Software Books

I found this to be the best book to improve bridge for an intermediate player. I've read it four times and learned from each chapter each time. Since one plays defense on half the hands, it provides the best time investment to improve one's bridge play. It is also an entertianing read. I have recommended it to the bridge players I mentor.

Kantar is exceptionally readable, with a sense of humor which makes a difficult subject enjoyable. He goes through much material, but quite thoroughly and clearly. It's a book that needs to be studied - not merely read - but a good student will gain enormously from Kantar's work.

Kantar today is more noted as a bridge instructor than a bridge player. But one must remember that he is both and his latest book demonstrated both the instructional and practical sides. It is (as usual) clear, concise and ro the point. I like Kantar's prose, his ease of explanation and the way he sets just the right tone. Of course, he discusses the bid, the opponent and, most important, keeping track of the play while counting the cards (the one thing that separates the professional from the amateur). Good book with tons of examples.

This is a great book on defense, because Kantar covers almost every intermediate situation comprehensively and give you black and white rules for every situation. He doesn't in this book consider varied leading/signalling conventions but just gives one way to play, but that's fine as he explains his method clearly and shows why he recommends everything he does. I'd recommend it to every player.

The book focuses on leads, signals (Attitude, Count, Suit Preference), and how to card (what card to play in 2nd or 3rd spot), rather than general defensive principles.

The content is excellent, well presented (humorous!!), and best of all, has lots of quizzes. None of this skimming a section and figuring you know it, the quiz will let you find out for certain.

2 warnings:

1) make sure your partner is using the same techniques, otherwise you may get worse results. Its not that the ideas in the book are radical, they are mainstream. But if pard doesn't understand your signal, they may do something weird and you will be worse off.

2) The book is a bit technical (5 situations where this is a suit preference signal. If Dummy wins with a Q then signal count, otherwise ... If you can see the X in dummy then pard will know to do this, else that, etc.
You will need to reread it several times, and probably make notes.

VALUABLE STUFF, but ONLY as part of a partnership that understands each other.

This book is a great guide for all FileMaker Pro developers interested in working with XML. Beverly Voth clearly has a strong grasp of both FileMaker Pro and Markup Languages. I found this book well organized, easy to follow and filled with useful information.

I've read many books regarding FileMaker Pro. In the few that mention XML, it is an afterthought. Beverly Voth's book is in depth, detailed and formatted in a manner that makes it readable, understandable and usable to both novice and professional developers.

The page layouts and presentation of the code and formatting is first rate. I was able to put what I learned into practice on day one of reading the book. This is a must have for all FileMaker Pro Programmers. I've recommended it to all my programmers. I recommend it to all who plan to ride the wave of the future with FileMaker Pro's XML features.

Ray Clements

Beverly Voth has written the "bible" on FileMaker Pro/XML integration. She takes what can be a daunting subject, and leads you logically from topic to topic, with demo files and plenty of code examples to illustrate her points. From the eight-page table of contents (in outline form) to the detailed index, this book is exceptionally well laid out, and has plenty to offer both the novice and the veteran FileMaker developer. This book does not suffer from the "we didn't have time, budget or inclination to proofread adequately" syndrome that plagues so many computer books these days... it flows beautifully, and I have yet to find a single typo.

Finally a handy book that clearly explains XML and XSLT from a FileMaker perspective.

It is obvious when reading through this material, that Beverly Voth writes from experience. Her book is well researched, has a firm grasp of the FileMaker XML grammars and provides lots and lots of examples that make it easy for a developer to adopt this technology.

This book is full of useful tips, hints and clear explanations. There are many simple step by step exercises, XML and XSLT examples along with many do's and dont's that take the pain out of the development cycle.

The guide is complete with a useful list of resources, links and references and a glossary of acronyms and terms.

I use FileMaker applications everyday, I write stylesheets and now I always keep this book next to my computer as a quick reference and useful guide.

