Arrays and registry question

[Champak]

I'm about to switch over from ini to registry. Currently I'm looking at two options in how to set up the way my app communicates with the registry.

1/ Save registry entries in a few REG_MULTI_SZ(A "few" because of manageability), in doing this I would be reading the info back to a few arrays. 6 arrays off the top of my head, that doesn't include the arrays that the program itself makes for other functions.

OR

2/ Save each registry entry in their own REG_SZ, in doing this the GUI will be reading entries back individually, like an ini. And the array count will be left to what the app makes alone.

My question is which is better? Is there an array amount/count that I shouldn't reach for sake of memory? Is it better to read from a multi_sz and then parse it regardless of the amount of arrays created for speed, or is it better to read from individual reg_sz for memory?

Edited March 13, 2008 by Champak

[Champak]

I've gone ahead and started my conversion, I believe I've solved my multiple array issue, however I'd still like an answer to the above.

Edited March 13, 2008 by Champak

[Champak]

Another question, is it possible to insert a particular value...overwritting the previous value, in a reg_multi_sz? Let's say a value is the 7th value into a reg_multi_sz, and I want to overwrite that one particular value, can I do that without rewriting/saving the entire reg_multi_sz?

[cal]

I've done both the Multi and the Single. After using both to store various stuff I much prefer to use as many singles as I need. But thats just me. Either would work fine.

I also make all my programs write to the same place in general. I for example use 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Calvin\' Then the Program name and then whatever keys I need for that script. Its just personal preference. But it makes finding stuff simpler for trouble shooting later on.

If your vars are changing often I tend to keep them in arrays in memory and only write them to the reg on exit. But it depends entirely on what your doing and why.

I believe that multi reg entries must be read or written to fully.

[Champak]

Yeah, that's what I did, I read the reg_multi to an array and do everything from there, but I update it upon pressing save instead of exiting...works for me. Thanks.