TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

I. Introduction to Python

1. What Is Python?

Language Features
Python as an Integration Tool
Case Studies of Python Deployment
The Python Community
Installation and Setup
Conclusion

2. Python Language Review

A Crash Course
Conclusion
References

3. Python on Windows

The Python Core on Windows
The Python for Windows Extensions
The Python Imaging Library (PIL)
PyOpenGL
Web Publishing Tools
The mx Extensions
Scientific Tools

XML
Conclusion

4. Integrated Development Environments for Python

The PythonWin IDE
IDLE
Conclusion

5. Introduction to COM

What It Is
Using COM Objects from Python
Implementing COM Objects with Python
Globally Unique Identifiers
Conclusion

II. Building an Advanced Python Application

6. A Financial Modeling Toolkit in Python

Doubletalk
A Crash Course in Accounting
The Doubletalk Toolkit at Work
Conclusion

7. Building a GUI with COM

Designing COM Servers
A VB Client
Writing a Delphi User Interface
Conclusion

8. Adding a Macro Language

Dynamic Code Evaluation
Making an Application Extensible
Conclusion

9. Integration with Excel

Client-Side COM and the Excel Object Model
Excel Concluded
Putting It All Together: Importing Financial Data
Server-Side COM Again: Excel as a GUI
Conclusion
References

10. Printed Output

Business Requirements
Automating Word
Direct Output to the Printer with Windows
PIDDLE: A Python Graphics API
PostScript
Portable Document Format
Putting It Together: A High-Volume Invoicing System
Conclusion
References

11. Distributing Our Application

DCOM
Conclusion

III. Python on Windows Cookbook

12. Advanced Python and COM

Advanced COM
Python and COM
Using Automation Objects from Python
Using Other COM Interfaces
Error Handling
Implementing COM Objects in Python
Python and DCOM
Conclusion

13. Databases

DAO, ADO, ODBC, OLEDB, and Other GBFLAs
Python's Database API
Getting at Your Data
A Note on Speed
Gadfly, the Pure Python Relational Database
Data Laundering with Python
A Three-Tier Architecture with Business Objects
Conclusion
References

14. Working with Email

SMTP and POP3
Microsoft Exchange/Outlook
Conclusion

15. Using the Basic Internet Protocols

HTTP and HTML
FTP
NNTP
Conclusion

16. Windows NT Administration

Working with Users and Groups
Server and Share Information
Rebooting a Machine
Conclusion
References

17. Processes and Files

Portable File Manipulation
Native File Manipulation: The win32file Module
Pipes
Processes
Conclusion

18. Windows NT Services

Services in Brief
Controlling Services with Python
Reading the Event Log
Windows NT Performance Monitor Data
Writing Services in Python
Sample Service Written in Python
Writing to the Event Log
Providing Performance Monitor Information
A Final Service
Conclusion

19. Communications

Serial Communications
Remote Access Services

Sockets
Other Communications Tools
Conclusion
References

20. GUI Development

Tkinter
PythonWin
wxPython

21. Active Scripting

Registering the Python Active Script Support
Python and Popular Microsoft Applications
Active Debugging
How Active Scripting Works
Active Script Hosting in Python
Conclusion

22. Extending and Embedding with Visual C++ and Delphi

Python and Visual C++
Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator
Python and Delphi
Dynamic DLL Access
References
Conclusion

IV. Appendixes

A. Key Python Modules and Functions

B. Win32 Extensions Reference

C. The Python Database API Version 2.0

D. Threads

Index



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