just making the move from an earlier version, Mastering Delphi 7 is the one resource you can't do without. Practical, tutorial-based coverage helps you master essential techniques in database, client-server, and Internet programming. And the insights of renowned authority Marco Cant�� give you the necessary knowledge to take advantage of what's new to Delphi 7--particularly its support for .NET. Coverage includes:
* Creating visual web applications with IntraWeb
* Writing sockets-based applications with Indy
* Creating data-aware controls and custom dataset components
* Creating database applications using ClientDataSet and dbExpress
* Building client-server applications using InterBase
* Interfacing with Microsoft's ADO
* Programming for a multi-tiered application architecture
* Taking advantage of Delphi's support for COM, OLE Automation, and COM+
* Taking advantage of Delphi's XML and SOAP support
* Implementing Internet protocols in your Delphi app
* Creating UML class diagrams using ModelMaker
* Visually preparing reports using RAVE
* Using the Delphi language to create your first .NET programs

I bought this book for getting one step further in delphi. But it took me ten steps further. Adviced to who need to real mastering in delphi.

This is an excellent Delphi learning & reference manual. I am finding it to be a great asset to my programming books.

Mr. Cantu has taken on an immense task condensing most of what you need to know about Delphi into a single volume. While he did a tremendous job of giving you a foundation of most aspects of Delphi, inevitably there are some areas in which you are left wanting.

I purchased this book for use at work, and for the most part - even if I have not found the exact answers to my questions - I have been able to determine the right "questions to ask" when it comes to formulating my Google queries to track down the answer I need. When it comes to Database Programming, I didn't find everything I needed in regards to ADO and had to get another book "Delphi Developers Guide to Programming with ADO" in order to make up for the sadly - very short section that Mr. Cantu devoted to the topic in this book.

Overall - this is an excellent companion for anyone who develops in Delphi. I must however offer one caveat - you will not find all of your answers here without the aid of Delphi developer websites, forums, Google, and other third party resources. I recommend this as a purchase if you understand that it is just a good reference. If you have a specialized need - I suggest trying to find your answers via the Delphi section on About.com or via DelphiBasics (download version).

yesterday I received the book by international shipping. As I have read the first 14 pages I am really satisfied with the cost that I pay. Thanks to God (to create such a man), thanks to marco and thanks to amazon of course.

In order to understand some issues related with delphi 7, the book is very helpful. But is not a step by step book. In that case I advice to look for something more especific.
This book is reality very good, an excellent work of the writer, you should buy it as a bible.

Delphi Takes a Great Leap Forward; It's Time for You to Do the Same

The latest release of Borland's Delphi is a major overhaul, featuring a brand-new IDE for both Win32 and .NET development and tons of other improvements. Mastering Borland Delphi 2005 is the best way to get up to speed, whether you're starting from scratch or have experience with an earlier version. Written by an award-winning and internationally known Delphi expert, this book shows you how to capitalize on Delphi's many advantages--including its clean language, speed of development, portability, and an active community that has produced hundreds of third-party tools.

Coverage Includes
* Writing code using the Delphi language
* Navigating the Delphi 2005 IDE
* Understanding the relationship between Delphi and Microsoft's .NET Framework
* Tapping Delphi's database support
* Using ADO.NET and the Borland Data Providers
* Developing multi-tiered applications on Win32 and .NET platforms
* Writing applications that will be portable from Win32 to .NET
* Using Indy for sockets programming
* Understanding your web development options with Delphi, including WebBroker, WebSnap, IntraWeb, and ASP.NET
* Taking advantage of Delphi's XML and web services support
* Using the ECO framework for Model-Driven Architecture

Detailed Coverage of the Delphi Language, from an OOP Perspective

In-depth Instruction in Win32 and .NET Development Using the New IDE

Learn How Much You Can Accomplish with the Combined Borland and .NET Libraries

See Why Delphi Is Now an Even Better Choice for Internet Development

Master Delphi's Many New Capabilities, Including Refactoring, Unit Testing, Database Management, and More

For subscribers of the previous mastering Delphi series this book is not going to add much to your knowledge of Delphi.
I have the Mastering Delphi 4-2005 and I haven't really opened this one as it offers nothing new.
For the beginner in Delphi this would prove as useful as Mastering Delphi 4 was for me; invaluable.

