Learning C++

[Jason L.]

How can I go about learning OWL or OLE programming?! I go to the library, I research endlessly on the net, I search out people where I live for info on windows programming. Yet all I've found out is that theres no end to how complex this all is. Where should one begin trying to learn this! Its like Im jumping in to the middle of it all, and Im not understanding a thing. Where should I begin??

[Martin Speiser]

Hi Jason,

the title of your message is "Learning C++", in the message itself you're talking about OWL, OLE and Windows programming. Okay, these four things belongs together, but they are different. It's like a good meal with a good wine. They are different, but they have something in common.

So, if you say what you want to learn someone here can recommend you books. If you don't know what to learn, simply tell us what you know about programming in general.

Martin

Martin

[Jason L.]

So far, all I've figured out is a few things in c++ like loops, declaring classes/structs, using bgi, pointers, arrays, etc...all easy stuff. What I want to understand is: 1)OWL-I found out that its a set of classes that are supposed to make wndows programming easier. However, no matter how much I mess with TApplication (or anything that starts with a capital T :) ) I cant get it to make a simple window. I want to some day be able to put graphics in this window......2)What does the error "unable to create process" mean? Im using borland c++ 4.52 3)OLE-i think its a way for programs to link to each other, and also has to do with passing data between 2 programs, a server and a container, without changing their content. How to actually code this I have no idea......4)explain the difference between big-endian and little-endian. And why its important.
Anyway, I could pose questions all day. It seems that for each thing I figure out, It confuses me about 10 more things. Thanx for the help!! 8^)

[Martin Speiser]

Hi Jason,

because I'm using MS Visual C++ with MFC I can't give you any hints about books for Borland C++ and OWL, sorry.

But with your background I recommend you to first learn the basics of Windows programming, this means everything about a "normal" application with graphics and things like that. I think OLE is an advanced feature, although it's now an important feature. Basically OLE was a way to work with documents from other applications in the own application. It was superseded by ActiveX and now COM/DCOM. If you want to learn about these things there is a book "Inside OLE" published by Microsoft Press, or "Essential COM" published by Addison-Wesley.

Big-endian and little-endian describes the way how integers are stored by the processor. Intel machines are using little-endian. This means they store the low byte first, than the high word. It's only important if you want to write a portable application or to exchange data files with other machines.


Martin

[James Lacey]

Your post seems to imply that you are trying to learn C++ by using OWL. I suggest that you first focus on C++ and then move on to OWL.
There are any number of books that you can use. For C++ I recommend "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days" by Jesse Liberty, Sams Publishing or "Beginning C++ the Complete Language" by Ivor Horton, WROX Press. The latest revision of both books are ANSI/ISO Compliant. After you have mastered C++ you can then move on to OWL. The book I recommend for OWL is "Borland C++ 4.0 Programming for Windows" by Paul Yao, Borland Press. (I used this book in my Windows development class for a number of years.)

I would point out that Borland C++ 4.52 and OWL are somewhat dated. Both were popular when Windows 3.1 was the primary Windows platform. Also the 4.52 compiler is not ANSI/ISO Compliant. It is probably more productive for you to learn MFC or Borland C++ Builder. However, since you already own Borland 4.52 maybe you don't want to invest in a new compiler. In which case you should look for pre-1998 versions of the C++ books.

What ever you decide realize that learning C++ on your own will take time and effort. It can be done, but learning it is hard work. There is a lot to the language. You will need plenty of hands-on experience. And despite the title of Liberty's book you can't gain an appreciation in 21 days of what's happening when things go right or when things go wrong.

Good luck.
James

[acrown]

C++ is one of the more complex languages to learn and use well. This is mainly because, unlike most procedural orientated languages, C++ requires a different way of designing software. While you may be able to pick up some knowledge from books, I'd highly recommend the following in order of preference.

1) A formal class

2) Get a job with other C++ developers so that you can learn from them