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
