Opinion: Registry vs. Config file

Steve Echols

Where do you store things like user preferences - in the registry, config file, or somewhere else. In the Win3x days, I stored them in a config.ini file. Then Win95 came along with the almighty registry, so then I stored them there, because it was cool (now, with all the registry bloat, maybe it's not so cool). Then XML came along and now I'm torn between using a config.xml file or still putting them in the registry. I like the config.xml file option, because then it can be copied around. But then it defeats the purpose of the registry, so I'm teetering on the fence. Can anyone sway me one way or another (this fence is getting painful! :))

- S 50 cups of coffee and you know it's on!

David Crow

Steve Echols wrote:

. But then it defeats the purpose of the registry...

Which is? One of the features that the registry has over a .ini file is hierarchy. That feature, however, exists with a .xml file, too.

"Money talks. When my money starts to talk, I get a bill to shut it up." - Frank

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Steve Echols

To store all the user's and system settings in one convenient place, that's organized and easy to manage. :laugh::laugh: I'm tilting heavily toward the xml file side of the fence now.

- S 50 cups of coffee and you know it's on!

Michael Dunn

HKCU\Software\[company name]\[app name] That way, the settings will roam with the user, and the stuff is not in a place where Joe Q. User will stumble across it and start mucking with the settings.

--Mike-- Visual C++ MVP :cool: LINKS~! Ericahist | PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ

Steve Echols

Not sure what you mean by "roam". How does the registry roam with the user? I find it easier to roam, when the .exe doesn't register any activex controls, and doesn't save stuff in the registry. If you can just copy the app folder and all it's contents to another computer and it runs hunky dory, then that's what I would consider roaming with the user. Joe Q knows about regedit, and the ones who don't probably won't find my config files. If they do and muck with them, well, that's there problem. I only see it being a problem, if a lot of different users are logging on to the same computer, and like to mess with other people (highly unlikely :laugh:), like a high school/college computer lab, public libraries, etc.

- S 50 cups of coffee and you know it's on!

Michael Dunn

Steve Echols wrote:

If you can just copy the app folder and all it's contents to another computer and it runs hunky dory, then that's what I would consider roaming with the user.

Ah, I see. The term for that is "portable app". That's a good goal for apps that need no install. I still prefer HKCU since I know that's always a writable location; with a file, you have to worry about whether the user has write privs to the dir, and then have a fallback to something like All Users\Application Data (and then on Vista that might even be restricted/virtualized). In a domain environment, you can log in to any machine using your domain account/password. When you log in to a machine that's not the one on your desk, some of your per-user settings are also applied to that new machine - that's what roaming means. So if my app is installed on both computers, the user will see his settings on the second computer as well. --Mike-- Visual C++ MVP :cool: LINKS~! Ericahist | PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ

Steve Echols

Michael Dunn wrote:

That's a good goal for apps that need no install. I still prefer HKCU since I know that's always a writable location; with a file, you have to worry about whether the user has write privs to the dir, and then have a fallback to something like All Users\Application Data (and then on Vista that might even be restricted/virtualized).

Yeah, I'm thinking more about simple apps, that are on a single user pc, and then once you get it setup on your desktop, you can just copy it to your laptop for convenience. I wasn't even thinking about domains or networking at all. Good to know, but overkill for my apps.

- S 50 cups of coffee and you know it's on!

Heinz_

Now days i use xml to store configuration data, also i use a lot of binary files to store private and encripted data.

Steve Echols

Heinz_ wrote:

Now days i use xml to store configuration data

This is the way I decided to go, mainly for the xcopy factor, which I find very convenient (when it's needed - granted it's not that often). Not that installation programs are bad or anything, but once I get a program configured and working the way I like, it's much easier to just copy the program folder to another computer, and I'd like to give people using my software, the same convenience.

- S 50 cups of coffee and you know it's on!

Mridang Agarwalla

XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML XML Hope That helps!