Write the current directory to the registry

[careca]

Hi, This is a registry importer.

it will create a copy of "AutoItReg.reg", named "temp.reg", and in this file change %path% by the current path, give the path double slashes \\ import the file and delete it.

Usage:

Open or create "AutoItReg.reg" and change the part of the file you want it to have your current folder path to %path%,

AutoIt Reg.au3

#include <File.au3>
$Path = _PathFull(@ScriptDir)
$Path = StringReplace($Path, "\", "\\")
;MsgBox(4096, "", $Path, 10) ;optional msg box to check what the string to be written will look like
$File1 = ("AutoItReg.reg")
$File2 = ("temp.reg")
FileCopy($File1, $File2)
Sleep(2500)
$Text = FileRead($File2)
$Text = StringReplace($Text, "%path%", $Path)
FileDelete($File2)
FileWrite($File2, $Text)
ShellExecuteWait ("temp.reg")
FileDelete ("temp.reg")

Example .reg

AutoItReg.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\123]
"test"="%path%"

Greetz

AutoIt Reg.au3

[guinness]

Why not use the Registry functions instead?

[careca]

Hi, do you mean... import the file, read the file, get the string to change, and import just that string modified? not sure i get the question, but feel free to input sugestions to simplify.

Now, this serves my purpose just right, i keep the reg and the autoit exe files in a folder with some software, this software needs a string in the registry to know where the rest of the software is,

and i just execute, and it'll replace %path% by the path where the software currently is. Works fine for me, and wanted to share for whoever needed such feature, but as i said, im all for simplification,

If anyone has sugestion for improvement, go for it!

[guinness]

I mean why not use RegWrite or RegRead? Also you're writing to the wrong part of the registry if all you want to do is store the current directory.

See how easy it really is:

Local $sAppName = 'myExample'
; Create a registry entry using the app name 'myExample'.
RegWrite('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', 'Path', 'REG_SZ', @ScriptDir)
; Read the current path from the specially created registry entry.
MsgBox(4096, '', RegRead('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', 'Path'))
; Delete the registry entry.
RegDelete('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '')
; This should be a blank string as it was just deleted.
MsgBox(4096, '', RegRead('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', 'Path'))

[guinness]

Or a function >>

; Create a registry entry using the app name 'myExample'.
_SetCurrentDirectory('myExample', 'Path', @ScriptFullPath) ; The current exe path is passed.

; Read the current path from the specially created registry entry.
MsgBox(4096, '', _SetCurrentDirectory('myExample', 'Path'))

; Delete the registry entry.
_SetCurrentDirectory('myExample', 'Path', Default, True)

; This should be a blank string as it was just deleted.
MsgBox(4096, '', RegRead('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREmyExample', 'Path'))

Func _SetCurrentDirectory($sAppName, $sKey = 'Path', $sFilePath = @ScriptDir, $fDelete = False)
    If $sFilePath = Default Then $sFilePath = @ScriptDir
    If $sKey = Default Then $sKey = 'Path'
    Local $sRegRead = RegRead('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', $sKey)
    If $sRegRead And Not $fDelete Then Return $sRegRead
    If $fDelete Then Return RegDelete('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '') ; Change to RegDelete('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', $sKey) just to delete the path key. Example only.
    Return RegWrite('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', $sKey, 'REG_SZ', $sFilePath)
EndFunc   ;==>_SetCurrentDirectory

Edited October 14, 2012 by guinness

[careca]

Hi, thanks for the input, as for the "wrong part of registry", yeah it's an example, and i thought it could be anywhere, as for the script, you given 2 scripts, that work fine, but i have some questions: why delete the reg key/hive with all the keys inside? I assume that delete part is as an example(?). and what about the rest of the registry keys? Supose you have a reg file with lots of keys inside, and only want few of them to change in order to contain the current path, certainly i could put those in your script, and import the file with the rest of them, but is it more simple? I think my script has a small advantage, it's able to set the current path, even in the middle of a string if necessary, without modifying the script. example:

HKLMsoftwareSomekey "pathtoexe"="%path%SubDirSubDir2exe.exe"

know what i mean? The script you provided can't do this, unless i add something like:

RegWrite('HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shell' & $sAppName & '', 'Path', 'REG_SZ', @ScriptDir & "SubDirSubDir2exe.exe")

This works, Had to follow the function example multiple times to understand it better, as im an autoit newbie and all...

Anyway, your script is a great contribution and very appreciated! Greetings.

Edited October 14, 2012 by careca

[guinness]

The deletion is just an example, because examples should just do that, tidy up after themselves. Also just modify RegDelete('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '') to RegDelete('HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE' & $sAppName & '', $sKey), only did this as it was an example.

You're 'problem' is trivial and can be 'fixed' by modifying the example. See above for the changes.

As you're new I would suggest looking at the help file and becoming acquainted with manipulating the registry correctly, using Reg files is going to cause you problems in the future.

[guinness]

You're welcome. The first example is a little less 'complex' than the function, but if gives you an idea.

[careca]

Thank you Ginness.

Greetings