Writing to registry - HKEY_CURRENT_USER and various Windows accounts?

From: Lauchlan M (LMackinnon_at_NOSPAMHotmail.com)
Date: 01/22/04

  • Next message: Tom Head: "Re: Single Thread problem" 
    Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 10:38:49 +1000

    Say I install an app in administrator account and it can be used from a
    number of accounts

    Then I have some code that uses the registry, say

    procedure TForm1.btnWriteRegistryClick(Sender: TObject);
    var
      Reg: TRegistry;

    begin
      Reg :=TRegistry.Create;
      try
        Reg.RootKey := HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
        if Reg.OpenKey('\Software\mySoftwareName\Config', true) then
        begin
          Reg.WriteString('LocationID','TEST');
          Reg.CloseKey;
        end;
      finally
        Reg.Free;
        inherited;
      end;
    end;

    procedure TForm1.btnReadRegistryClick(Sender: TObject);

    var
      Reg: TRegistry;

    begin
      Reg :=TRegistry.Create;
      try
        Reg.RootKey := HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
        if Reg.OpenKey('\Software\mySoftwareName\Config',False) then //False
    because we do not want to create it if it doesn't exist
          MessageDlg(Reg.ReadString('LocationID'), mtInformation, [mbOk], 0)
        else
          MessageDlg('Couldn''t find registry key.', mtInformation, [mbOk], 0);
        Reg.CloseKey;
      finally
        Reg.Free;
        inherited;
      end;
    end;

    Firstly, what does this 'inherited' do? (This was in the registry examples
    in the online help so I copied that over, but aren't sure what purpose it
    serves)

    Secondly, is hanging everything off HKEY_CURRENT_USER the best place?
    Suppose the app was installed under an administrator account but then used
    by several users in different accounts - would they have different
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER keys? Is there a better place to put it so I can be sure
    that I retreive the registry key properly regardless of which Windows
    account is being used?

    Thanks!

    Lauchlan M

  • Next message: Tom Head: "Re: Single Thread problem"

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