Three years ago we released the first edition of Force.com Fundamentals, the quintessential introduction to building apps with the point-and-click features of the Force.com platform.

This year, author Chris McGuire has done it again — the latest edition includes more features and functionality than ever before, including a newly expanded final chapter that shows how even non-programmers can use Visualforce and sites to create richer, more powerful functionality in their applications.

Other newly incorporated features include:

• The enhanced page layout editor
• The approval process visualizer
• The Modify All Records and View All Records permissions
• Delegated admin groups
• Platform Edition

Anyone can access Force.com Fundamentals online, or Developer… Continue reading

This week's Dreamforce marks the release of the latest edition of the Force.com Cookbook! This compilation of code samples shows you how to extend your Force.com apps using workflow, approvals, Apex, Visualforce, the API, email, and Sites.

In addition to updates of last year's recipes, look for these new additions to the guide:

• Updating a Field on a Parent Record
• Creating Custom Help
• Redirecting to a Standard Object List Page
• Referencing an Existing Page
• Defining Skeleton Visualforce Templates
• Using Batch Apex to Reassign Account Owners
• Using Custom Settings to Display Data
• Integrating Visualforce and Google Charts
• Creating a Sitemap File
• Creating a Web-to-Lead Form for Your Force.com Site
• Implementing Single

This week Dreamforce attendees who visit the Force.com Zone will receive a free copy of the brand new Force.com Workbook, a set of ten thirty-minute tutorials that introduce the Force.com Platform to admins and new Force.com developers.

These tutorials take you step-by-step through the creation of a custom inventory application for a book warehouse, culminating in the creation of a public Web store front (using Force.com Sites) and a stand-alone desktop application using Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com! The complete list of tutorials includes:

• Creating a Warehouse Application
• Adding Relationships
• Using Formulas and Validation Rules
• Using Workflow and Approvals
• Adding Business Logic with Apex
• Adding