The Windows shell is the user interface for Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0, allowing execution of common tasks such as accessing the file system, launching programs and changing system-wide settings. However, it's net just about user interaction : the shell exposes programming hooks that you can use from your own applications. This book shows you how to work with and extend the functionality of the shell, from tinkering with the Shell API to writing COM objects that get loaded into the address space. Within these pages is a compendium of shell programming techniques. You'll learn how to push the Windows shell to perform complex actions, and customise it using C++ programs. There's coverage of the Shell API, the Windows Scripting Host, and shell and namespace extensions that use the shell's object model. Who is this book for ? This title is for programmers who are experienced in Windows development and familiar with using COM and ATL to create components in Visual C+ +. The book will show you how to use COM and the Shell API to integrate your app1ication with the shell. It is not about making cosmetic changes to the desktop.

A programmer's complete guide to Visual Basic .NET. Starting with a sample application and a high-level map, the book jumps right into showing how the parts of .NET fit with Visual Basic .NET. Topics include the common language runtime, Windows Forms, ASP.NET, Web Forms, Web Services, and ADO.NET.

Seely presents an authoritative guide to Windows shell programming for experienced Visual C++, C++, Visual Basic, and MFC developers. He shows how to connect the MFC and ATL frameworks to any part of the Windows API, graphical or not. The CD-ROM contains powerful Windows shell code libraries and wizards.

This book provides an accessible approach to the study of Windows programming with Visual C++. It is intended to be an introduction to Visual C++ for technical people including practicing engineers, engineering students, and others who would like to understand Windows programming and use its inherent graphic capabilities. While the book is aimed at a technical audience, the mathematical content is modest and it should be readable by most people interested in C++ programming. It introduces readers to Windows programming in a natural way, making use of the object-oriented environment, the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), and the document/view organization.Over fifty example projects are included on a companion CD. These example projects are used in the book's tutorial format initially by introducing Visual C++ programming and important C++ concepts. Then coverage of Windows programming begins with fundamental graphics operations including interactive drawing with mouse inputs. This is followed by program interaction through Windows tools for creating drop down menus, toolbar buttons, dialog windows, file input/output, output to printers, etc. Basic animation concepts are presented, using classes to develop, manipulate and display geometric shapes. Graphs are plotted as objects and the process of creating color contour plots is discussed.After using this book and following its collection of example programs, readers should be well prepared to write interactive programs which integrate Windows functionality and graphics with their own C++ programming. The step-by-step structure of each example in the book is described thoroughly and only standard Microsoft resources for graphics are required. Exercises at the end of each chapter provide opportunities to revisit and extend the tutorial examples. The project folders on the CD include complete program code for all examples. Files are also provided that contain classes and functions for handling geometric objects and graphs and which may be easily adapted for a wide variety of application programs.

An introductory, hands-on tutorial for programming with Microsoft Visual C++. The application development process is tracked from beginning to end and realistic application development examples are found throughout the book. It's perfect for beginner programmers familiar with the C programming language; no C++ programming experience is assumed.

One of the first books available on scripting the Windows NT shell, this title appeals to the many UNIX users migrating to Windows NT. It integrates hundreds of proven example scripts throughout the book and gives comprehensive reference of shell commands organized by functional group for ease of use.