The book covers the fundaments of the Delphi 2005 programming, in an inteligent and clear way. Doing more emphasis in win32 development but not leaving alone to .NET interested.
This book mantain the expected quality for an author like Marco Cantu. An recommended choice for all Delphi developers.

Marco Cantu presents another fine in-depth Delphi book. I treat this as more of a reference rather than something you read start-finish. Its over 900 pages long and I recommend having tried Delphi for a while before picking this book up. The downloadable demos are especially helpful. Highly Recommend it.

This latest in Marco's Delphi series is a must-have for anyone who is serious about rapid Microsoft Windows systems development. In contrast to most, perhaps all, of the technical books dealing with creative development, this one is very readable, and more to the point immediately useful.

The rich code samples are immediately applicable to today's right-now applications, with background material that is succinct and helpful.

It's still applicable today for one simple reason: Delphi is still the fastest and most reliable way to build robust Windows applications, bar none. The economic impact of this simple fact is why Delphi is still being used today, despite Borland's self-induced problems, and will continue to be used for the same reason for as long as Win32 is around - probably a long, long time indeed.

DISCLAIMER: Borland wanted to do a case study on my company's use of Delphi, even after I told them I thought that their marketing department was brain dead. They compiled and published the case study, but I still believe that their marketing department is brain dead.

I found the book attractive and easy-reading. Marco Cantu boosts Delphi learner's expectations again, with this Mastering Delphi 2005 edition. The author makes learning Delphi a gentle issue, as if he's chating with you personally. Definitely, the book is a better choice for learning Delphi.

Aimed at the working Delphi developer, Delphi in a Nutshell is an effective desktop reference to this popular programming tool. Besides listing all core classes and methods, this book also provides a host of expert dos and don'ts for mastering the newest features in Delphi's Object Pascal.

The heart of this book is its reference sections on built-in Delphi language features and other useful information on this development tool. Each entry has a guide to syntax, a description of all parameters and return values, and code samples, plus many entries feature "tricks and tips" with additional information. While this title concentrates on the "core" language (instead of Delphi's extensive support for visual components), there's little doubt that it will be useful if you work with the tool on a daily basis.

The book also delivers an advanced guide to ramping up on the latest and greatest in new language features in Object Pascal. Material on using classes, and the type of information features available in today's Delphi, are particularly effective. There are a lot of smart tips on proper class design techniques, including using properties, constructors, and destructors. (Delphi has its own conventions here, and this book will fill you in if you are coming to Object Pascal from another programming language.) Along the way, the author offers numerous expert nuggets on when to use (and when to avoid) using certain features. Whether you are a novice or a more experienced developer, this tutorial and reference is all you need to be productive with the latest and greatest in object-oriented programming with Delphi. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Overview of Delphi Object Pascal, units and libraries, data and string types, exception handling, file I/O, classes and objects, inheritance, constructors and destructors, interfaces, reference counting, Windows messages, memory management strategies, virtual method tables (VMTs), properties, using TypInfo, virtual and dynamic methods, automated methods and COM, Delphi type information and RTTI, concurrent programming with threads, synchronization, thread local storage techniques, Delphi language reference, system constants, operator reference, compiler directives, code samples, and programming tips.

With a new name and a new focus on CORBA, database drivers, and Microsoft Back Office applications, Inprise/Borland Delphi is enjoying a resurgence, with a growing user base of programmers who use Delphi for rapid development of enterprise computing applications. Not to rest on success, the latest version of Delphi, Version 5, includes further expansion and refinement of the 3-tier application framework introduced in Delphi 4 and has resulted in a prize-winning product.

"Delphi in a Nutshell" is the first concise reference to Borland/Inprise Delphi available. It succinctly collects all the information you need in one easy-to-use, complete, and accurate volume that goes beyond the product documentation itself.

"Delphi in a Nutshell" starts with the Delphi object model and how to use RTTI (Run Time Type Information) for efficient programming. The rest of the book is the most complete Delphi Pascal language reference available in print, detailing every language element with complete syntax, examples, and methods for use. The book concludes with a look at the compiler, discussing compiler directives in depth.

This is an excellent desk reference book for Delphi, with great in-depth information of Delphi's Object Model, RTTI, ans SysUtil. Nonthless, be warned that it does not tell you how to write Delphi code specifically; therefore it is really not a book for Delphi beginners.

