This is the Delphi 3 edition of "Database Developer's Guide with Delphi 2" from the same author.
The main focus of the book is on Database and Client/Server development.
The book consists of four parts.
Part one, Getting Started, gets us into Delphi programming and conventions (coding styles).
We also learn SQL basics, and database and application design standards.
An interesting chapter in this part compares Delphi to other environments, such as PowerBuilder, Visual Basic, etc.
Part two, the Tutorial, is the place to turn yourself into a Client/Server expert, starting with the first steps, adding to it, including all details and finishing touches (such as reporting and a helpfile).
Part three, the Reference, contains details about Delphi and resp. Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, InterBase and Sybase SQL Server.
I didn't find any detailed chapters on Informix or DB2, which are also supported by SQL Links.
Part four contains Advanced Topics, such as Business Reports and Business Rules (both on the Database Server and in the Delphi application itself).
We also engage Client/Server performance tuning, deployment issues and an internet chapter which shows some techniques available in Delphi 3 C/S.
The latter, however, could use some more detail (especially on deploying the BDE on Web Servers, multi-user database access, etc).
The book is clearly written, with much detail, and useful examples.
What I don't like, is the fact that a number of listings are provided completely, which results in numerous pages that I don't intend to read line-by-line anyway.
What makes it worse are the DFM listings (in ASCII format), including the binary Bitmap and Glyph data. Please!!
All in all, however, the book is a great source of information for Client/Server programmers.
Probably the best Delphi C/S Resource at this time (but there aren't that many to begin with).
(Bob Swart)
