"The Win32 API, or Application Programming Interface, is of immense use in extending the power of Visual Basic," says Roman. "The Win32 API functions allow the VB programmer to access the raw power of the Windows operating system.

"Visual Basic is a very protected environment, for which we pay a penalty in terms of limited access to the operating system and very limited direct access to memory. Microsoft seems to feel that VB programmers should be shielded from the intricacies of the Windows operating system. But Visual Basic's ease and speed of development comes at the cost of poorer performance, lack of flexibility and control," explains Roman. Serious Visual Basic programmers will eventually feel a need to get under the hood; Steven Roman's new book gives them what they need to directly call the Win32 API.

Win32 API Programming with Visual Basic shows how to do relatively simple tasks, such as adding tab stops to a list box and gathering system information (i.e., which version of Windows is running on a system and the number of buttons on the user's mouse), as well as advanced programming techniques such as synchronizing two VB applications so they can work in cooperation with each other and how to extract data from controls that belong to another application.

Win32 API Programming with Visual Basic helps VB programmers eliminate the trial and error process that is usually associated with calling the Win32 API from Visual Basic and does so in a practical, straightforward fashion that is the hallmark of author Steve Roman's style.

Online Resources

• Chapter 6, Strings, is available free online

• More information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bio, and samples

• Cover graphic in jpeg format