Chuck's Delphi Book Reviews

Delphi Database Development by Ted Blue, John Kaster, Greg Lief, and Loren Scott

• Summary
  This book is targeted at developers building Database applications in Delphi. It begins with a quick description of the Borland Database Engine (BDE) and the Delphi Data Access and Data Control components. It goes into detail about all the Data Access and Data Control classes, including TBatchMove, TDatabase, TSession, and the base classes such as the TDataSet. All the Data-Aware controls are also covered. Each property and method is covered, including a brief example of usage. The last chapter (over 300 pages worth) covers the low-level BDE calls.

  The copy of the book that I have is intended for Delphi 1 and Delphi 2. The current edition has been updated to include coverage of Delphi 3.

• Contents
  
  • Ch. 1. Overview of Database Development in Delphi
  • Ch. 2. The Data Access Components
  • Ch. 3. Visual Data Controls
  • Ch. 4. The TField Components
  • Ch. 5. BDE Function Reference
  • Appendix A. BDE Error Return Codes
  • Appendix B. BDE Constants, Types, and Data Structures
  • Appendix C. BDE Categorical Reference
  • Appendix D. XBase to Borland Delphi Conversion Notes
  • Appendix E. Interbase Structured Query Language (ISQL)
  • Appendix F. File Formats
  • Appendix G. Delphi Component Hierarchy
  • Appendix H. Alternative Database Engines

• In Depth
  
  • Chapter 2, The Data Access Components
    This chapter covers every Property and Method of the Data Access components. Each property method includes sample code showing its usage. The coverage of TBatchMove should allow Delphi programmers to use this often misunderstood component (although I found myself wishing it included a complete start-to-finish demo program for this one). Detailed coverage of the TDatabase and TSession components help you find where Delphi stores some valuable info, including database passwords, directory paths for a particular alias, and the directory where the BDE will store the PDOXUSRS.NET file used to do multi-user locking for paradox tables. Most of this info is available elsewhere, but now it's all in one convient, easy to find location.

  • Chapter 5, BDE Function Reference
    When I pull this book down from my shelf, this is the chapter I'm probably heading for! Definitely the most complete source for the low-level BDE calls. It includes sample source for using each and every BDE call (although some don't give quite enough explanation). Need to add a BDE alias from your application, DbiAddAlias will show you how (with a page and a half of sample code!). If you use Delphi with dBase tables, do you know how to undelete a record? Check out the DBIUndeleteRecord call. Each entry also includes the equivalent Delphi and XBase call, if there is one.

  • Appendix D: Xbase to Borland Delphi Conversion Notes
    This chapter primarily focuses on converting CA-Clipper code to Delphi. This isn't suprising, considering Greg Lief (Author of the Grumpfish library for Clipper) and Loren Scott ( from Successware) are two of the co-authors. It will give the any 'ClipperHeads' some often needed assistance in their beginning Delphi education.

• Recommendation
  I recommend this book to hard-core database developers. Don't try to sit down with this book and read it cover to cover. It is intended as a Reference book, and it does this job exceptionally well. If you need to "get inside" the BDE, I would call this a MUST-HAVE reference.

• About the Book
  Delphi Database Development
  By Ted Blue, John Kaster, Greg Lief and Loren Scott

  ISBN : 1558514694

  Published by M&T Books

  The book includes a CD-ROM that contains all the sample source code covering the BDE, and demo editions of several third-party database components.

  The list price of the book is US $44.95 , CANADA $61.00

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