If you are building or modifying Web pages and want to control browsers, create and manipulate windows and images dynamically, work with smart forms, and interact with visitors, you could benefit from this book.

JavaScript is limited for security to working only within each individual visit, but the authors show how you can use JavaScript with Java, your servers and your visitors to broaden your capabilities.

This is a how-to book for Web builders. It is not for those who haven't worked with Web pages. It minimizes theory and explanation in favor of demonstration. It does not teach HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, Java, nor even JavaScript, but it does provide everything you need to add code to your pages that will successfully employ all these features to make your pages much more effective.

Over its four editions this book has increased from 190 pages to a hefty 430, which still leaves it much smaller than the encyclopedic tomes. The authors provide code useful in working with disparities in standards, browsers, and styles. The book uses a wealth of illustrations and links to useful Web sites. The authors' Web site provides all the book's code and graphics so everything can be pasted directly into your pages as desired.

The book has a selection of scripts and techniques for identifying visitor browser versions and matching those versions with supported code. There are special sections focusing on frames, cookies, and external and bookmarklet uses of Javascript. It discusses applications of visual tools such as GoLive, Dreamweaver and Fireworks. There is a reference appendix devoted to Cascading Style Sheets and expanded coverage of JavaScript language and syntax, including a 16-page color appendix of the Javascript Object flowchart and table.

Not only has the book had the benefit of an extended period in development and debugging, but it has had the attention of both PC and Apple experts. This book's authors are leading computer-topic specialists, as well as both being members of the Web Standards Project Steering Committee. This book is a bargain at $17-20 in its Fourth Edition as a solid member of the popular Visual QuickStart Series. The series is published by Peachpit Press, part of the Pearson Education publishing empire along with Prentice Hall, Macmillan, Addison-Wesley, SAMS, and QUE.

Javascript for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide
Tom Negrino and Dori Smith
Peachpit Press, 2001
ISBN#: 0-201-73517-2
430 pages, $19.99

The Little Web Cam Book for Windows and Macintosh
Review by Glen Hand

This book is misnamed. A more accurate title might be "A Friendly Trip into Computer Multimedia." If you are an established geek, this book is not for you except for possibly useful links to obscure cam sites and shareware. If you are something short of qualified in PC or Apple multimedia, there is bound to be something of interest here. If you are a computer or multimedia novice this is an enchanting introduction and a hand-in-hand journey into the multimedia world.

While the well-organized trip is built around the multitude of Web cam applications, the discussions include all basic multimedia features from pict to MPG3, from 14.4 kbps to dynamic IP addresses. The book progresses from basic explanations of files and computer capabilities through graphics editing, movies and cam broadcasting to videoconferencing.

Some folks are just beginning to explore personal computers. Many of us don't use our computers for much else beyond business or games. This is a very folksy, comfortable start into using your computer for a huge range of very human and personal purposes. It also can deliver some significant business benefits, particularly in security, demonstrations, and videoconferencing.

Numerous links and shareware software are mentioned, detailed instructions are provided for key basic software use, and the whole experience is as rich as it could possibly be while still leaving you feeling that you are with a very chatty older sister showing you all the details of how she uses her computer for fun.

The Little Web Cam Book for Windows and Macintosh
by Elisabeth Parker
Peachpit Press, 1999
ISBN#: 0201354209
380 pages, $18.99

Web Design Essentials
Review by Evelyn Kaehler and Mark Chu

As a designer it is nice to use tools from a single vendor, with similar interfaces. Web Design Essentials, Second Edition, by Maria Giudice and Anita Dennis is an excellent book that brings all of Adobe's design programs together into one book. This book was not designed to be used as a reference; this book is designed to walk the reader through specific techniques like working with mouse rollovers and slicing images in Photoshop.

The book is broken up into six chapters: Creating Web Graphics, Managing Type, Web Page Layout, Active Elements, Management Techniques, and a Reference section. It also contains an appendix with a glossary and index.

There is no CD—you must create all of your own artwork. It is not a beginner's "first book" for using these products.

Maria Giudice is the founder of HOT Studio, Inc., based in San Francisco. She is an established speaker, educator, and author. Web Design Essentials, Second Edition is her fourth book on Web Design. Anita Dennis is a freelance writer and editor in San Francisco who has covered electronic publishing.

Maria Giudice and Anita Dennis make a great team. The chapters are well-written and easy to understand, even though the book is designed for Web developers. The book is extremely well laid out and broken into sections, making it easy for beginners to follow, and it clearly signals the levels of difficulty of each task. This book walks readers through difficult tasks with ease by using easy-to-follow screen shots with simple descriptions about the screen shots.

This book is not for the average beginner, but for the intermediate graphic designer. This book does a good job of walking readers through various tasks but it fails to explain why the reader is doing it or what the reader is doing. This book is "for anyone who wants to know how to use various design applications to create streamlined, stylish web pages and sites." This book is packed with many great illustrations.

I originally ordered this book with the expectation that it would help me to improve my Photoshop skills in terms of creating Web graphics. Unfortunately, none of the exercises use just Photoshop. You must have some of the other Adobe software programs as well, in order to actually complete any of the exercises. Therefore, you need access to the four Adobe products used by the authors, which are Photoshop 6.0, Illustrator 9.0, LiveMotion 1.0, and GoLive 5.0, or this book will be of little use to you.

Web Design Essentials
by Maria Giudice and Anita Dennis
Adobe Press, 2001
ISBN#: 0201733560
128 pages, $40.00

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database Development from Scratch
Review by Evelyn Kaehler

Before reading SQL Server 2000 Database Development from Scratch by Rob Hawthorne, I was concerned with the difficulty level of this book since I am new to SQL Server database development. Rob Hawthorne does a good job of easing the reader's concerns in the first chapter. The introduction to SQL in Chapter 1 is simple to understand and sets the mood for the rest of the book.

Rob Hawthorne uses his spinet example throughout the book to introduce new ideas and simplify complex concepts. He points out important features that are of interest to database application designers. Rob does a good job using screen shots, illustrations, and tables to show how to create and manage a database from scratch.

The only complaint with this book is the fact that it did not cover XML and how it is related to SQL Server 2000. It would have been helpful to learn about some of the XML features in SQL Server 2000.

Personally I felt that this book accomplished what it set out to do, and that is to teach beginning and intermediate SQL Server users. This book covers ASP and how it is used with SQL Server 2000. This book also covers ways to solve problems efficiently by introducing users to the right tools for each problem. Rob explains SQL Server 2000 without cluttering your mind with information.

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database Development from Scratch
by Rob Hawthorne
Que, 2001
ISBN#: 0789724472
496 pages, with CD, $39.99