Meanwhile, this book is comparable to the classic "Inside C++ Object Model" by Stanley Lippman, but with more, let alone the English writting of this book is more concise, accurate, and easy to follow.

In a nutshell, 8 years after this book's first print, still every page, every line, and every word from this book is gem for serious Delphi developers.

Highly recommended!

Material is presented out of order and not readable to anyone who has not already mastered the subject.

This book is a fair reference for the intermediate programmer. However, it stops at Delphi 5, so it's use for those using later versions of Delphi will find a lot missing. The book is organized fairly well and it is easy to find answers to questions that are pertinent up through Delphi 5. It does have some tutorial content, but that is limited and for those seeking programming with Delphi education would be better off with other books. This book is best used as a supplement to an instructional book, like the Cantu books.

Ray has written an excellent desktop reference for Delphi. I really liked the explanation of the SysUtils unit. I found that there were functions in there that I had written myself, if I had only known I would have saved myself some time. The Language reference with the Tips and Tricks is excellent, helps make more sense of the sometimes archaic online help. My only complaint is that this is the ONLY Delphi book published by O'Reilly, I would love to see a Learning, Programming, or Mastering book!

This is a useful book that provides a good reference to Object Pascal as well as the System unit. The problem I have with it is that my copy and that of my colleague completely broke off. The publisher should pay better attention to the production of this book. I have managed to glue it back on.

This book teaches distance-learning students how to program in Delphi, a major computer language used to design a variety of programs.

If you are new to programming, and want to learn Delphi... This is your book.

I found the book interesting, and very well structured. It can take any beginner and make them a programmer in a few weeks.

The problem with most computer books for beginners, is that they are written by programmers that already know how to program. So many minor details that confuse beginners are often left out. Besides, this book is really fun.

.NET 2.0 for Delphi Programmers explores .NET from a Delphi programmers viewpoint, and it is ideal for Delphi programmers moving to .NET. It presents the core concepts of the .NET world in terms you are familiar with. This book will help you with Delphi for .NET as well as C#.

Apress publishes migration books for both VB 6 and C++ programmers moving to .NET. Consider this the Delphi installment of Apress migration books! There is ample coverage of C# as well as Delphi for .NET inside this newest addition.

The best way to go from Delphi to Net Framework. Use the Delphi skill to learn Net.

As someone who used to use Delphi almost all the time, I hate to admit that in order to stay employable today, I'm having to know and use .NET. If you find yourself in the same situation, and you want a fast-track to .NET 2.0, then this book is at the top of the list.

It's the single most used book in my collection today when it comes to .NET.

At first, I read it cover to cover. It's not hard reading like some books can be, and it made sense to me since I know Delphi.
But with Jon's writing style, it's organized in a way that I reach for it when I need a quick reference as well.

It comes with special tidbits about the inner workings of the CLR, which I always find fascinating.

I keep it at the front of my bookshelf. I've had other programmers that C++ guys come by and ask to use it. So you don't need to know Delphi to make good use of it. Borland C++ Builder users will find it an easy read as well since Builder is built on Delphi.

Five thumbs up for this one. Well done Jon!

C++Builder 6 Developer's Guide is targeted at intermediate to advanced developers who wish to develop their applications with one of the most powerful C++ implementations on the Windows platform. C++Builder 6 is a revolutionary edition of the product compared to previous versions.

Not having used C++Builder for several years, I was looking forward to reading this one to learn the new bits of v6, and pick up some pointers on BDE while getting there. The book was very frustrating to me. There are some people who can explain topics in an easy-to-follow fashion. The author of this book excels at making topics as complex as possible, using multisyllabic words whenever possible, and just generally trying to appear erudite. Opening the book at random, I came across this sample: "A web application module is typically a TWebAppPageModule object or a TWebAppDataModule object. The TWebAppPageModule component should be used if our application is to generate at least one web page; in other words, our application is of page module type. (p307)" I'm not planning on throwing it away, but it's not a book to keep by the computer. For many topics, I can get more useful information from Borland's on-line help.This book feels like a surface skim of BCB6, with the occasional deep dive with extremely specific examples. I should have figured that at a bit over a third the size of C++Builder 5: A Developers Guide, quite a bit would be missing, particularly with all the cool new components in BCB6. For example, under "Developing custom components", the author states that this is a topic that could occupy an entire book. He then gives two pages of notes and code fragments that did not help me at all. CB5:ADG above, on the other hand, has an entire chapter, 74 pages, and actually provides the information needed for the task. Why bother including this topic if the information is useless?I also have to admit, I found the fact that the author had to come here and respond to critics with five stars not only amusing, but worth taking one star away from my own review (which otherwise would have been three stars). This is by no means a five star book.

