http://www.microsoft.com/DEVNEWS/MASTVC.HTM (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)

Learning Your MFCs: Microsoft's Newest CD Learning Tool Is 'Mastering Visual C++'

February 16, 1996

Microsoft plans a late-February release for "Mastering Microsoft Visual C++," a new, interactive learning tool that takes developers through the steps required to create professional-level solutions using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC).

"Mastering Microsoft Visual C++" includes over 40 hours of instruction on how to:

Create user interface constructs
Display text and graphics device interface (GDI) elements
Implement persistence
Integrate user-defined classes into the document-view architecture
Build dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) that link to MFC applications
Implement database support using open database connectivity (ODBC) and data access object (DAO)
Create and use OLE Controls
Add Help to applications
Extend printing and print preview capabilities to applications

Third title in 'Mastering' series

"Mastering Visual C++" is the third title in the Microsoft Mastering Series of interactive learning tools. "Mastering Microsoft Visual FoxPro" and "Mastering Microsoft Visual Basic"shipped late in 1995.

Narrated demos and lab exercises

Two features widely admired in the first pair of titles are narrated demos and lab exercises. In "Mastering Visual C++," users can watch a developer demonstrate how to create a floating tool bar--one of over 50 demos in the title--or learn how to build a custom OLE control in one of the 25 interactive lab exercises.

The demos and labs are accessible from the context of a modular course on MFC programming. The lessons are based on the same material delivered in a five-day classroom course, giving developers comprehensive instruction that is structured in a flexible format. In addition to lessons, demos, and labs, there are over 100 MFC code examples that can be copied and pasted directly into the developer's copy of Microsoft Visual C++.

Availability

"Mastering Visual C++" will be available in retail software stores at the end of February, for an estimated retail price of US$99.95 ($139 CAN). Outside the U.S. and Canada, contact your local Microsoft subsidiary for availability and price (see "The Right Numbers").