The release of Beverly Voth's Guide is well worth our wait. While exhaustive, the writing is clear and not exhausting. She has given us the definitive textbook on this thorny, difficult subject, starting at the outside and working in. While breaking apart the various layers into edible morsels, Ms. Voth does not sugar-coat the complexities of her subject; she simply makes them disappear.

This book has helped me a lot for the TV commercial to be created in Flash..I thank the author of the book for this wonderfull help..

In order to use the examples in this book you will need a MacIntosh. You will also have buy quite a number of third-party plugins. If you own a Mac and have money for plugins than this is a very helpful book.

But look elsewhere if you only have a Windows computer and want to use only Flash for video work.

An excellent Flash book. It goes through every aspect of the production process, from writing the script to exporting to videotape. It tells you how to prepare your Flash animations the right way, and provides information on the correct project size, frame rate, title & action safe guides, etc. for broadcast. This information is invaluable if you ever intend to submit your Flash animation to a festival or studio, and you have to export your movie out to videotape. I also found the interviews with seasoned Flash animators to be very insightful. You will not regret buying this book.

If you're a traditional animator or a web-based flash animator (all levels), "Flash MX Design for TV and Video" IS the definitive guide to taking your flash animation to video, television and DVD. Not only is this book chock full of animation techniques, it also explores working with sound, flash video capabilities and limitations, visual storytelling and cross-purposing, the process of designing your project with a variety of delivery options in mind. This book is a must-have for every serious Flash Animator seeking to take their flash stories to the next level. We are proud to recommend it to our FlashTV members.

Nicholas Da Silva, ...

Its just a mater time before more quality content shifts from the workstations to the living rooms of the world. This is the definitive guide on bridging Flash content for the Web to Television. A truly indespensible reference for any Flash professional wanting to make the transition.
Janet Galore and Todd Kelsey lay it all out clearly and write in an easy to read style that doesn't skimp on details. The entire book is laden with terrific artwork and helpful screen grabs that support the text. Very undaunting for the visually inclined.
The sections on video exporting, and postproduction effects was particularly eye opening. this section alone cleared a lot uncertainty for me.
While this book won't make the reader a better Flash animator/designer, it most definately will make any level Animator or designer a more informed artist. It will open a lot of doors personaly and in the hands of a talented, creative person, change the ever evolving face of the Flash community indelibly.

I've been a professional animator for over 10 years and I found this to be a valuable resource. It's written by some very talented people over at Animax Entertainment, who have tons of production experience. It offers great organizational tips and tricks for building and animating your characters. It also gives so much insight from the perspective of working on a larger productive team. Sure it's easy to develop your own ways of working when you work by yourself, but the suggestions in this book are a very smart and efficient approach for working on any sized project. They also give you a list of plugins that will help... and even describe how to make them work for you. And the information on how to make use of After Effects is just fantastic. I've adopted so many time-saving ways to work... things I never knew about in all of my years using Flash! I am using this book constantly for reference as I work on my new cartoon project. Thanks guys!

I found very helpful the guides given by the authors. I was trying to figure out how develop a short cartoon animation in a correct way and after I read this book I found the answers. Thanks!

If you're looking for a book that teaches you how to draw in Flash, this is not the book for you. It will, however, teach you the nuts and bolts of animation, the technical information necessary to make animation less time consuming, which is a must-have imo.

This book is a must for everyone who is tired of animating on paper and wishes to digitalize their work completely in Flash or After Effects. The book covers many great aspects including; making shortcuts of your workflow with user made extensions, brilliant tips & tricks and personal advices how to make life easier for the animators.

This book is also amazing for those who already have knowledge of Flash or After Effects, but wish to enhance their skills or take their production to the next level.

After reading this book, my animation workflow and quality improved.

Best recommendations from here.


-Alex Volkov (Flash Animator)

There are many books about cartoon animation in Flash. What sets this book apart from the rest is the approach the authors have taken to make this book much more than just another step-by-step book about drawing and animating characters. Foundation Flash Cartoon Animation is for the animator who needs to stretch beyond the mechanics of the Flash tools and perfect the decision-making process necessary to become a productive animator. One of the biggest questions that is answered in this book is when to use Flash and how to use it most efficiently. The next question is what tasks are beyond Flash's capabilities and when to turn to another software such as After Effects.

