If you are looking for a fast but gentle introduction to writing useful Windows applications using Borland’s popular C development environments Borland C++ and Turbo C++ for Windows (BCW and TCW), this is the book for you.

It is well known that the easier an operating system is to use, the harder it is to program applications to run under it. The ease of use of Windows is due to the complexity of its internals. Finding the simplest way to do a task in a Windows application can be time-consuming for a beginner, and success is not guaranteed.

In this book, readers will find the simplest solutions to the most common current problems in developing Windows applications. The author avoids the natural temptation to bore the reader with unnecessary details, giving only what is necessary to understand the philosophy of Windows programming and to develop useful applications quickly. Every fundamental feature of Windows programming is exemplified by one or more simple C programs that are then extensively explained and commented. To save time, the sample programs can be found on the companion disk.

The book has eight parts. All parts except the last focus on how to program separate fundamental pieces of Windows applications. The last part demonstrates how to combine these pieces to build larger programs.

In each chapter, new concepts, functions, and example programs are briefly described, and then the C source code for the examples is given. Next, the new source lines are commented. Alternatives to the source code are discussed, with advantages and disadvantages given for each. Each chapter ends with a summary that could serve as a useful practical reference.

Part 1 refers to installation of the BCW and TCW environments; the first steps in writing, building, and running a simple Windows program; and the basics of event-driven programming and window creation.

The second part tells how to display text, create menus, and work with disk files. The interesting issue is the presentation of a new feature of Windows 3.1, the “open” and “save as” common dialogue boxes. Chapters in this part also consider resources, projects in the BCW and TCW environments, and Windows messages.

Part 3 is devoted to presenting the flexibility of Windows in handling text. It tells how to display text in any size, font, and style, and how to use scroll bars. The first few chapters deal with text output, while the later chapters focus on text input from the keyboard. The last chapter combines all the features presented, in the source code of a mini-editor.

The fourth part deals with how to program dialogue boxes under the BCW and TCW environments. It covers working with the Resource Workshop tool to build custom dialogue boxes and menus. Then Lafore explains the integration of these resources in Windows applications. Finally, the last chapters in this part present the use of other resources, such as radio buttons, check boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, and scroll bars.

The essentials of programming graphics shapes are the subject of the next part. Only the common and most useful graphics functions are presented. The first two chapters deal with simple graphics output. The next chapter concerns the use of a mouse to create shapes. The last chapter contains the commented source of a paint-type application.

In the sixth part, the author presents some ideas that allow the creation of an embellished user interface. The user interface features introduced are dynamic changes in menu items; adding menu accelerators; icon creation; and the use of a dialogue box as a main window.

Part 7 discusses memory management, printing, and debugging. Sample programs illustrate the most common situations relating to memory allocation. In his coverage of printing with Windows, Lafore gives an example of the use of the “print common” dialogue. The last chapter addresses how to avoid bugs in Windows programming and how to remove them using developing and programming techniques and the Turbo Debugger tool.

In the last part, the author tries to prove that, in spite of the complexity of the Windows Application Program Interface, the elements of programming presented throughout the book are sufficient to write some challenging Windows applications. The book ends with an annotated bibliography and a useful subject index.

Except for a few spelling errors, the book is well written, and the examples from the companion disk work correctly. The figures, tables, and pictures are good. Historical analogies and a cheerful writing style make this book a pleasure to read.