C++ Programmer's Notebook: An Illustrated Quick Reference - Softcover

Keogh, James Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0135259401 ISBN 13: 9780135259405

Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 1997

Synopsis

A tutorial/reference to C++++ uses graphics to illustrate key concepts and provides programmers with a clear picture of how to develop applications, providing accompanying illustrations for every included code examples. Original. (All Users).

About this title

About the Author

JIM KEOGH has written more than 30 books about computers including UNIX Programming for Dummies, Visual FoxPro for Dummies, Best Free UNIX Utilities, and Solving the Year 2000 Problem. Keogh spent over a decade developing mission critical systems for major Wall Street firms. He is a professor of computer science at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey, and lectures at seminars at Columbia University. He is a former columnist and contributing editor to Popular Electronic Magazine where he wrote the Programmer's Notebook column. Keogh is also a former associate editor of Personal Communication Magazine.

From the Back Cover

“Show me the code!” The easy, visual approach to C++.

Finally, there's a book that presents C++ the way you want to learn it --from real, working code! C++ Programmer's Notebook is so visual, so sensible, so convenient, you'll wonder why nobody thought of it before. See for yourself!

• The code comes first! Start by looking at proven code samples you can just copy and run!
• Everything's highlighted in boldface type, so you instantly see the basic C++ syntax, and what you have to add to it.
• All the rules are neatly summarized in a convenient table!

And if you want to know more, it's right there for you on the adjacent left-hand page.

C++ Programmer's Notebook isn't just convenient: it's comprehensive. And it's carefully, logically organized to build your expertise one step at a time. It covers all the C++ concepts you need to know, including:

• Variables
• Arrays
• Overloading
• Files and Streams
• Operators
• Strings
• Inheritance
• Memory Management
• Expressions
• Program Control
• Pointers
• Storing/Searching for Data
• Structures
• Objects
• Virtual Functions
• Data Structures
• Functions
• Classes
• I/O
• Templates

There's even a programmer's checklist for writing efficient, reliable code.

It's a complete course in C++ without the pain! Whether you're a professional programmer learning C++, a C++ programmer needing a quick reference, or a student, this is the C++ book you'll use every day!

From the Inside Flap

Preface

Software developers strive to build complex computer applications quickly, accurately, and at a reasonable expense. The methodology that is used by many developers is modular programming. This is a technique where the developer divides the application into logical components, each of which can be built independently and reused in other applications.

These modules are referred to as subroutines, procedures, or functions, depending on which computer language is used. In the C++ programming language as well as in C, these modules are called functions. Regardless of the name, however, modules are limited. The modular programming approach to software design, at times, makes modeling into computer code a real life problem and a difficult task. A real life problem involves real objects. For example, tracking college registration requires that a registration form be used. This registration form is an object. In fact, the form is actually composed of many objects, such as places to enter data and text that provides instructions to the applicant. A real object has both data and procedures associated with an object. For example, a single copy (called an instance) of the registration has the student's name, course information, and other data that is directly related to only that copy of the form. Also associated with the form are the steps that are required to enter data onto the form and to process that copy of the form.

Traditional modularity does not lend itself to using an object-oriented design approach when translating a real life problem into a computer application. Object-oriented design requires software developers to visualize a real life object as an object and not as a set of procedures. For example, a college registration form is a physical object that is composed of other objects, such as a place to enter data and labels that provide directions for completing the form.

The C programming language provided flexibility for developers. They could write low-level applications, such as an operating system using C. C was also a language that could be used to create a simple business application. However, C could not properly handle an object-oriented design specification of an application.

In the early 1980s at Bell Laboratories, the birthplace of the C programming language, Bjarne Stroustrup created an enhancement of C called C++. Stroustrup set out to give the C language the capability of using code to better represent a real life object. He transformed the C programming language from a procedural language into an object-oriented language. C++ is a superset of C. That is, C++ has all the capabilities as C plus more features.



A Touch of Class

A real life object has both data and procedures associated with the object. This association is represented in C++ code through the use of a class. A class defines a real life object as having a set of data (called data members) and procedures (called function members). A copy of the class is created by the software developer by using the name of the class to declare an instance of the class. The instance is given a unique name. This technique is illustrated later in this book. The instance of the class has its own copy of data and functions. Stroustrup also gave C++ the capability to share classes (called inheritance). This enables software developers to use other classes (called base classes) to build new classes (called derived classes). Return to the example of the registration form. The form is a new object that is composed of data (called an edit object) and text (called label objects). An edit object relates the data and the function members to accept, edit, and validate the data. A label object can store text used in the label and has function members that handle fonts, and other characteristics that can be used for the label. Therefore, when the software developer needs to build a form, such as the student registration form, the developer can create instances of the edit and label objects. All of the text editing capabilities (i.e., insertion and deletion of characters) are inherited.



The Picture Book Approach

C++, as any computer language, is complex and has many rules that must be obeyed. Learning those rules can be time-consuming, especially for readers who already know how to program in a language other than C++. Those readers want to jump into the language and begin writing simple code almost immediately. Many programmers who learn C++ as their second language have their own philosophy about learning the language. "Show me sample code and I'll figure out the rest," is a statement that summarizes their approach. And that's what I do in this book.

The picture book concept places the focus of the book on a picture of the code. Around this picture are callouts that describe each keyword and statement. The rules are presented in tables that are positioned near the picture. Furthermore, there is a picture for each variation of the topic that is discussed in the chapter. A reader who wants to jump into C++ can study the picture, then copy the code into a compiler and make the executable program without having to sift through pages of text. The rules can be referenced later, when the reader needs to expand this use of the routine.

This approach is not intended to circumvent a thorough presentation of the C++ language. In fact, this book presents C++ in its completion. Instead, the picture-book approach presents material in the way programmers want to learn a new computer language.



Navigating This Book

I organized this book into traditional chapters. Each chapter covers a topic of C++ in a logical progression. So, if you are not familiar with the basics of C++, then begin with the first chapter and continue through each chapter in progression. At the end of the last chapter you will have a good foundation in C++. However, these chapters can be used also for quick reference. Jump to the chapter that discusses the topic that you want to review. The topic within the chapter is presented in its entirety with a focus on examples of code.

Each chapter is further divided into two-page spreads. That is, careful attention is given to the relationship between the left and right pages. The left page contains text that describes the topic that is illustrated on the right page. The right page focuses on C++ code that contains callouts describing each facet of the code example.

The most efficient way to use a two-page spread is to first study the example on the right page. If you understand the function of each statement in the example, then you can continue and write your own program. However, if a statement or keyword is confusing, then read the callout that describes the item. Still confused? Read the text on the left page.

Careful attention is given to clarity of the code example, the right page. You will notice that the syntax of the C++ code is shown in color. Parts of the statements that are not colored are pieces that the programmer creates. For example, the statement char code; declares a character variable. char and the semicolon (;) are colored. They are part of the syntax of C++. The word code, however, is the name of a variable that can be any name that complies with the rules of C++. This style is similar to the concept used with Integrated Development Environments (IDE) such as used in Borland C++ and Microsoft Visual C++.



All code in this book can be found at the following FTP site:

/ftp/pub/ptr/professional_computer_science.w.-022/keogh/c++_notebook.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0135259401
• ISBN 13: 9780135259405
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 457