Learn to Program Visual Basic Objects

Professor Smiley does it again! I had read his previous book "Learn To Program With Visual Basic" and found his writing style very unique. It was great to find out he wrote one on VB Objects. I'm halfway through the book and he's made VB Objects easy to understand.For those of you who may not have read his other books before, you're reading the book as if you're in a University class setting taking his VB Objects class. Yes, there's alot of dialogue between him and his students (remember, it's a classroom setting) which can get boring at first. What may seem boring is really his way of pounding those concepts into you. He uses his China Shop program from his first book to guide his students into making it object-oriented. The examples really help explain the concepts.I've gotten to the Chapter on Class Modules. This is the only book I've found that explained this concept to me in a way that made sense without so much mumbojumbo. I've been programming for years, wanted to really learn Visual Basic but got tired of the same old reference book style. Other books assume you always have some knowledge level of the subject itself. This one only assumes you've had introductory VB experience NOT Objects. You will find out that if you've used VB before, you've had experience with Objects :-) .I'm using this book in VB Object class at an online learning site(Actually, I was already getting this book after I finished Prof Smiley's first book) and it's working great. If you want a simple way to understand objects, get this book. If you're the type that needs to be 'led by the hand' on Objects, this book is for you.

Dr. Smiley has done it again! His unusual style of presentation has made it easy for me to understand what I thought was a very complicated subject. Having read(and successfully learned VB)from his other books, I waited for this one and it was worth it. He puts seminar style learning to paper. One of the great advantages of his style is that through the students that are learning with you (you go through the book with a group of real world students), you, the reader, get answers to questions that often pop into your mind while studying the material. His definitions and clarification of the concept of objects is the best I have seen, having read through practically every book I can find on the subject. His process of bringing the learner through the problem, is realistic, not philosophical, and extremely practical.If you really want to learn about using objects in your programs (believe me you can't live without them)and enjoy it, get this book.

John Smiley presents a complete learning environment that builds a solid programming foundation. Each book individually and collectively engages and immerses the novice programmer into the richness of the Visual Basic development environment without overwhelming you in its complexity. From Learn to Program with Visual Basic, through Databases and Objects I found learning VB programming fun, and instructive at the same time. John's use of examples to support the development of a "real world" programming task proved important in understanding VB programming, the Integrated Development Environment and it various features or tools. Using the same program, you helped create, through three books dealing with different aspects of VB programming helped solidify the programming experience, and enhance learning. More than anything else, John comes out of those pages as your guide and mentor allowing you to pick up those intangibles that come from a skilled programmer, and educator. He leaves you, and encourages further study, having given you the fundamentals to go on and tackle more advanced VB topics, because you now know how to program with VB. I kid you not. I jumped into learning VB using the MS Visual Basic Programmer's guide, and various MSDN materials. It was like going up hill in snow and ice, I wasn't getting anywhere fast! After going through John's three books, MS VB programmers guide, and other materials just fell into place, because I now had the VB skills and knowledge to appreciate and understand the presented material.

Professor John Smiley has done it again! His new book "Learn to Program Objects With Visual Basic" is another five star publication for those, beginner - intermediate and even advanced, Visual Basic Programmers wanting to learn about Object Oriented Programming (OOP). Both, my wife and I thoroughly enjoy learning about VB Programming via John's unique style of writing and his sence of humor. He takes what is normally very technical & dry content and, by simulating an actual college class environment, maintains your interest through dialog between the Teacher and Students in the class. He has a way of explaining not only the theory (why's), but also the practical application "how's" of VB by assisting his "Class" develop and update a "Real World" application. I have purchased, read, and learned from all of John's books on Visual Basic Programming and am looking forward to learning more from his future writings. This book is a must for any one wishing to learn about Object Oriented Programming. What more can I say except experience a true 5 Star author by purchasing one or all of his books, And enjoy watching his students as they learn to program from a Master.

This is the 4th John Smiley book in my Visual Basic library. Just like the previous 3, this book is a big time winner. Professor Smiley is back in class, energized by the challenge of "de-mystifying objects". In his usual step by step manner, Professor Smiley guides his students through the process of modifying the "China Project" developed in his first book. (The completed "China Project" from his 1st book is on the CD that comes with this book.) We are shown how using "objects" makes our code more readable, and how it streamlines the process of modifying a project. Every new topic is thoroughly explained and demonstrated in a practice project prior to making any changes in the China Project. Taking the time to practice first, is a powerful confidence builder for modifying the China Project directly.Many programming book authors are technical wizards who take their accumulated knowledge for granted. These technical wizards are completely out of touch with the experience of being a beginner programmer, and their disdain for beginning level programmers comes across as arrogance in their writing style. John Smiley is that rare technical wizard who has avoided the "arrogance trap" that many authors proudly espouse. John Smiley has a tremendous rapport with beginning level programmers. Most obvious to this reader, he not only has the patience for teaching beginners, he also truly enjoys teaching his craft. This book is a must read for a programmer at ANY level who wants to broaden their understanding of "objects".