The authors assume that the reader has a basic knowledge of Flash and the principles of animation. Because of this, you will find only a few step-by-step examples. What they do cover thoroughly is every phase of the production process for cartoon animation from planning, storyboards and animatics to post-production and delivery. The approach for this book is to examine working examples which can be downloaded from the publisher's website.

If you have ever created a complex character animation including lip synching and facial expressions, then you know that your character must be divided into a large number of individual animated parts. This is why the authors dedicate a whole chapter to organization and using the Flash library system to build character libraries. As you progress through the process from head comps and onward, the authors show when it is best to draw from scratch and when to use Flash symbols. Storyboards and animatics are next in the production process and the book covers several decisions that must be made such as choosing between traditional, hand-drawn storyboards and the digital method in Flash.

Moving from the planning stages to character creation, the authors discuss the technical and organizational issues such as Flash file structures and project architecture. They take a look at several working examples to give the reader a comprehensive overview of this topic. One of the most helpful aspects of this book is how the authors help you decide when Flash is not enough to get the job done and how to expand Flash's capabilities with plug-ins. They discuss several of their favorites, how to find more on the web and when to make your own.

One of the most important decisions that an animator will need to make is the choice between traditional frame by frame animation and tweening. The authors share their four step process for frame by frame animation and then discuss tweening and how to avoid common mistakes.

I mentioned earlier that the authors discuss the use of a dedicated motion graphic software such as After Effects to take your Flash project to a higher level of quality and sophistication. They discuss some of the advantages to using After Effects for editing and composition such as complex camera movements and 3D effects.

Flash has been plagued by one major drawback since its conception a decade ago and that is the extreme "digital" look of the vector artwork created in Flash. The authors share several tips and suggestions for enhancing your Flash project to achieve a more "hand-drawn" appearance to your animation including line styles and color choices. They also cover the digital equivalents for traditionally hand-drawn special effects such as distortion, drag, fade in/out and blurs.

This book was a joint effort of several authors. Tim Jones is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer and head of production at ANIMAX Entertainment. Barry J. Kelly is an Emmy Award-winning editor and artist and is also a member of ANIMAX Entertainment. Allan S. Rosson is animation director at ANIMAX Entertainment and has over twenty years experience as an animator. David Wolfe was an animator at ANIMAX Entertainment and is now with Cartoon Network Studios.

Nicholas is a genius. This book is outstanding and the information is easy to follow. This is not mad science. His methods really work. I work in sales and I can tell you that I am now making more money and friends. This should be a required read for all politicians, salespeople, management and entrepreneurs. I have read and/or listened to hundreds of business and communication books. This is book defiantly is in the top 3. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Interesting and fascinating - very easy to follow - good examples and exercises. One of the best books on rapport building and the use of NLP. Lots of useful other goodies. Bravo!

Very smooth flowing. Very charming and informative. I've listened to it three times in a month. Definately a must have for wanting to network.

I am only half way through this book, but in the two days I have had it, I have not been able to put it down! It is incredibly eye opening and I find myself following Boothman's advice already in my everyday interactions. This book is well worth a read.

This book is easy to read, gives exercises that enables you to use what you have read and puts you in a position to get more out of your life. If you want to be more effective in ALL your communication, get this book.

I've your fantastic book, How to Do Everything with Your PC, and I do have to say it's the best book I've purchased yet! It's answered just about every question I've had. Just about everything a person can think of about using a Windows PC is answered in this book, from doing my email, getting on the Internet, even making digital movies -- it's answered in this book.