I am the author of this book, and I feel I should write a response to this review made by "A Reader" from NY,NY on March 10, 2003, which, in my opinion, is made without going through the book in detail, or even attempting to use the examples. This book is certainly not on the C++ language; however, it is written for C++Builder developers very carefully to bring out many features not documented in the manuals. Extensive set of example projects are created throughout the book making sure that these programs compile and execute well. Extensive editing has been done by me and the publisher to minimise the possibility of errors. The book is written to be useful for both newcomers and experienced professionals. Obviously every book will not satisfy every need of every individual; however, it does not mean the book is useless. Book reviews are really appreciable when they bring out both the strengths and weakneses of the book in DETAIL rather than just a simple sentence; then only reviews are useful to the potential buyers. In addition, the book is really handy, without compromising on the quality of contents, and one can carry it easily and read while in travel also, not like the bulky books which are difficult to carry.

This is not the book to buy on the subject of C++ Builder 6. Save your money on this one and go with Borland's development guide on C++ Builder 6.

Unlike many other books written on C++ related technologies, this book discusses all the new technologies supported by C++Builder, and fundamentals of desktop and database development with the same level of emphasis. With regard to database development all the three technologies supported by Borland, BDE, ADO and the new dbExpress are discussed at length. This book is as useful to a new C++Builder developer interested in learning C++Builder, as it is to an experienced developer who is interested only in advanced development concepts of the product. This is a notable feature of the book. In nut shell, new developers will be benefited by the whole book, while the advanced developers will be benefited by about two thirds of the book. In my opinion, the author is very smart in choosing the book's contents to make it useful for every kind of reader.

This book serves well both novices and experts by providing answers to technical questions such as simple "how to" s, as well as presenting useful pointers on rather complex concepts that make further research easier. The author does an excellent job of helping readers comprehend and appreciate the overwhelming features of C++ builder, by offering a step by step approach in explaining fundamentals as well as advanced concepts. This book explains in clear and simple terms why C++ builder is not just a compiler but a feature packed, fully integrated development environment, which is essential for developing high performing, user friendly applications. The chapter on C++ advanced concepts does a commendable job in jogging your C++ memory. The first part of the book covers in great depth how to use the set of tools provided by C++ builder to develop database applications with ease and effectiveness. The author presents in great detail how to take advantage of the features of C++ builder to develop simple, as well as advanced database applications. Part two provides the web developers using Borland technology an excellent source of information along with examples to understand the difference among verity of proprietary architectures currently available. Finally, an entire chapter on advanced topics is well justified and serves as a prelude to upcoming technology innovations. Quite simply, this book is a must have for all serious developers using Borland Technology.

Starting with a detailed description of Delphi and C++ languages, this book covers the essential topics such as conditions, loops, strings and arrays, procedures and functions, file I/O, and pointers and gives an introduction to OOP before venturing into

The book covers from basic to more complex themes. So it can be very useful to completely new users and to the more experienced ones, as a shelf reference as well. I recommend.

I have been a Delphi programmer for a number of years and read many Delphi books and this is by far the most basic. It is also the most difficult to follow. The Mr. Hladni mixes Delphi and C++Builder into one presentation. So if your interest is only Delphi (which seems to be implied by the book title) then take about half of the 727 pages and throw them out. Another difficulty in the manor of his approach is the examples his uses. The examples in the first 10 chapter are console applications - get real DOS. I had the feeling that he pulled parts of old material together and manufactured this book. I have always been critical of the example code that books use for their simplicity. This book goes to the extreme. The best example of this simplicity is chapter 23, Creating Win32 API Applications. All of the examples used in the chapter are basic components of Delphi - forms, buttons, list, etc. Delphi hides this complexity from programmers and there is very little need to create a form using direct API calls, so why doesn't he have examples that are more pertinent? If I were a non-experienced Delphi programmer and I read this chapter and I would come away confused at why I would want to create a Win32 API program. As an experienced programmer I found this chapter a waste of time and skipped through the material in about 2 minutes.

