Overview
This book on Windows database programming uses a new Windows programming interface, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), created by Microsoft. Allows programmers to write portable object-oriented database applications using different languages and protocols that run together on Windows. The CD-ROM includes 20 demonstration programs. Gives full profiles of the products that support ODBC and has example programs in C++ and Visual Basic 3. The disk includes source code that can be used to develop software and value-added software that expands on the example programs in the book.Editorials
John Taschek
Though there's a glut of books about client/server database programming and design, few attempt to tackle as many issues as Ken North's Windows Multi-DBMS Programming. His book, which was released last month, may be too broad for some tastes, but it's nevertheless worth its $49.95 price.
North, an established consultant and free-lance author of technical articles, deftly covers the major issues developers face when creating database applications. The book discusses major programming language products, including Borland International Inc.'s C/C++, Microsoft Corp.'s Visual C++ and Visual Basic, and Powersoft Corp.'s PowerBuilder. Code samples, which are included on disk, are used frequently to demonstrate major points.
After a brief overview of its contents, the 700-plus-page book goes into introductory chapters on Windows application-development issues and the concepts of database design.
North gets to the nitty-gritty in Chapter 5, in which he covers servers and database engines, such as Microsoft's SQL Server for Windows NT and Watcom International Corp.'s Watcom SQL. Strangely, however, North includes minor players such as Raima Corp. and Microrim, yet neglects to mention Oracle Corp., Sybase Inc., or Informix Corp., the three largest vendors of SQL database servers.
The point of the book, however, is not back-end database programming. It's database client-side application development, and on this subject the book excels.
Although the book is geared toward C++ and Visual Basic programmers, all Windows developers should read the chapters on ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) and Object Linking and Embedding, two subjects on which North is an acknowledged expert.
A compendium CD, which features 32-bit ODBC drivers, shareware versions of developer tools, and a benchmark kit, is $29.95.
NORTH'S BOOK is a must-read. -PC Week