TCustomIniFile Class

TCustomIniFile is the base class for components that encapsulate access to .ini files and the Windows system registry.

Pascal

TCustomIniFile = class(TObject);

C++

class TCustomIniFile : public TObject;

File

IniFiles

Description

Note: Use TCustomIniFile as a base class when defining components that access ini files. Ini files are text files that are divided into sections with variable assignments in each section. TCustomIniFile introduces properties and methods to handle storage and retrieval of application-specific information and settings in a standard ini file.

Note: On Windows, TCustomIniFile is also the base class for TRegistryIniFile, which allows applications that use both ini files and the system registry to handle both media in a unified manner. This differs from the features of TRegistry, which corresponds more directly to Windows system registry native semantics.

Do not create instances of TCustomIniFile. Instead, use or create descendants of TCustomIniFile, such as TIniFile, TRegistryIniFile, and TMemIniFile.

C++ Examples:

Copy Code

/*
This example demonstrates the usage of Ini files in order to store
and load form configuration between sessions. Example assumes
a RadioGroup and two buttons are present on the main form.
*/
void __fastcall TForm2::btStoreClick(TObject *Sender)
{
    /* Open an instance */
    TCustomIniFile* SettingsFile = OpenIniFileInstance();

    // Store current form properties to be used in later sessions.
    try
    {
        SettingsFile->WriteInteger (Name, "Top", Top);
        SettingsFile->WriteInteger (Name, "Left", Left);
        SettingsFile->WriteInteger (Name, "Width", Width);
        SettingsFile->WriteInteger (Name, "Height", Height);
        SettingsFile->WriteString  (Name, "Caption", Caption);
        SettingsFile->WriteBool    (Name, "InitMax", WindowState == wsMaximized );
    }
    catch(Exception* e)
    {
    }

    delete SettingsFile;
}

void __fastcall TForm2::btLoadClick(TObject *Sender)
{
    /* Open an instance */
    TCustomIniFile* SettingsFile = OpenIniFileInstance();

    try
    {
        /*
        Read all saved values from the last session. The section name
        is the name of the form. Also use form's properties as defaults
        */
        Top     = SettingsFile->ReadInteger(Name, "Top", Top );
        Left    = SettingsFile->ReadInteger(Name, "Left", Left );
        Width   = SettingsFile->ReadInteger(Name, "Width", Width );
        Height  = SettingsFile->ReadInteger(Name, "Height", Height );
        Caption = SettingsFile->ReadString (Name, "Caption", Caption);

        // Load last window state
        if (SettingsFile->ReadBool(Name, "InitMax", WindowState == wsMaximized))
            WindowState = wsMaximized;
        else
            WindowState = wsNormal;
    }
    catch(Exception* e)
    {
    }

    delete SettingsFile;
}

TCustomIniFile* __fastcall TForm2::OpenIniFileInstance()
{
    /*
    Open/create a new INI file that has the same name as our executable
    only with the INI extension.
    */

    switch (RadioGroup1->ItemIndex)
    {
        case 0:
            /* Registry mode selected: in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\... */
            return new TRegistryIniFile(String("Software\\") + Application->Title);
        case 1:
            /* Ini file mode selected */
            return new TIniFile(ChangeFileExt(Application->ExeName, ".INI"));
        case 2:
            /* Memory based Ini file mode selected */
            return new TMemIniFile(ChangeFileExt(Application->ExeName, ".INI"));
      }
}

Delphi Examples:

Copy Code

{
This example demonstrates the use of Ini files in order to store
and load form configurations between sessions. This example requires
a RadioGroup and two buttons.
}
procedure TForm2.btLoadClick(Sender: TObject);
var
  SettingsFile : TCustomIniFile;
begin
  { Open an instance }
  SettingsFile := OpenIniFileInstance();

  try
    {
    Read all saved values from the last session. The section name
    is the name of the form. Also use form's properties as defaults
    }
    Top     := SettingsFile.ReadInteger(Name, 'Top', Top );
    Left    := SettingsFile.ReadInteger(Name, 'Left', Left );
    Width   := SettingsFile.ReadInteger(Name, 'Width', Width );
    Height  := SettingsFile.ReadInteger(Name, 'Height', Height );
    Caption := SettingsFile.ReadString (Name, 'Caption', Caption);

    { Load last window state }
    case SettingsFile.ReadBool(Name, 'InitMax', WindowState = wsMaximized) of
      true : WindowState := wsMaximized;
      false: WindowState := wsNormal;
    end;

  finally
    SettingsFile.Free;
  end;
end;

procedure TForm2.btStoreClick(Sender: TObject);
var
  SettingsFile: TCustomIniFile;
begin
  { Open an instance }
  SettingsFile := OpenIniFileInstance();

  {
  Store current form properties to be used in later sessions.
  }
  try
    SettingsFile.WriteInteger (Name, 'Top', Top);
    SettingsFile.WriteInteger (Name, 'Left', Left);
    SettingsFile.WriteInteger (Name, 'Width', Width);
    SettingsFile.WriteInteger (Name, 'Height', Height);
    SettingsFile.WriteString  (Name, 'Caption', Caption);
    SettingsFile.WriteBool    (Name, 'InitMax', WindowState = wsMaximized );
    SettingsFile.WriteDateTime(Name, 'LastRun', Now);
  finally
    SettingsFile.Free;
  end;

end;

function TForm2.OpenIniFileInstance: TCustomIniFile;
begin
  {
  Open/create a new INI file that has the same name as our executable
  only with the INI extension.
  }

  case RadioGroup1.ItemIndex of
    0:
      begin
        { Registry mode selected: in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\... }
        Result := TRegistryIniFile.Create('Software\' + Application.Title);
      end;
    1:
      begin
        { Ini file mode selected }
        Result := TIniFile.Create(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName, '.INI'));
      end;
    2:
      begin
        { Memory based Ini file mode selected }
        Result := TMemIniFile.Create(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName, '.INI'));
      end;
  end;
end;