Visual C++ 6 Core Language Little Black Book provides a worthy C++ language reference, as well as a guide to using Visual C++ 6 tools. Although it lacks extensive material on Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), this title can earn a place on any intermediate or advanced C++ programmer"s bookshelf. The book first reviews the nuts and bolts of the C++ language, and subsequent sections look at C library functions. Both standard C and the Win32 "wide-character" versions of functions are documented together--for instance, printf() and wprintf()--along with the support for each function in Windows 95/98 and/or Windows NT. Later sections look at the C++ Standard Library string class and some searching functions (though STL container classes are not covered). The remainder of the text concentrates on Visual C++ tools, like its ClassView, ClassWizard, and resource editors. Specific areas of MFC development include DDX/DDV dialog box programming, open database connectivity/Database Access Object (ODBC/DAO) database basics, and some hints for ActiveX control development. However, don"t look for extensive coverage of MFC or ActiveX Template Library (ATL) classes here. The focus is on using the various Visual Studio tools effectively. Though it concentrates most on standard C++, "Visual C++ 6 Core Language Little Black Book" offers a quick and handy reference to some of the most important aspects of the language for the working developer. --Richard Dragan