How To Do Everything With Your PC is more than a simple introduction to personal computers. Robert Cowart has written a thoroughly "user friendly" and comprehensive guide to how even the most novice computer user can take full advantage of all the capabilities computer technology has to offer them. Every aspect is methodically covered including selecting the PC that best meets a particular need; effectively using the Windows operating system; customizing the Web browser; upgrading equipment and troubleshooting problems on the system with ease and confidence; getting connect to, and efficiently using, the Internet; managing personal finances on the PC; building a home computer network (including a wireless network); manipulating digital photographs on the PC; creating a "digital jukebox" with the PC; synchronizing data from the PC to a handheld device or laptop; and much, much more. How To Do Everything With Your PC is very highly recommended for those new to computers -- and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced users.

If you're looking to get the maximum use from your PC investment, this is the book to read. The book gives you concise information on how to set up your PC and perform routine maintanence. There's also sections on using peripheral hardware, setting up your own Web site, and using with the software that comes bundled with most PCs. I learned volumes by reading this well-written, easy to understand book and can highly recommend it to anyone who owns a PC and wants to get the most from it.

I have read the entire book and enjoyed every minute of it. The most important thing however is this: Cowart's book is very,very good, and he is more than knowledgeable in his field. The book is one that you will retuirn to time and time again, for answers. You bought, or are thinking of buying it for one reason: to learn more about your computer. This book has all the answers to probably 95% of the questions you may have. It covers nearly everything about computers that readers want to know and to learn. It is easy to understand, and for the person who is new to computers, this is a must. It has a well thought out Index which is also of importance to those who don't understand their new machine. For more experienced users,this book is for you too. It's a reference book you'll enjoy,and use, for a long time.By the time it becomes obsolete, I expect Robert Cowart to write an updated version; but that time isn't anytime soon.

The book was actually for my wife (who hates computers and hates manuals even more), yet needs them in her business. She keeps the book on her desk as a reference. It does not use technobabble and is not boring. The index is good. It is written a lot like asking a friend for help. It is not intimidating. Now I am about to order another one for myself.

The format and content was unusual - light hearted and entertaining, yet helpful and complete. I have been using computers since working on mainframes in college in 1958. Even with this background, I found the book helpful and informative. I often get phone calls from friends and customers about their computer problems and have already purchased three additional copies of the book for their use.

I highly recommend the book for all users from beginner to veteran.

thank you very much. delivery made in very short time, used book in excellent conditions.

great,

thank you

A well thought out book, easy to read and understand without knowing HTML or CSS. This is one of those book you cannot trash but only keep in your packet.

HTML Dog is an amazing book for those who works with web sites development. Easy to read, easy to use, cheap to buy!

This book is not a comprehensive encyclopedia of every CSS nuance, but it presents all the main areas in a very clear, but not dumbed-down manner. Basically it answered my three questions:
1. I wanted to re-write an older web site using CSS and modern HTML web stds, so where do I start?
2. What is my best approach?
3. Why would I want to do it that way?
So along the way it clarified for me how I should use divs for page structure, improve my navigation lists, specify font size in the best manner, and most of all how to use css in a structured way with minimal rewriting of styles etc for subtle changes in page requirements.
The book is probably most useful if you want to follow his emphasis and use XHTML Strict with CSS.
Very nicely written, very cleanly laid out. The associated website is useful, but the book stands alone as a very useful reference or starter for someone wanting to design their pages in an effective standards-based way.

He has nice writing and presentation style.
The book presents a nice introduction to those looking for a quick information. The quick is actually questionable, since you will have to go to his website and click each link to see output of simple HTML tag illustrations.

It lacks depth on many topics, and having to go to his home page to see the outputs of simple tag illustrations is boring. Books should have the information where I needed it, quickly see the output to know what is going on. If I need an e-book, I will buy one.
Most of the illustrations only give a real web-site, and not the codes he is trying to illustrate.
Whether he is got a nice web-site is not really relevant.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

Texts, tables and charts that make my CPA's and Attorney's wonder who did my business plan!

Tim Berry has purchased three of my business plans for publishing in his Business Plan Pro software system and this book comes with that plan.

