How to Program for Windows Registry

• Download demo - 788.01 KB

Introduction

This article will guide you how to use Windows Registry to store user specific non critical data which can be retrieved across applications.

Background

The Registry is split into a number of logical sections better known as hives. A registry hive is a group of keys, subkeys, and values. While programming for our applications, we need to store application specific data. That usually goes in ‘software’ subtree of HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive or HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software. The supporting files for this hive goes in %SystemRoot%\Profiles\Username folder. While the supporting files for all other hives go in %SystemRoot%\System32\Config folder.

Using the Code

To use Registry in VB.NET, you first have to imports Microsoft.Win32 namespace. This will provide an access to RegistryKey class.

Create Registry Key

'Create a SubKey under Software subtree of HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive.	
Dim vRegistryKey As RegistryKey
vRegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software", True)
vRegistryKey.CreateSubKey("NewKey")
vRegistryKey.Close()

'Open Newly created SubKey and insert values using SetValue() method.	
Dim vRegistryKey1 As RegistryKey
vRegistryKey1 = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\NewKey", True)
vRegistryKey1.SetValue("Key Name", txtKeyName.Text)
vRegistryKey1.SetValue("Key Description", txtKeyDescription.Text)
vRegistryKey1.Close()

Retrieve Existing Registry Key

'Open required SubKey and use GetValue() method to fetch key values.	
Dim vRegistryKey As RegistryKey
vRegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\NewKey", True)
txtKeyName.Text = vRegistryKey.GetValue("Key Name").ToString
txtKeyDescription.Text = vRegistryKey.GetValue("Key Description").ToString
vRegistryKey.Close()

Delete Existing Registry Key

'Open required SubKey and use DeleteSubKey() method to delete subkey.	
Dim vRegistryKey As RegistryKey
vRegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software", True)
vRegistryKey.DeleteSubKey("NewKey")
vRegistryKey.Close()

Points to Note

In the provided download sample, when you'll create an Item, please enter a valid Server/IP Address (you can enter 'localhost'), otherwise an error will be shown.

Final Words

I hope you will find this article helpful in programming for Registry Keys. For more information, you can check out the demo program available in the downloads section or you can contact me on arshad@cherisys.com.

Good luck!