C# Complete

C# Complete is a one-of-a-kind book--valuable both for its broad content and its low price. Whether you're brand-new to C# programming, are migrating from Visual Basic or Visual C++ to C#, or have already developed some expertise in C#, you'll get the skills you need to become proficient with Microsoft's powerful new language designed for the .NET platform. Creating complex applications in the .NET Framework is made easier with C#--Microsoft's first true object-oriented programming language.
In C# Complete, you'll get a clear picture of everything you need to know for developing applications using C#. You'll begin by learning the essential elements of the language and of Visual Studio .NET, in which you'll develop and run programs in a comprehensive integrated development environment. You'll see how to create functional and exciting user interfaces and desktop applications written with C#, and how to incorporate threads to their best advantage. You'll explore the use of ADO.NET classes in development of C# database applications. Chapters on ASP.NET Web Services will walk you through the building of an XML web services application. You'll also visit some advanced topics, including designing with security in mind, overcoming the shortcomings of the .NET Framework, and working with the Microsoft Mobile Internet Toolkit.
C# Complete introduces you to the work of some of Sybex's finest authors, so you'll know where to go to learn even more about C# and the .NET Framework.
Inside:
Visual C# .NET Essentials
Introduction to Visual C# and the .NET Framework
Zen and Now: The C# Language
Strings
Object Oriented Programming
Derived Classes
Arrays, Indexers, and Collections
Reflecting on Classes
C# Application Developmemt
Building a Better Windows User Interface
Building Desktop Applications
Working with Threads
Database Development with C#
Overview of the ADO.NET Classes
ADO.NET Application Development
Using DataSet Objects to Store Data
Using DataSet Objects to Modify Data
ASP.NET and Web Services
Introduction to C# Web Applications
Using XML in Web Applications
Web Services
Building Your Own Web Controls
Advanced C# Development
Overcoming Holes in the .NET Framework
Overcoming Security Issues
Getting Started with Mobile Internet Toolkit

User review
Sybex C# Complete
Horses for courses,,.
For me this is one of the best training and reference books ever. The progression of training topics build on each other in a way that grow the learning experience exponentially.


User review
Pleasantly surprised
I have to say I wasn't expecting much from this book, and I was pleasantly surprised. The book is a repackaging of a bunch of chapters from other C# books that have been 'adapted' to work as one complete work. The topics range from syntax basics, to UI, database and web work. The tone of the book is uneven, but each of the chapters is written well and presents it's topic clearly. The paper and binding is pretty cheap, but given the price that is to be expected.

For the money this is a good buy. If what you want are some code fragments and explanation on all of the basic .NET and C# topics, you should consider this book. I just went to the index to find examples for XML, and found some quality ones right away. When you consider how much you would have to spend in other publisher's catalogues to get the same material, you can see with this is a bargain.

User review
Great for the money
It's not perfect but you get great value for the money. I'm a very experienced C++ developer currently migrating to .NET and I was just looking for something I could read without having to sit in front of my machine all the time (too bad the .NET docs aren't available in an encyclopedia set). This book was it. It's not complete by any means nor is it ideal for programming novices. For experienced developers moving to .NET however (C++ in particular), it's a tiny investment for some great reading material. You get almost a 1000 pages of information on different .NET topics. The mechanics of C# itself runs for more than 300 pages alone and then there are chapters on threads, how to build traditional windows apps (dialog, SDI, MDI, etc.), ADO.NET (database programming), Web programming, etc. All the chapters are actually extracted from other books and the first page of each chapter tells you which. The variety of topics means you probably won't want to read everything though and most of us don't like spending money for info we don't need (usually unavoidable though). The information itself is also sketchy sometimes though I haven't read it all of course. You'll therefore have to augment your knowledge from other sources. For what you get however it's great value for the money. The first sentence of the intro even emphasizes this and they're right. It's alsmost shocking in fact, considering how much most tech books go for. The chapters on ADO.NET alone (more than 200 pages worth) were extremely practical and remarkably complete - well worth the cost alone IMO. In fact, you can learn almost everything you'll ever need to know about ADO.NET basics just from these chapters alone (including how to add/update/delete records from an RDBMS - amazingly complete and even includes info on how to handle optimistic concurrency issues). All in all, you'll need other material to learn C# and .NET but this book is packed with info for experienced developers. Buy it for some good bedtime reading.