Some time ago I asked Tom Anderson to find some programming books for me especially ones about Java, Visual Basic and Visual C++. I had recently taken Microsoft up on a special offer for Visual Studio 97 (VS97), which contains Visual Basic 5, Visual C++ 5, Visual FoxPro 5 and Visual J++ 1.1. I figured that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to learn all these programs-indeed, technical writers need to know more about programming than ever before-but I needed some help to do it. Tom gave me six books on Visual J++ 1.1, Java object-oriented programming, Visual Basic 5 and Visual C++ 5. If you find the upgrade prices to Visual Studio 6.0 daunting and you want to stay with VS97, here are mini-reviews of all six books.

Visual C++ 5 Bible
This entry for Visual C++ in the IDG Books Bible series contains over 800 pages of information along with a CD-ROM filled with C++ utilities. The book is designed for C++ programmers at all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Indeed, there is enough information for everyone, starting with an introduction to the Windows programming interface and C++ basics, and working its way up to ActiveX controls and memory management. In between, you'll find a complete reference for Visual C++ 5, including plenty of program examples and informational tables.

This is probably not a book that you will want to read cover-to-cover. If you want to get a feel for Visual C++ 5 and how it works, a better book would be Teach Yourself Visual C++ 5 in 21 Days from Sams. I also have this book and it's a good way to get indoctrinated, but it's not designed to be a reference. The reference you should have on your desk when you program is Visual C++ 5 Bible. It has the information and examples you can build your programs from.

Visual J++ 1.1: No Experience Required
Mastering Visual J++
These two books on Visual J++, Microsoft's flavor of the Java programming language, are actually the same book, only written in different ways. That's not surprising since Steven Holzner authored both books for Sybex. Visual J++ 1.1: No Experience Required is a book that claims it will teach you the 16 essential skills you need for Visual J++, and each skill is its own chapter. Mastering Visual J++ 1.1 is a book that contains a little more information about Visual J++, such as multithreading applets. Mastering Visual J++ 1.1 also has a CD-ROM that contains example code and a now-outdated version of Internet Explorer. Visual J++ 1.1: No Experience Required requires you to log onto the Sybex Web site to download and view some of the book's examples.

The nice thing about these books is that after Holzner goes through the steps needed to put together a program, he lists the entire program's code at the end of each chapter. However, there are two major problems. First, there aren't any exercises that you can do on your own to test the abilities you learned in the chapter. Second, the more serious problem is that many of the examples in the book don't work. When I couldn't get one program to work, I downloaded the same program from Sybex's Web site and found that the most common problems were incorrect placement of closing brackets and some incorrect statements. Though the Web examples worked where the book examples didn't, there aren't many Web examples on the Sybex site.

These books were copyrighted 1997, so they're out of print. However, Sybex doesn't offer any other Visual J++ books, and I suspect the reason stems from poor technical editing as much as the uncertain future of Visual J++. If you're looking for Visual J++ programming books, especially for Visual J++ 1.1, skip these two and look elsewhere.

This book should be part of your learning experience with Java, and you can use the accompanying CD-ROM with the Java Development Kit 1.1 to use with more beginner-level Java books. This Java book should be used as a means to fine-tune your Java programming so you can create efficient Java programs-and once you finish reading this book, you will be.

Step by Step: Microsoft Visual Basic 5
Visual Basic 5 from the Ground Up
Microsoft's Step by Step: Microsoft Visual Basic 5 is two books in one. First, the book takes you through step-by-step instructions on how to perform various Visual Basic 5 tasks. Second, the summaries at the end of each chapter provide a good reference if you need it. The book has twelve chapters called "lessons" where you start off with writing your first program and end up learning how to link up Visual Basic to Microsoft Office. You also get a CD-ROM with all the book examples and files you use when you create projects in the book.

Visual Basic 5 from the Ground Up by Gary Cornell is a more in-depth book. Where Step by Step shows you how to program, Cornell's book shows you how and tells you why, and it also takes you further into Visual Basic 5 programming. Visual Basic 5 from the Ground Up starts you off with an overview of Visual Basic programming, then takes you to a point where you're writing your own Internet browser.

You should have both books on your shelves. Step by Step can get you underway with Visual Basic and serve as a good reference, but Visual Basic 5 from the Ground Up can give you a more rounded view of Visual Basic 5 and how to use it to its fullest potential.

Visual C++ 5 Bible
By Paul Yao and Richard C. Leinecker
[$39.99, 931 pages, w/CD-ROM]
IDG Books, 1997
ISBN: 0-7645-8022-1

Visual J++ 1.1: No Experience Required
By Steven Holzner
[$29.99, 541 pages]
Sybex, 1997
ISBN: 0-7821-2078-4

Mastering Visual J++
By Steven Holzner
[$39.99, 697 pages, w/CD-ROM]
Sybex, 1997
ISBN: 0-7821-2041-5

Principles of Object-Oriented Programming in Java 1.1
By James W. Cooper
[$39.99, 392 pages, w/CD-ROM]
Ventana, 1997
ISBN: 1-56604-530-4

Step by Step: Microsoft Visual Basic 5
By Michael Halvorson
[$34.99, 406 pages, w/CD-ROM]
Microsoft Press, 1997
ISBN: 1-57231-435-4

Visual Basic 5 from the Ground Up
By Gary Cornell
[$34.99, 799 pages]
Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 1997
ISBN: 0-07-882349-8