If you buy the software at Staples or Best Buy, you'll find this excellent book inside. It is amazing at helping you develop a concise plan!

I needed to write a business plan for a service organization. Since it was back in 1988 when I wrote my last one, I bought six books on the subject. One was absolutely useless, two were written by people who had obviously never operated a company, which suggests to be careful when buying books on the subject. One was ok, one reasonably good, and Berry's was the best of all of them, though not perfect. At least it caused me to think like an investor who reads the plan before giving his money to people who he doesn't know from Adam.

This book was pretty good. It is currently in its 5th edition, and acts as a marketing tool for the author's software called Business Plans Pro. In fact, this book comes free with the software if you purchase it. Personally, I am not a fan of business plan software because I think it allows the user to think of a business plan as artwork rather than a research paper assignment. But that's just me.

As business plan books go, this is a good one. It is well outlined, well written, and informative. It includes the following six parts:

1. Fundamentals
2. Tell Your Story
3. Gathering Information
4. Forecasting
5. Financial Analysis
6. Strategy and Tactics

It also includes two sample business plans, a workbook for helping to prepare a business plan, and a glossary of business plan terms. I especially liked the price since I found it as a free download off the Internet last week. 3.2 MB in size, but the price was right.

Anyway, I had a few problems with the book. Business plans are supposed to be handbooks that tell entrepreneurs how to turn their business models on paper into business models functioning in the real world. And a business model is a profit model that is a system that allows the business owner to extract cash from her customers while creating a profit that she can live on. Anybody in business knows that if they don't have customers, then they don't have a business. And anybody who stays in business knows that they have to have a sound marketing plan that finds prospects for their business that can be converted into customers. This book is lacking because it does not cover how to research a marketing plan or to write one. For me, this was a BIG problem.

Funny thing is that at Figure 12-1 in the book there is a sample Marketing Expense Budget. Why did the author include this exhibit without explaining somewhere in the book how to write a marketing plan. Since the author included this exhibit it seems clear to me the author knows a marketing plan is necessary and required. At Chapter 17 there is about a page devoted to "promotion strategies." But this was just too little and too late to keep me happy.

The author also asserts at various places in the book that a business plan is not the most important requirement for starting a business. He says customers are. I strongly disagree. What comes first: the business plan or the customer? I assert the plan does! Without the plan there never will be a customer. But overall, I liked the book, and it's better than just OK. 4 stars!

This was a very easy and clear read. The best book on business planning that I have ever read. It's refreshing to know that you don't need a MBA to read and write a clear business plan. Great examples and figures throughout.

This is the most pragmatic, easy to understand, and easy to follow book for creating a business plan I have found yet. "Hurdle" is designed for those that want to benefit from what a business plan can offer their business. The chapter "About Business Numbers" is the best I have read to understand the numbers behind a business and how they relate to the business plan. A quick read, a great resource, and a sound business investment. After reading "Hurdle", I wouldn't plan without it.

The only C# book that I have two of...
One at home...
One at work...

You will probably need a more basic book if you are a beginer.
But I would make this my second book.

If you are coming over from C++, then make this
your first book on C#

This book is one of the worlds best kept secrets on
learning C#. I'm lucky that I took a chance on it.

Not only are the visuals great, but the selection of topics are great also.

Explains more or less basic features but does it in such a way as to stick in your head (Like Head First series claim, but this is done in a way that I prefer).

Even know I am a seasoned programmer, I still highly recommend this to novice and above for reference. Apress is starting to become my favorite programming publisher....

Wow, I just read half of this book. I never wrote a book review before. I don't know what say. I was so suprised. It is just so GOOD!!! I have read several other highly rated C# books before. But none of these book can give me so clear explanation like this book does. It solved many of my misunderstandings of a lot of concepts by giving simple examples with visual figures.

Probably my favorite programming book that I've read to date. I read it completely in two nights, it's just incredibly engaging (as nerdy as that sounds). I just like the way this author explains things. It's like you're sitting with a friend of yours that just tells you what you need to know in a very clear no-nonsense way. This is the very best book to learn C#. It is especially helpful for people coming from a Java or C++ background.

