.INI Files

[John Hunter]

Hi,

I have been given a program written in a macro language that uses an .INI file as below:

[MAPPING]
PCOMPLETED=P:\Completed Zips\
SOURCEFILES=T:\SOURCEFILES\
[ENCRYPT]
PARM1=GOODBYE
[ARCHIVES]
PARM1=PAYROLL
PARM2=PENSION
PARM3=COST
PARM4=STOP
[ZIPNAMES]
PARM1=COMP PAYROLL EXTRACT %MyDialog.MyEdit%.ZIP
PARM2=COMP PENSION EXTRACT %MyDialog.MyEdit%.ZIP
PARM3=COMP COST REPORT %MyDialog.MyEdit%.ZIP
PARM4=STOP
[PAYROLL]
PARM1=T:\sourcefiles\overtime*.csv
PARM2=T:\sourcefiles\greta2*.csv
PARM3=T:\sourcefiles\passonly*.csv
PARM4=T:\sourcefiles\treking*.csv
PARM5=T:\sourcefiles\charity*.csv
PARM6=STOP
[PENSION]
PARM1=T:\sourcefiles\teltest*.csv
PARM2=T:\sourcefiles\lifp*.csv
PARM3=T:\sourcefiles\lifd*.csv
PARM4=T:\sourcefiles\mpcall*.csv
PARM5=T:\sourcefiles\nonclass*.csv
PARM6=STOP
[COST]
PARM1=T:\sourcefiles\costs_*.csv
PARM2=STOP

What would be the best way to transfer this data to use in PBWIN, is it to still use an .ini file?. I need to loop through all the files above that were generated on the day that the program is run but I'm not sure how to use the headings in the ini file.

Thx,

John

[Eddy Van Esch]

John,

Ini files can be read in PB without any problem. Especially if you use Eros Olmis ini file functions:

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=25027

Kind regards

[Michael Mattias]

And, you might also want to consider WHERE to store that INI file, if you want to avoid UAC problems writing to a protected folder:

Let Me Tell Ya Where to Stick It by Karl Peterson

Move That INI File!and Get That Ini File Name!

[Scott Slater]

Also have a look at the Windows API functions GetPrivateProfileString and WritePrivateProfileString. These are very handy for easily reading and writing INI files for any given key value at any time.

[Michael Mattias]

What would be the best way to transfer this data to use in PBWIN, is it to still use an .ini file?.

As far as, "Is an INI file the best way to store program-specific data which may change from run to run?" the answer is....

Probably. Or maybe not. Microsoft recommended INI files. Then they recommended the registry. Then they recommmended INI files. This cycle may have repeated several times.

I use INI files. Your mileage may vary.

(Good 'poll' question? Given your druthers, what do you currently use, INI files, Registry or "other"?)

MCM

[Knuth Konrad]

(Good 'poll' question? Given your druthers, what do you currently use, INI files, Registry or "other"?)

INIs since day one, as I found it to be a good idea that one is able to view a config file with any text viewer/editor.

P.S. Meanwhile MS itself uses XML files (app.config/web.config), which is pretty much the same: an editable text file, just a different layout.

[Eddy Van Esch]

( what do you currently use, INI files, Registry or "other"?)

INI files (for the same reason as Knuth) and sometimes files using my own format, mainly if I have to store long binary data.
But never, ever the registry. I like to keep settings (INI) files as close as possible to the application program. Too bad Vista changed all that ..

Kind regards

[Michael Mattias]

Whoa, there, I do not want to be guilty of starting one of those 22-page monstrosity threads... I meant, if someone were interested, start a new thread in suitable forum using the BBS' "poll" feature.....carfully wording the question, including options I had not thought of (eg "Microsoft XML storage format").

[Cliff Nichols]

Whoa, there, I do not want to be guilty of starting one of those 22-page monstrosity threads.

Too late.....

carfully wording the question, including options I had not thought of (eg "Microsoft XML storage format").

"Carefully" may not be my strong suit, but does bring back questions I have had for years (from time to time) and never found the time to research long.

Maybe now is as good a time as ever to spurn one of those long debates and see how others go about it???? (Personally I tried both Registry and INI and stuck with INI for maintenance purposes)