BLM> "Object Oriented Programming" is mostly hype first of all. 
 
 CD>  Well, there certainly is a lot of hype presented about OOP.  But I 
 CD>  find a lot of use for OO techniques. 
 
 Could you describe one (or all |*) of these techniques in detail? 
 
 BLM> protecting  data by making sure that only code within  an 
 BLM> "object" can access the  data that is within the same "object". 
 
 CD> That's "encapsulation". 
 
 Hmmm.  I understood that all along, and just didn't know it. |*) 
 
 CD> ...other two "major" features of OOP are "polymorphism" and 
 CD> "inheritance".  If you're interested we can discuss them in 
 CD> some future message. 
 
Very interested, please define polymorphism and inheritance for me. 
 
 BLM> "What's object oriented programming? 
 BLM> That's a very complex  question." 
 CD>  Well, it *IS* a complex question!! 
 
A question that deserves a complex answer wouldn't you say.  Thanks 
for providing one. 
 
 CD> We can derive new classes and inherit base class behavior. 
 CD> (Maybe we won't have to rewrite so much code!!) 
 CD> We can design systems that can accept a variety of objects, maybe 
 CD> even objects we don't yet know exist. 
 
That sounds very interesting, but probably over my head right now. 
Nice to know tho. 
 
 CD> There's a whole lot more to OOP than simply restricting access to 
 CD> an objects methods and data. 
 
I'm sure there is.  Thank you for your informative reply.  Hope to learn 
much in this echo.  I've learned much already.  thanx 
 
  
 
*Keep your words soft and sweet, in case you have to eat them 
  
blm
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