Visual Basic 6 MTS Programming centers on the important role of Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) for creating scalable solutions in Visual Basic 6. For the intermediate or advanced Visual Basic (VB) developer, this tools-based tutorial to today's VB provides a solid working guide to building components for the Microsoft platform. Perhaps the principal strength of this book is its use of the actual tools that let VB developers create and deploy scalable components that use transactions and MTS.The text shows you the actual screen shots for setting VB component options, for security under MTS and Windows NT, and for MTS deployment (and packages). Of course, the author does a good job with the theory behind DCOM and transactions, including design principles for successful objects. But the coverage of real-world tools for deploying and administering (even debugging) objects on the Windows platform are a real standout here.
For its examples, this book relies on objects that store user IDs, passwords for Web sites, and later an excellent case study on a sales order database application. Included here is good coverage of back-end database issues (centering on SQL Server 7) and ASP-based Web development.
Not only is this book arguably the best source for getting the inner details on today's MTS, but its coverage of COM+ (available on Windows 2000) also provides a valuable preview of the future evolution of MTS. The practical focus of this book will make it a good choice for anyone who appreciates a more hands-on approach. In all, Visual Basic 6 MTS Programming provides an up-to-date guide to using VB to create objects that make good use of the Microsoft platform. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: MTS basics, MTS Explorer, distributed architectures, Microsoft Distributed Internet Architecture (DNA) and DCOM fundamentals, transaction basics, MTS component development, object persistence, packages, MTS and Windows NT security, debugging, performance and administration, SQL Server, MS DTC, ASP basics, and COM+.