When he did address newer features than Pascal coding from the 1980s he did not point out or almost never that it was new/modified, whatever, the reason for the change much less the significance of the change. Needless to say you will not find a chapter entitled "New Features of Delphi 2006" and sadly that is the reason I bought this book.

If you are new to Delphi then you may find this to be a good primer, but I would suggest that as soon as you complete the book to get another to expand your knowledge of the current product (Mastering Delphi 2005 by Cantu for starters). For experienced programmers this book is a waste of time and money.

As a long time Delphi programmer from v1 through v7, C++ Builder programmer from v1 through v3, and Kylix programmer from v1 through v3, I found this book to be a very useful "nutshell" type book which provides both Delphi and C++ examples throughout.

As others have noted though, this is not the book you want if you expect more than cursory treatment [...]- I didn't so I wasn't disappointed.

Well written to boot.

I know Assembly, C, and C++, and until I read this book, did not know any Pascal. I got the book mainly to help me with Borland Developer Studio 2006. The last version I purchased from Borland was C++ Builder 4.0 and I wanted (in hard copy so I could read away from the computer) to understand the differences between the compilers. The book is written mostly for Pascal programmers, but it does a decent job covering C++.

A lot of the programs, utilities, and examples I see from various sources are in Pascal. I decided now was as good a time to learn a new language as any. For my situation, this book was the perfect choice. I could read the C++ code then use that understanding to help me learn Pascal, all while becoming familiar with Borland's new environment.

The book itself is fairly well written, though many parts are difficult to follow. It is not the right book for a new programmer - but compared to other programming books, it is a gem. If you buy this book, expect to spend time tweaking some of the examples to make them work, and don't expect to be told everything you need to complete the lessons. With that said, there was nothing I could not make work or figure out with a little thinking - which actually turned out to be a good thing because I learned quite a bit. There are also many good Windows programming techniques and ideas, which are quite valuable themselves.

My overall impression? All serious Borland BSD users should have this book on their shelf.

I have several years of experience with C/C++ using MFC and Borland C++ Builder, and I have long been planning to expand my knowledge to Delphi. To this end, I found this book extremely well written with plain, well orgnized and easy to understand English. Albeit English is not my native language but it took me just 3 hours to finish reading almost half of the book (near 300 pages) with much enjoyment and I feel I already have a good jump start with Delphi. Of course, I guess the presented material might appear too fundamental to Delphi masters, but it is definetly a good book for someone who already have some experience with C/C++ but want to learn Delphi.

Some have complained .NET is only covered at the miminum. But to me this is acceptable since I can find information from other books once I get a hold of Delphi in general. In short, this is a very good book and I would happily rate it with 5 starts.

Continued Comments by the same reviwer after one year:
Delphi in a Nutshell by Ray Lischer, would be a very good subsequent reading after this book.

Also, this book doesn't touch on Web Services, XML programming, Refactroing, and Unit Testing. These stuff can be found from CodeGear website --- they have very good Webinar series on the topics that would compliment this book.

Whether you class yourself as just a beginner or have long been a lover of Borland's much-acclaimed object-oriented development tool, Mastering Delphi 6 has plenty to offer you. Written by world-renowned Delphi expert Marco Cant��, this edition, marking the release of Delphi 6, continues the tradition of excellence, balancing attention to detail with the author's unfussy, very readable style, which makes this a book that's accessible to all. While you will need an understanding of the basics of Pascal, even that is catered to by the inclusion of an easy-to-understand Pascal tutorial as one of the four bonus "chapters" on the accompanying CD-ROM. The CD-ROM also includes example source code and the full searchable text of the book in Acrobat format.

Much of the introductory material included in previous editions has been removed in favor of plenty of exposure to the enhancements available in Delphi 6. Among others, these include CLX, the new cross-platform component library, dbExpress, the new database engine, and Delphi's extensive support for e-business and Web development. There is also improved coverage of some of Delphi's longer-standing features.

