The practice exam on the cd was terrible and some sections are a bit patchy. If you buy the equivalent book for 70-175 you'll find that about 60% of this book is duplicated in that book. However, this book was my only resource and I passed the exam with just over 780. I think I could have done much better had I bought transcender.

I used this book to pass the exam. I scored 957. I did get a few questions in the exam that were either not covered adequately or not at all in this book. But, I do feel that the book did provide a solid resource for the key parts of the exam, i.e. ADO, MTS, COM and n-tier technology. I would only recommend this book to people that have a fairly solid background in VB and want to pass the exam.

I used this book to pass the exam. I scored 957. I did get a few questions in the exam that were either not covered adequately or not at all in this book. But, I do feel that the book did provide a solid resource for the key parts of the exam, i.e. ADO, MTS, COM and n-tier technology. I would only recommend this book to people that have a fairly solid background in VB and want to pass the exam.

This book definitely covers almost everything that's on the exam.
However, I must agree with most reviewers that you need more than this book to pass the exam. With practice exams, (I purchased ones from Transcender) if you read this book thoroughly, and understand the core concepts that this book tries to touch, then you won't have any problem passing this exam. (and this exam isn't that hard anyway!)

Good luck,

I can't say this is a bad book, but after passing my exam I must say that if I would have use this as my only resource I wouldn't have acomplished that goal.

This book could be enough only for VERY experienced developers using Visual Basic, and especially in distributed environments, who are already comfortable using MTS and working with SQL Server. But other people who know Visual Basic, feel they could get certified, BUT haven't got loads of experience, like myself, should get other books, I used MCSD in a Nutshell and believe me that book is awsome.

In a few words, if you've got money to spare, get this book is not so bad, but if you really need efficient study material, or good reference items, there are better sources around here.

I can't say this is a bad book, but after passing my exam I must say that if I would have use this as my only resource I wouldn't have acomplished that goal.

This book could be enough only for VERY experienced developers using Visual Basic, and especially in distributed environments, who are already comfortable using MTS and working with SQL Server. But other people who know Visual Basic, feel they could get certified, BUT haven't got loads of experience, like myself, should get other books, I used MCSD in a Nutshell and believe me that book is awsome.

In a few words, if you've got money to spare, get this book is not so bad, but if you really need efficient study material, or good reference items, there are better sources around here.

I am a VB programmer for 2 years. I write most application on local machine. I have very little idea on how DCOM and MTS works.

The book is only good for basics. It gave me a good conceptual insight of how distribuetd COM stuff works. But the exam is more difficult and the scope is wider than the book covers.

You need to use other supplement to pass teh exam. I recommend Transcender and MSDN.

This book is an excellent resource for the MCSD exam. But it was written a few years ago, and it shows. If you are on a Windows 2000 system, the MTS section of the book is confusing. Windows 2000 uses the Component Services, which is basically MTS by another name. While you can still study most of the items, you'll find it confusing to do the exercises and labs dealing with MTS on a Windows 2000 system unless you know about this. It's not a difficult jump of reason to do the MTS items in Component Services, but the terminology needs translated. This book assumes a thurough understanding of developing with VB. It is a book on Distributed Applications...using VB as the example. You are often referred to the Desktop VB 6.0 book for the 70-176 exam. You'll need to suplement this book with something else. I suggest the Exam Cram books from Coriolis for the same exam.

PROS: Great resource for distributed VB. Excellent Sample exam, take it until you're getting 100%

CONS: This book presumes you have read the Desktop VB 6.0 book. It often referrs the user to that book for design issues. The MTS examples need to be translated for use on a Windows 2000 system.

TIPS: Take the sample exam! Read the MTS section thuroughly and memorize key issues like security, and how to use components in MTS. Is you're using Windows 2000, You'll need to memorize it because doing the exercises and labs is not very friendly on Windows 2000. Also, know the ADO and data access inside and out.

This book is an excellent resource for the MCSD exam. But it was written a few years ago, and it shows. If you are on a Windows 2000 system, the MTS section of the book is confusing. Windows 2000 uses the Component Services, which is basically MTS by another name. While you can still study most of the items, you'll find it confusing to do the exercises and labs dealing with MTS on a Windows 2000 system unless you know about this. It's not a difficult jump of reason to do the MTS items in Component Services, but the terminology needs translated. This book assumes a thurough understanding of developing with VB. It is a book on Distributed Applications...using VB as the example. You are often referred to the Desktop VB 6.0 book for the 70-176 exam. You'll need to suplement this book with something else. I suggest the Exam Cram books from Coriolis for the same exam.