I purchased this book about a few weeks ago for roughly $40 inlcuding postage. A few days later the price dropped to $12 and some stores are selling the book at around $8.... l0l

There are many books about the Rational Unified Process (RUP) and how to put it in place, but this one is SPECIAL. Fundamentally, It is:
- Concise the main body is under 150 pages, including diagrams and tables)
- To the point (it wastes no time delving in the details of RUP concepts for which there already are many good references)
- Practical (It deals with the realities of championing and managing RUP adoption in a real commercial environment, NOT what you might do in an academic setting)
- Comprehensive (It addresses the strategic, financial, and political aspects of the task, not merely the technical aspects)

It also provides a critical benefit over other comparable books, namely a strategy to deal with a problem that has plagued RUP throughout its existense: Its size and complexity.
Although there is consensus in the software industry that you cannot turn a novice organization into a mature RUP outfit in one fell swoop, very little is said on how to scale and evolve expectations over time, from conducting successful pilots, to disseminating the method across the entire organization, on to growing the organization through graduated maturity levels of adoption. This books fills that gap.

Two "caveat" worth mentioning:
1- This book assumes that you are an experienced RUP practioner and consequently says very little in the way of RUP concepts
2- This book is (mercifully) short which is absolutely necessary to NOT put the reader to sleep. As a result, while it provides a clear and concrete picture of the adoption process, it does not "dot all the i's" nor "cross all the t's". In other words, after you read this book, you will have a clear idea of the road ahead, but it will take ample effort to get yourself to the point where you can walk it ... blindfolded.

Implementing process in a large organization is a huge challenge not just technically but socially. Joshua Barnes gets this, "people are slow to change and react to change in different ways". His book should be required reading for anyone working to improve process efficiency and effectiveness.

The number one reason process adoption projects fail is because there isn't visible support from upper management. Barnes's book focuses on ROI at every step and wages the key arguements to gain the support from both the top and the roots. His guidance also outlines a model to support the change so that process improvement lasts and continues, instead of people reverting back to old practices.

As this book states, leading a RUP implementation without the right subject matter expertise significantly limits your odds of success. I am currently working with Joshua on a large scale RUP/Rational Tool implementation and experienced life before and after having the right knowledge on-board. Joshua has guided multiple large scale implementations and has brought his accumulated base of implementation knowledge and lessons learned to bear. Joshua's book contains much of what he has learned and is an excellent handbook if you are planning to or are currently running a RUP / Rational Tool implementation of your very own.

There are many books out there on USING the Rational Unified Process (RUP) and the tools. However, guidance on IMPLEMENTING a methodology across an enterprise and how to achieve ROI with tools has not been readily available. Over the years I have seen organizations filled with RUP gurus and tools experts still fail in their Rational rollout, and unfortunately they often retreat to their previous chaotic process or lack thereof. As well, organizations struggle to make their ROI and capability & maturity improvements quantifiable.

This book provides tools, complete with real examples, to create a business case for RUP and productivity tools, shows how to increase capability through a structured mentoring program, and most importantly, how to assess your results to ensure your implementation is on track.

I, like Joshua, teach courses on implementing RUP and the tools. This book is clearly now THE reference text for my students.

This book is a must have for anyone implementing the RUP. It hits on a lot of key pieces of the puzzle that go far beyond the configuration of process material and process instancing.

One chapter I found invaluable is the chapter on mentoring. In my personal experiencing training alone has never been enough when trying to adopt the RUP. This chapter finally put into words for me what I have been trying to communicate to a lot of companies. I now have a place to refer them when I am trying to make my point.

Another chapter was the one on tooling. This is overlooked a lot. Making sure you have the tooling to support your process in an absolute must and this book brings that to light.

The book also comes with downloadable tools that make the practices in the book a reality. They add the value of making this a real world book, verses an academic view of process implementation.

This book was definitely worth getting.