User Interfaces in C#: Windows Forms and Custom Controls - Matthew MacDonald (Author)

IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, a deluge of books has hit store shelves, each one eager to explain the new programming philosophy of the world. In the excitement, many of these books have left out the tricks and insights you need to really master programming. Part of the problem is that no single work can cover the entire platform-a sprawling, ambitious framework that revolu- tionizes everything from Internet applications to data access technology. Many books provide a good overview of essential concepts, but they can't deal with the subtleties needed for all types of development. This book represents the start of the second wave of books: closely focused works that give you the insight of experienced developers about a single aspect of programming. User Interfaces in C#: Windows Forms and Custom Controls takes a close look at all the ingredients you can use to design state-of-the- art application interfaces. It also delves into entirely new topics like custom control design and GDI+, the next-generation painting framework for Windows. You don't just learn about anchoring and docking, you work with examples that show document-view architecture, custom control layout engines, dockable windows, and hit testing with owner-drawn controls. You also learn how to design irregularly shaped forms, unshackle data binding, and build an integrated help system.