|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C/C++ documentation for the API in question or the latest bug lists. Visual Basic comes with a limited version of the MSDN library, which includes the Win32 SDK documentation, so you already have the information you need. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The C header files. These are the C header files used by C++ Windows developers and represent the final authority on correct function descriptions. The entire set of Win32 SDK header files is included on the CD-ROM for this book, courtesy of Microsoft. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Visual Basic documentation. This includes some information on calling API functions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chapters 14 of my book Dan Appleman's Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API (SAMS, ISBN 0-672-31590-4). These chapters include fundamental information on Windows and calling API functions that you must know to solve the puzzles in this book. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, the hints in Appendix A may contain one or more of the following explicit references to resources that can help you solve the puzzles: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My API book (see above). To make life a bit easier, in many cases I've identified the specific chapter in my API book that relates to the API covered by the puzzle. Whereas the chapter might help you solve the puzzle, it will often be more useful for providing background information on the functions in question and will serve as a resource for further reference. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
API "Ten Commandment" references. This refers to one of the commandments in my "Ten Commandments for Safe API Programming" (which follow). These commandments can be used as guides to solving almost every API problem. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tutorials. This refers you to the tutorial (in Part III of this book) that teaches the fundamental concepts necessary to solve the puzzle. These hints will be most useful to beginning programmers, especially for the early puzzles. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My other book: Dan Appleman's Developing COM/ActiveX Components with Visual Basic 6.0: A Guide to the Perplexed (SAMS, ISBN 1-56276-576-0). What does an ActiveX book have to do with the Win32 API? A great deal, if you consider that Microsoft's OLE (or ActiveX) technology is implemented using DLLs that export literally hundreds of functions. |
|
|
|
|
|