PROS: Great resource for distributed VB. Excellent Sample exam, take it until you're getting 100%

CONS: This book presumes you have read the Desktop VB 6.0 book. It often referrs the user to that book for design issues. The MTS examples need to be translated for use on a Windows 2000 system.

TIPS: Take the sample exam! Read the MTS section thuroughly and memorize key issues like security, and how to use components in MTS. Is you're using Windows 2000, You'll need to memorize it because doing the exercises and labs is not very friendly on Windows 2000. Also, know the ADO and data access inside and out.

Just succesfully passed the 70-175 exam, so my impression is fresh. The book is a good preparion tool, but remember - it doesn't cover everything (I estimate it to 85%). Be prepared for following questions not covered here: 1. RDO - there is no one word in the book covering this topic, so refresh your knowledge about RDO. 2. Packaging and Deploying - expect several non-trivial questions not covered at all 3. Conceptual, logical and physical design - several non-trivial practice questions - I recommend reading the 70-100 Trainig Kit 4. Internet applications - several advanced questions, poorly covered in the book My preparation tools were: 1. The book 2. MSDN Articles 3. 7 years experience in VB 4.

I thought I knew all about COM programming in VB, but this book really cleared the air for me. The MTS chapter is awesome. All of the SQL Server labs are great. Much, much better than that Desktop training kit. Very well done.

This book helps those who want to pass the exam and also makes you ready for real world programming. With clarity and brevity the book guides you through the complex concept of classes in visual basic. Equiped with the understanding of classes the book takes you further to activeX components and tells more information in the labs and examples. ADO and how it is used in connection with SQL server is well covered with the two chapters of Advanced Database Topics and Stored procedures. Best of all, the Microsoft Transaction server is demystified with a good explanations and an associated lab. If you are looking for a book that is readable, interactive and direct to what matters in the exam with an eye to real world scenarios then this book is for you.

I have all the books in this series and give all the books 4 stars. Apart from the odd typo here and there, the books are well presented.

Exams 70-176 and 70-175 are relatively simple if you are a Visual C++ programmer who has only used Visual Basic as a test harness. The content of the Training Kits covers 80% of any exam (VC++ exams too) and was enough for me (just) pass them. If you also read the 'orange' books, you will get 100% for the VB exams.

'Desktop Applications for Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 MCSD Training Kit'

'Distributed Applications for Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 MCSD Training Kit'

'Programming Components With Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0'

'Programming Distributed Applications With COM and Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0' books.

There is some great stuff in this book. Good coverage of MTS, COM/DCOM, ADO... typical "bullet-point" style makes it good for highlighting and converting into flash-card material. There was very little on ASP and ActiveX Documents (little coverage in the appendix at the back), and the end-of-chapter reviews won't map very closely to the exam. The material will be somewhat helpful in preparing you for general concepts on the exam, but if you're looking for exam-style questions and specifics, use the exam cram series.

This book explains stored procedures, MTS Programming, ADO, COM, ActiveX controls clearly and briefly without the overhead, which makes you effectively RETAIN knowledge after reading the book. CONS: insufficient coverage of deployment and internet dev't. Nevertheless, I still loved the book! The book has been a worthwhile companion. And since my copy of the book is company property, I plan to buy a copy for myself soon.

Everyone who plans to take exam 70-175 (VB6 Distributed) or 70-176 (VB6 Desktop) can benefit from reading this book. In fact, the material in the first four chapters maps more closely to the Desktop exam than the Distributed exam. However, this should not be your only study source. It is definitely light on ActiveX Documents and Package and Deployment Wizard. Study these thoroughly before taking either exam.

I totally agree with the other review. This is NOT THE BOOK for the exam

This book lacks depth on the following Exam topics: RDO, IIS, DHTML and Active X Documents. It does a pretty good job on MTS. The labs are good. The sample test is not good. Use this book in conjunction with another study guide, such as the Exam Cram book.