Designed in a tutorial format, this book bristles with practical programming. In all, there are around 300 examples, each one supported by Cant��'s clear explanation of the key skills in view. From the foundations of Delphi's object-oriented class library through to a whole section devoted to building Web applications, no information is left unexplored. If you are looking to lever your skills and harness the power of Delphi 6 for your applications, look no further than this excellent resource. --Peter Lunn, Amazon.co.uk

Still the Best Delphi Resource

A Fully Revised Version of the Book That Won the Delphi Informant Readers Choice Award

If you're looking to capitalize on the powerful capabilities of the latest release of Delphi, Mastering Delphi 6 is the one resource you can't do without. Practical, tutorial-based coverage helps you develop key skills, solve tough problems, and build and implement sophisticated functionality in your database, client/server, and Internet applications. The special insights of Delphi expert Marco Cantu you an extra advantage as you complete successful projects and progress towards Delphi mastery.

Coverage includes:

• Getting to know the new run-time library (RTL)
• Learning to use the VCL and CLX visual libraries
• Developing custom components
• Creating data-aware controls and custom datasets
• Mastering database programming with BDE and dbExpress
• Mastering client/server programming with InterBase
• Interfacing with Microsoft's ADO using the dbGo component set
• Taking advantage of Delphi's support for COM, OLE Automation, and COM+
• Programming for a multitiered application architecture
• Taking advantage of Delphi's support for XML and SOAP technologies
• Building practical, powerful Web applications

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

I have had other books by Marco Cantu, including "Mastering Delphi 4". His style of writing is gentle, albeit at times a bit repetitive. He certainly has an over all grasp of Delphi and the "ancient history" of Borland leading up to it and demonstrates a close relationship with the company. His coverage of the "Visual Pascal" portion of the Delphi suite is helpful and fairly complete. Overall I rate this book ****.

The missing * is based on inadequate (in my opinion) coverage of graphics and printing. However, this might be more the result of Borland's inadequate facilities for these two important (to me, at least) areas of development. It seems that development environments have moved away from non-Web based software, and this trend is reflected in books of this calibre.

I did have a problem with the CD that is included with the book. On the CD is an Ebook version of the text. Unfortunately the Ebook wouldn't work on my computer. It turns out that Adobe made some changes to version 8 of Acrobat Reader which causes the Ebook to fail. The only "solution" Sybex offered was to install Acrobat Reader 4.0 from the CD after removing version 8 from the computer. They also told me that version 8 could then be reinstalled. They obviously did not try this, since it doesn't work. A side effect of simply leaving version 4.0 on the computer is that my e-mail client (Mozilla) no longer knows how to handle .PDF attachments. They (Sybex) have a lot of excuses of the form "The book was published in 2001..."

I bought this book to learn Delphi. I have no prior experience in it. I am not even 4 pages into the book, and the author is already telling me that he is not going into any details on the basics of Delphi, but instead, is going to focus on enhancements concerning Version 6. He already assumes I am familiar with the Delphi IDE, and if I am not, I can go to his website and get the information I need. I went to his website, and it is more confusing than the book (needless to say, I cant find his "step by step instructions on Delphi IDE). I think this guy needs to jump off of "cloud 9", and step back down into the real world. I want to learn Delphi, not write a thesis on it, or go off on some intellectual space fantasy into the cosmos. I just want to learn Delphi! This book has over 1000 pages, and already assumes you know Delphi!

I've read Mastering Delphi 3 and 6 and while Marco Cantu does a good job of exposing Delphi to beginners, his style is VERY lacking when it comes to advanced techniques. I also feel he is somewhat condescending in his explanation of technical matters and assumes that his reader is a near-complete neophyte (well that could also explain the popularity of his books). Still, the website complementing his books does show an effort to make it useful and attractive to his audience.Fairly experienced programmer will find that his writing style in the Mastering Delphi series hobbles learning as in the effort to sound more 'friendly' by not adopting deeper technical terms he takes two paragraphs to explain something which a couple of sentences should suffice to.

Just got this book the other day. Not too much of beginners book if you don't know Pascal. Worthwhile though for Delphi though. I'll learn the Pascal as I go along. There are other books for Pascal as well as the authors own website. Great book so far.

I have little to say other than this book is exceptional. All items are well covered and specific emphasis is placed on the latest changes to the Delphi IDE as well as the latest new features in Delphi 6 (which are superb). The code examples are clear, bug free and pertinent to the topic at hand. The author's style of writing is superb. His tone is set at the right level, being both factual and very readable. The moment the book arrived, I couln't put it down.I was a little annoyed that the section on the Pascal language was relegated to the CD, and I felt the section on SQL was sparse (also in pdf format, and on the CD only). However one could validly argue that this book is geared towards the intermediate + level of programmer, and the reader should already be familiar with these topics. Advanced programmers (a status which I have not yet attained) may be disappointed with topics covered in the client/server sections.5 stars, once again Mr Cantu! Strongly recommended for intermediate programmers.

This title brings the popular three-week tutorial format to aspiring Delphi 4 programmers, combining plenty of hands-on knowledge of the most essential features of Delphi 4, including its strong database capabilities. This book is a good choice for the beginner or intermediate programmer who wants to get a solid foundation in Delphi 4 development in a minimal amount of time.

The book begins with the basics of the Delphi programming environment and object-oriented Pascal. The author then explains the fundamentals of developing with the Visual Component Library (VCL) and discusses how to build basic user interfaces and menus using Delphi 4 design tools. This first section also includes excellent material on graphics and multimedia programming.

Further chapters examine the basics of building database programs, again using Delphi wizards. More advanced topics include building and using dynamic link-libraries (DLLs) and ActiveX components, plus creating Web-browser applications with Delphi's support for Internet controls.

Though this tutorial stresses the basics, there's quite a bit of material here on the finer points of programming using the built-in abilities of Delphi. There's also good attention to using the wizards and tools that help make Delphi a much more productive environment. --Richard Dragan

Sams Teach Yourself Delphi 4 in 21 Days contains 750 pages of all new content. The tutorial information for programmers and developers will include complete coverage of Delphi 4's enhanced features with a client/server emphasis. Topics will include compatible component development, enterprise-wide integration, Internet enabling tools, Intranet development and beginning coverage of Borland's MIDAS architecture. No other tutorial offers this level of coverage. A Sams Teach Yourself book is the perfect introduction to an upper-level development tool such as Delphi. Note: This book and CD will be an all new edition - both book and CD content.

I purchased this book, without having any background in programming in any computer language, except a small amount of Basic & HTML, hoping for fast results. The truth is that although the book is comprehensive and user friendly, it relys heavily on a pre existing knowledge of the subject matter and is really NOT for the absolute beginner. My only other observation would be the constant "I'll cover that part later" aspect of the text, which is very frustrating, and makes the reader want to skip ahead to consolidate learning. I would certainly recommend this book, but only as an addition to the library of someone who knew a great deal about Delphi first, without which 21 days is optomistic at best!

After reading all the reviews this book had I was very surprise to see how terrible this book is. Make sure not to buy this book I was very very disapointed, it is supposed to be for an intrudoctory level, but this book is way below that, the only person who should by this book is someone who has never used a computer. This is very disapointing considerint other Sam publication. Botom Line DON BUY THIS BOOK

An ideal book for anyone who wishes to begin learning Delphi (version 4, 5 or 6). I an experienced Visual Basic programmer and purchased Delphi 5 hoping to use the on-line documentation to learn Delphi but found it too advanced and not an ideal learning environment. (On-line help tends to be a great reference tool but it's always hard to learn from.) I then purchased the Delphi Developer��s Guide, which seems to be regarded as the best book on the subject. Although a superb book in its own right, its not aimed at beginners. I have now completed the Sam��s Delphi 4 in 21 days, and let me say, it��s a terrific book for beginners, which teaches in a lesson format, which is actually surprisingly easy and fun to follow. Don��t be put off by the Version 4 title either, all the lessons work just fine in Delphi 5.

I used this book as my introduction to Delphi and found it useful, but less than ideal.The early chapters of the book gave a good introduction to the basics of Delphi programming, and in particular the many tricks which Delphi has to make programming easier.If all you intend to do is produce a program to present databases in a particular way this book will probably meet your needs fine. My reservations relate to the presentation of information about the language itself. The explanation of the various features of classes seemed sketchy, and left me unsure of when I should use what sort of features. I had hoped that the chapter on "Advanced programming techniques" would help, but this focused on elements which "polish" a programme, but don't bridge the gap to a finished application of any real complexity.I didn't bother finishing the last few chapters on matters such as producing components and DLLs as I felt I needed to learn more about classes, properties and datastreams before I would benefit.

