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Save Application Settings to XML

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16 Sep 20022 min read 255.7K   1.8K   54   77
An easy to use class that reads, writes and deletes app settings to an XML file.

Introduction

Why another application settings XML class?

  1. Because INI files are so Win16.
  2. The registry is too big and you could really screw something up messing with it.
  3. XML seems to be the popular choice.

See Read and Write application parameters in XML for better reasons.

This class should make it easy to read, write and delete application settings to an XML file using the familiar registry key/value nomenclature (ex. "MyApp\Appearance\Font\Face"). If it doesn't make it easy, um... I didn't write it.

The CXMLSettings Class

To use the class, there are only 6 methods you will need to worry about.

  • void SetSettingsFile(CString cstrFile)
    • Sets the path and filename for the XML settings file.
  • long GetSettingLong(CString cstrBaseKeyName, CString cstrValueName, 
    long lDefaultValue)
    • Returns a long value extracted from the settings file given a key and value name.
  • long SetSettingLong(CString cstrBaseKeyName, CString cstrValueName, 
    long lValue)
    • Sets a long value in the settings file given a key and value name.
  • CString GetSettingString(CString cstrBaseKeyName, CString 
    cstrValueName, CString cstrDefaultValue)
    • Returns a string value extracted from the settings file given a key and value name.
  • long SetSettingString(CString cstrBaseKeyName, CString cstrValueName, 
    CString cstrValue)
    • Sets a string value in the settings file given a key and value name.
  • BOOL DeleteSetting(CString cstrBaseKeyName, CString 
    cstrValueName)
    • Deletes a key or value from the settings file given a key and value name.

Other methods in the class parse key/value "chains", and load, save, and traverse the settings file.

How to Use It

  1. Call SetSettingsFile to tell the class where the XML file will be saved.
  2. Call one of the Get, Set or Delete methods using the registry-like nomenclature for the first parameter (ex. "MyApp\Appearance\Font"). A default value may also be sent as the last parameter to the Get methods.
  3. The DeleteSetting method can be used to delete an entire key or a value under a key.

That's it!

If the XML file does not exist or if a key/value does not exist, the Set methods will create it and the Get methods will return the default value.

Conclusion

The class and the demo app use MFC and MSXML 4.0. Please let me know if you find any bugs are would like to see improvements.

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License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here


Written By
Software Developer (Senior)
United States United States
I have been a professional developer since 1996. I live in Illinois, in the USA. I am married and have four children.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralXML vs. Registry Pin
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 3:38
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 3:38 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 3:49
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 3:49 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 6:50
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 6:50 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 8:25
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 8:25 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Rui Jiang13-Dec-02 9:20
Rui Jiang13-Dec-02 9:20 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
dandy7217-Sep-02 3:59
dandy7217-Sep-02 3:59 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Jason Henderson17-Sep-02 4:07
Jason Henderson17-Sep-02 4:07 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Tim Smith16-Sep-02 4:02
Tim Smith16-Sep-02 4:02 
I have to agree. Another case of a technology being mis-applied.

Tim Smith

"Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we can not avoid it... If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs, is also complicated, the language itself becomes part of the problem rather that part of the solution."
Hoare - 1980 ACM Turing Award Lecture
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 4:06
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 4:06 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 6:57
Paul A. Howes16-Sep-02 6:57 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 8:38
Jason Henderson16-Sep-02 8:38 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Anonymous16-Sep-02 9:56
Anonymous16-Sep-02 9:56 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Houdini17-Sep-02 5:16
Houdini17-Sep-02 5:16 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Paul A. Howes17-Sep-02 6:43
Paul A. Howes17-Sep-02 6:43 
GeneralRe: XML vs. Registry Pin
Houdini17-Sep-02 7:39
Houdini17-Sep-02 7:39 
GeneralWhy XML Pin
Member 91815-Sep-02 14:06
Member 91815-Sep-02 14:06 
GeneralRe: Why XML Pin
Maximilien15-Sep-02 14:17
Maximilien15-Sep-02 14:17 
GeneralRe: Why XML Pin
Tim Kosse15-Sep-02 20:41
Tim Kosse15-Sep-02 20:41 
GeneralRe: Why XML Pin
mstephens15-Sep-02 23:31
mstephens15-Sep-02 23:31 
GeneralRe: Why XML Pin
Jiminy15-Sep-02 17:12
Jiminy15-Sep-02 17:12 

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