If you've begun programming using Microsoft's .NET Framework, you've discovered a lot of new and improved functionality. But, more than likely, you've also discovered a lot of missing functionality. Indeed, a third of the functions supported by the old Win32 API are not yet supported by .NET. Although you may not at first notice the loss of Win32 API functionality in .NET, the more you program, the more you'll realize how essential it is. As a programmer, you will not want to do without these solutions.
.NET Framework Solutions: In Search of the Lost Win32 API is one more thing you can't do without: a complete guide to your options for dealing with the functionality missing from .NET. As you'll learn, some functions are handily situated within Visual Basic or C#. In most cases, however, you'll need to access the old Win32 API from the .NET Framework. This is demanding work, but this book makes it easy, walking you through every step and paying special attention to the work of managing memory manually--the most error-prone part of the process.
The topics covered inside are as varied as the missing functionality: direct hardware access, low-level security control, certain aspects of OS access, support for multimedia and utilities, and DirectX. You also get hard-to-find information on COM access, plus a collection of examples--dealing with DirectX and the MMC Snap-ins--that unite COM and Win32 access in especially illuminating ways.
Over time, you can expect to see the .NET Framework expanded to include much of what it now lacks. But your programming tasks can't wait, and .NET Framework Solutions makes you productive--today.
Introduction
Part I: An Overview of the Win32 API
Chapter 1: Overcoming Holes in the .NET Framework
Chapter 2: Working with Win32 API Data
Chapter 3: Accessing the Win32 API
Chapter 4: Processing Windows Messages
Chapter 5: Using Callback Functions
Part II: Fixing Holes in Standard Applications
Chapter 6: Gaining Support for the Console Application
Chapter 7: Accessing the Hardware Directly
Chapter 8: Overcoming Security Issues
Part III: Fixing Advanced Win32 API Problems
Chapter 9: Accessing Windows XP Special Features
Chapter 10: Using Operating System Special Functions
Chapter 11: Accessing the Media Player
Chapter 12: Working with Microsoft Management Console
Part IV: Working with DirectX
Chapter 13: Creating DirectX Structures and Data Elements
Chapter 14: Developing DirectX Access Routines
Chapter 15: Creating Applications with DirectX 8.1
Chapter 16: Extended DirectX Programming Examples
Part V: Appendices
Appendix A: Fifty-Two Tips for Error-Free Win32 API Access
Appendix B: Fixes for Common API Access Errors
Glossary
Index
John Mueller is a freelance author and technical editor who has produced 55 books and over 200 articles on topics ranging from networking to artificial intelligence to database management to heads-down programming. His most recent book is Visual C# .NET Developer's Handbook, also from Sybex. As a technical editor, he has helped more than two dozen authors refine their manuscripts and has provided technical editing services to both Data Based Advisor and Coast Compute magazines. He's also contributed articles to SQL Server Professional, Visual C++ Developer, and Visual Basic Developer. He's the editor of the .NET electronic newsletter for Pinnacle Publishing.
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