Learn how to plan, design, and build Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins in Microsoft Visual Basic® and Visual C++®!

Until now, PC managers and network administrators had to rely on a hodgepodge of incompatible tools to manage their networks. Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) solves this problem by providing a common, consistent way to administer computer and network systems. Though MMC has no management capabilities of its own, the snap-ins that it hosts can perform virtually any computer or network management task. This book provides complete, detailed information on how to plan for, implement, and build MMC snap-ins by using either the Visual Basic® or Visual C++® development systems. It shows how to distribute snap-ins by using the MMC Software Development Kit, which is included with the book. The accompanying CD-ROM also includes the Snap-in Designer for Visual Basic, plus Visual Basic and C++ code examples and explanations to help you make full use of MMC's functionality. Topics covered include:

• Planning Guide: An overview of the MMC user interface and snap-in development process, the snap-in UI from a developer's perspective, and how to test and distribute snap-ins
• Design Guidelines: How to design UI elements for snap-ins, a list of guidelines for each, and how they differ from other Microsoft Windows® UI elements
• Building Snap-Ins with C++: How to use the MMC COM Programmer's Guide and MMC COM SDK to create C++ snap-ins that are based on the Component Object Model (COM)
• Building Snap-Ins with Visual Basic: How to use the Snap-in Designer for Visual Basic plus Visual Basic 6.0 to create snap-ins