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Xorcist
08-11-2002, 08:17 PM
Just a quick post for those who are just getting into Delphi and are "new" to programming. Learn the underlying Object Pascal language. By having a firm grasp of the basics you will excel at a far quicker rate and understand much more in the long run. A decent book to help you along this path is: Learn Object Pascal with Delphi (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1556227191/qid=1036786248/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-3212140-7538507?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), which comes with a full version of Delphi 5.0. Or if you are already pretty confident with your programming abilities, but need a quick guide around Pascal in Delphi you can check out Essential Pascal (http://www.marcocantu.com/epascal/English/default.htm), an online book by Marco Cantu.

Alimonster
08-11-2002, 08:33 PM
Yep, I agree with you wholeheartedly Xorcist. If you want to learn the language, try writing only console apps for a while. This can speed up the learning process since you worry about language problems rather than GUI implementation details. Also, it gives you slightly more chance to look at a GUI app with an understanding of what's declared and why (e.g. the "TForm1 = class(TForm)" bit).

Not that there's a chance in hell of convincing someone learning Delphi to stay away from the GUI ;).

A top tip, btw: if you're not sure about something, whack up a sample program just for that task (e.g., create a new app with an edit box, a button, then make the button do something and show a message with the result). You'll end up with a massive reference of useful snippets. To put it in perspective, my Delphi programs folder contains close to 9000 files in 500 different folders. :!:

If anybody wants some more book recommendations, they were discussed in this thread (http://terraqueous.f2o.org/dgdev/viewtopic.php?t=27). You are welcome, of course, to discuss books here as well.

TheLion
08-11-2002, 10:16 PM
I agree with AliMonster, if you encounter a problem or if you are new to something, don't trying or solving it in the application you are working on, start a new one, so you can really see what you are doing and avoid problems caused by other parts of your program!

Another tip I would like to provide you with is: Collect as much as you can. Samples, Code Snappets, Help Files and always keep your try-out code it doesn't matter how badly it was written but it shows how things are done... I have a map that is a bit smaller than AliMonsters, but pretty big, where I collect everything and if I run into a problem I browse through it and mostly I find the answer! :)

Corpse^
09-11-2002, 12:09 AM
I agree, it was a big help to read manuals on Delphi, now I create Remote Administration Tool's for a company I am the co-founder of. Currently I am learning to program games, and I do enjoy a good challenge :)

pew1234
11-11-2002, 02:57 AM
Hi Folks,

Also by Macro Cantu is Essential Delphi available from here in pdf format:

http://www.marcocantu.com/edelphi/

Just follow the link Essential_delphi_103.pdf (1.3 Mb)

It looks good. :-)))

Regards,
--- Peter W. :-)))
Canberra, Australia