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. IF YOU ARE A PROGRAMMING BEGINNER, DON`T BUY IT. THERE ARE MANY BASIC PROGRAMMING SUBJECTS IN THIS BOOK THAT AREN`T EXPLAINED VERY WELL, GO AND FIND SOME BASIC PROGRAMMING BOOK FOR BEGINNERS.IN THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU ARE A C++ BUILDER, VISUAL BASIC OR ANY OTHER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE PROGRAMMER THAT WANTS TO LEARN DELPHI, THIS BOOK WILL REALLY HELP YOU GET THE BASICS OF THE BEST AND MOST POWERFULL DEVELOPMENT TOOL THAT IS DELPHI. IF THIS IS YOUR CASE, DON`T WASTE YOUR TIME AND CLICK THE ADD TO CART BUTTON RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!! BUY IT!!!!THE END OF CHAPTERS EXCERCISES AND QUESTIONS REALLY HELP YOU TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE.ANOTHER GOOD BOOK FROM KENT REISDORPH!! GOOD JOB!!

@CATEGORY = Programming Languages (CC00)@TITLE = Programming and Problem Solving with Delphi@AUTHOR = Mitchell C. Kerman Programming and Problem Solving with Delphi teaches beginners how to program using Delphi, and assumes no prior programming experience. Throughout, it emphasizes sound problem solving and programming skills, and is designed with numerous screen shots to demonstrate this visual language. The book includes a CD-ROM of Delphi 5 so readers have access to the latest features of the language. Delphi is an object Pascal-based language that is widely used in the corporate sector. As a point of comparison, Delphi is a similar language to Visual Basic yet is more robust. This book covers Windows-based programming concepts such as OLE, DDE and ActiveX components. It provides a full chapter on debugging, and includes numerous appendices on the user interface, debugging, Delphi error codes, and more, also making this an excellent language reference. This is the first book designed to teach Delphi programming to those without any programming experience.@ISBN = 0-201-70844-2@MAINCAT = Programming Languages@DATALINE1 = 2002, 560 pages, 8 3/8 x 10 7/8@DATALINE2 = Paper, $45.75k

This is a fantastic book for newcomers to Delphi, but with a shortcoming for some potential readers:

1. Kerman teaches not only Object Pascal/Delphi in a clear, concise progression, but also the basics in efficient design while solving real world implementation problems.

2. Object Oriented Programming is integrated by the very nature of using Delphi objects, and later in the book, Kerman introduces additional Object Oriented Programming (OOP) fundamentals.

3. Unlike nearly every other Delphi text I've read aimed at Delphi newcomers, this book ensures the reader learns, understands, and integrates efficient problem solving along the way.

4. Finally, Kerman includes excellent exercises and quizzes to verify and challenge your learning in each chapter.

5. My only negative critique (and the reason I only give the book four stars) is that the book does not include solutions to the end-of-chapter exercises and quizzes. (The solutions are located online for instructors only, which makes it difficult if you are teaching yourself). You also will not have access to the book's errata unless you complete online student registration with Addison/Wesley/Pearson Tech/(etc.). The reason this book is so expensive is because it's been adopted as a teaching text, and all textbooks are expensive because they can be. Sad but true.

Having said that, I do not believe you'll find a better introduction to Delphi/Object Pascal anywhere.

Very well laid out and explained. The high price is probably because delphi 5 is included.Would recommend to everyone.

I agree with the previous reviewers. The book is helpful with developing a basic understanding of Delphi, but it is overpriced compared to other Delphi books on the market.

This book [was expensive to me] because it is a textbook, and as we all know, there's no getting around the price of a textbook. I'm not currently attending class, but purchased this book anyway. I found it extremely well laid out, very descriptive, and informative. I went from knowing very little about Delphi, to knowing quite a bit. This book has all the little bits of information the less formal books leave out. A great book! If I had one complaint, it was of the lack of attention to some of the higher programming skills, chapters like DDE were very short indeed, but gave you enough to know what they did. This is a beginners book, make no mistake. If you're just learning Delphi, it's great. I believe this was made with Delphi 5, but there are so few differences, you'll never notice.

Programming and Problem Solving with Delphi is clearly laid out and provides good information for people new to Delphi. As a self-trained programmer migrating from Visual Basic to Delphi I found it quite useful, but I question its value to experienced Delphi campaigners. I also cannot work out why it's so [pricey].