Windows MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) Programming I

Windows MFC Programming I;  $25.00;  594 pages;  2006, 2014;   Vic Broquard; Broquard eBooks;  ISBN: 978-0-9705697-6-9;   3rd Edition

Windows MFC Programming I is the best way to learn to program applications in the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) programming language. This book is your entry level course in Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) programming. The book assumes that the reader is skilled in C++ OOP programming, especially in the creation and usage of objects and the creation of derived classes and virtual functions. In Windows MFC Programming I, you learn how to make and use dialogs, fonts, tool bars, status bars, bitmap image processing, printing, animation effects and the document-view architecture. With gradient steps, you learn how to use the Class Wizard and the AppWizard. When you have mastered this book, you will have achieved the level of entry level “basic Windows MFC programmer.”

Check out the free sample data structure classes and sample programs and games from the Games and Windows Programming books.

See for yourself what you can learn to do!

Free Debugging C++ lectures and samples used in the demos.

Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) Programming Book Description

Windows MFC Programming I is a learning text for not a language reference manual. I have taught Windows programming since Windows 3.1 days. Thus, expect to learn this complex programming platform on a gradient step by step approach. See for yourself. Check out what’s covered by reading the table of contents and then read one of the chapters.

Windows MFC Programming I begins with the very fundamentals and, in a step by step, gradient manner, develops most all of the basic Windows programming techniques. There are often many different ways to accomplish the same task. So as you move from example to example, expect to see alternative approaches illustrated. Windows MFC Programming I is not a reference manual; rather, expect to see the “whys” and “how comes” that lie behind many of the approaches and techniques. It is my opinion that if you have a feel for what is really going on, you can do a better job of programming and debugging.

The first three chapters present Windows C API (the programming interface); they are designed to get you used to programming in a message-driven style which is completely different from the normal DOS C++ style of programming. In chapter 4, the MFC OOP encapsulation of the Windows API is presented illustrating how the beginning features from the first three chapters are encapsulated.

Through the next series of chapters, the GUI is introduced a step at a time, such as timers, colors, resource files, menu operations, icons, cursors, dialog operations, the use of global memory, the new file handling functions, image processing, for example. Tool bars and the status bar are presented next followed by the multiple document interface and clipboard operations. Sound and animation effects continue to explore the possibilities of this rich platform.

The final chapter discusses the document-view architecture which many professional applications utilize. This is an extensive topic and is one of the longest chapters in the book.

Along the way, you are introduced to the Resource Editor, the Class Wizard, and finally the AppWizard. Each is introduced at that point where you can best utilize it to your advantage and know what you are actually doing with it.

Windows MFC Programming I has many complete C++ programming examples. While some of the early ones are fairly simple, the latter ones represent fairly complete applications. The benefit of these extended samples is great; you gain an understanding of how the various messages all operate together. All of these sample programs accompany the book.

There are a number of very important application design issues that are written this way.

Design Rule 1:

They highlight some of the potential traps and pitfalls that lie in waiting.

Perhaps the biggest barrier to learning Windows programming is the enormous number of identifiers, key values, the API (Application Programming Interface) and the MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) class member functions and variable names. For a beginner and more advanced reader, this proliferation of must-know names and identifiers is nothing short of bewildering. One of the key features of this book is that you will always have a greater certainty about what names must be coded as-is and what you have control over.

Typeface conventions are designed to aid you in knowing at a glance what names are yours and what are not. Even though you may use any convention desired in your coding, when you refer to this book, the guess work or hunting has been eliminated.

While I hope that the index at the end allows you to rapidly find key items, as a programmer, I know the value of being able to find a key identifier or function in the actual samples themselves.

I have reworked my out-of-print Intermediate MFC text, which covers the intermediate MFC programming aspects. The sequel book, Windows MFC Programming II continues where this one leaves off and covers newer MFC classes and many advanced topics not found anywhere else!

The text was in use at Illinois Central College in the Cmpsc 250 Windows Programming course. This edition has been updated to use Microsoft’s Visual Studio .NET 2005 compiler and the .NET 2008 compiler.

Book Contents

Windows MFC Programming I comes with a link to download a pdf version and all of the sample programs as well as the test data needed for some of the programming assignments.

Review/Examination Copy

If you wish to obtain a free review/exam copy for your college, please email me with full details, including the class in which the book would be used and your school.

For more information contact Broquard eBooks via:

Internet: administrator@Broquard-eBooks.com
Mail:        1055 Brandy Lake Rd, Woodruff, WI 54568 USA
Tel:           (715) 358-0551