X-Organization: Penn State University / University Libraries
X-Envelope-to: win3-l@UICVM.BITNET
X-VMS-To: WIN3_L
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.win3-l
Date:         Thu, 12 Nov 1992 16:24:00 EST
From:         "J.Lance Wilkinson, 814-865-1818" <JLW@PSULIAS.BITNET>
Subject:      Windows Function documentation

I'm just starting to cut my teeth in Windows Programming.  I purchased Charles
Petzold's _Programming_Windows_3.1_ and found it to be very, very useful.
However, I guess I'm too much of an old-style programmer at heart -- I want to
understand exactly what all the arguments are for in functions he calls from
all those Windows libraries...

When I was just using C and MS-DOS, Ray Duncan's books on IBM ROM BIOS and
MS-DOS FUNCTIONS were pretty adequate.  So I guess I'm looking for *reference*
works on the Windows callable functions/Application Programming Interface
(API).  First, is there anything that describes these functions out on the
network, available for anonymous FTP?  Preferably PostScript so it's legible
on 8.5x11 pages?  Lacking that, any book recommentations (ISBN #'s will help
as well as author & exact title)? I've already looked at the 4-volume Microsoft
Windows Programmer's Reference, but it's a little too rich for my blood after
shelling out $49.95 for Petzold -- volume 2 might have just what I need but
we're talking another $39.95, and it looks like volume 3 at $29.95 would be
needed, too.

I currently am using Borland C++ 3.0; it has all the libraries and at least two
folks have told me they *thought* all the docs from the Windows Software
Developers' Kit (SDK) were part of the package.  But I've yet to find it unless
it's hidden as doc files with non-representative names in the BORLANDC\DOCS
directory ;-)  This kind of documentation certainly isn't in the booklets that
came in the box.  There seems to be online help in that under Turbo C++ for
Windows I can select a function name, then select HELP and eventually get to
a specific description of the selected function, including Windows functions,
but a hardcopy is easier to browse through and, for that matter, take home to
read during "personal library" time (aw, c'mon.  You *know* where I mean...
Where else can somebody with 2 cats, 1 puppy and 2 preschoolers get any
peace ;-).

I've searched using GOPHER and ARCHIE throughout the net and the only SDK
files I've been able to find don't include these kind of things either.

Microsoft of course is a reasonable source, but like any other project I needed
them yesterday.  If such a manual set is available in any form, for WINDOWS 3.1
(*NOT* Win 32, *NOT* WIN NT, *NOT* Windows pre-3.1), I'd like to know where and
how to get it.  Since I'd prefer the boss to buy it, it's gotta be the lowest
cost option, too -- especially since if he won't buy it I'll have to pay for
it myself!

+-"Never Underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of mag tapes"--+
| J.Lance Wilkinson ("Lance")            BitNet:    JLW@PSULIAS.BITNET      |
| Systems Design Specialist - Lead       InterNet:  JLW@PSULIAS.PSU.EDU     |
| Library Computing Services         AT&T:(814) 865-1818 FAX:(814)863-3560  |
| E8 Pattee Library                      "I'd rather be dancing..."         |
| Penn State University         A host is a host from coast to coast,       |
| University Park, PA 16802     And no one will talk to a host that's close |
| <POSTMAST@PSULIAS.BITNET>     Unless the host that isn't close            |
| <POSTMAST@PSUCES.BITNET>      Is busy, hung or dead.                      |
+------"He's dead, Jim. I'll get his tricorder. You take his wallet."-------+
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU