Ethan Winer

For me, this 1993 publication is one of the most instructive books on BASIC programming that I have read. I especially like the way that Winer and Cramer take a problem-solving approach to programming in a manner that covers both technique and theory.

This book contains seven utility programs written in QuickBASIC. Each program is written to solve a real-world problem. There is a chapter devoted to each program and they can be taken in any order. There is a detailed explanation accompanying each utility that tells how the program is used, how it works, and how it can be enhanced.

A floppy disk is packaged inside the book's back cover that contains both source and executable versions of each program. Happily, the source code for each program is fully annotated.

Contents

• Chapter 1, FCRYPT, File Encryption and Decryption
• Chapter 2, SETTIME, Automatic Date and Time-Setting Utility
• Chapter 3, ADRSBOOK, A Name and Address Database with Automatic Phone Dialer
• Chapter 4, SETATTR, Edits File Attributes
• Chapter 5, FINDDUPE, Finding Duplicate Files
• Chapter 6, FONTEDIT, Edit and Create Text-Mode Fonts
• Chapter 7, GRAPHIT, Pie, Line, and Bar Graph Program

The reader will also find several support programs associated with the utilities, such as, EXIST, GETPARAM, SUPPORT, LISTBOX, EDITOR, and SPREAD.

Appendix A focuses on issues related to the automatic compiling and linking of new executable program files from within QuickBASIC's Run menu. Winer and Cramer overcome the limitations and inefficiencies of automatic compiling by showing their readers how to do manual compiling and linking directly from the command line.

My Favorite Programming Convention: Each of the utility programs uses DEFINT A-Z to establish all variables as integers. Compiled programs become smaller and faster by using this simple technique. If long integers or floating-point values are needed, all a programmer has to do is use explicit type suffixes wherever necessary to create exceptions to the integer rule.

Bottom Line: This book is better suited for experienced programmers than for beginners.… (meer)