asked on

problem with ReadSectionValues

Hi experts,

I have problems to read the values from a *.ini file.

I created this myprog.ini file:

[Path of my program]
program-path=C:\MYPATH

With the help of the following routine, I would like to copy the string

C:\MYPATH

to edit1.text;

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
winposhIni: TIniFile;
i, position: integer;
temp: string;
sl: tstringlist;
begin
if fileexists('myprogram.ini')
then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create('myprogram.ini');
sl := tstringlist.create;
myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', sl);
for i := 0 to sl.count - 1 do
temp := sl.strings[i];
position := pos('=', temp);
delete(temp, 1, position);
edit1.text := temp;
myprogIni.Free;
sl.free;
end;
end;

However when I run my demo program, the variables "temp" and "sl"
are always empty, although my demo program and myprog.ini are both
in the same direcory and do of course both exist. But edit1.text is always
blank and I can never see C:\MYPATH in this field.

Can you please tell me, what I am doing wrong here?

With kind regards

Mathes

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

viktornet

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

kretzschmar

Hi Mathes,

myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', sl);

reads only the Names of the section
in this case only
program-path

you can use this(TStringlist not used by this)

Edit1.Text := MyIniFile.ReadString'Path of my program','program-path','NA');

Meikl

kretzschmar

hi Mathes,
instead of this in my comment

myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', sl);

reads only the Names of the section
in this case only
program-path

I Meant this

myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', sl);

reads only the Values of the section
in this case only
C:\MYPATH

Meikl

viktornet

i think that's ahwt mathes wants and he doesn't have to delete all the stuff.... so he could just do this...

Put a listbox on your form...

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
winposhIni: TIniFile;
begin
if fileexists('myprogram.ini') then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create('myprogram.ini');
myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', ListBoxName);
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;

That's all... Let me know how it goes....

btw- If you want to read only one value, you should do as kretchmar proposed....

MyPath := MyIniFile.ReadString('Path of my program','program-path','');

That's all....

-Viktor
--Ivanov

viktornet

A little correction....

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
winposhIni: TIniFile;
begin
if fileexists('myprogram.ini') then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create('myprogram.ini');
myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', ListBoxName.Items);
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;

mathes

ASKER

Hi experts,

I meanwhile tried out both of your interesting suggestions.

My code meanwhile is:

unit readini;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs,
StdCtrls, inifiles;

type
TForm1 = class(TForm)
Button1: TButton;
ListBox1: TListBox;
Edit1: TEdit;
Button2: TButton;
procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
procedure Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
private
{ Private-Deklarationen}
public
{ Public-Deklarationen}
end;

var
Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.DFM}

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
myprogIni: TIniFile;
mypath: string;
begin
if fileexists('myprogram.ini') then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create('myprogram.ini');
MyPath := MyprogIni.ReadString('Path of my program', 'program-path', '');
edit1.text := mypath;
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;

procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
var
myprogIni: TIniFile;
begin
if fileexists('myprogram.ini') then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create('myprogram.ini');
//myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', ListBox1); { error !!!! }
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;

end.

the resul of my test is as follows:

button1: the listbox remains empty during runtime, I can't see any content from myprog.ini in this section
of my form.

button2: this procedure contains an error.

In line

myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', ListBox1);

Delphi says:

incompatible data types Tstrings and TStringlist.

What can I do now?

With kind regards

Mathes

Brian Mulder

Well it took me some time to figure it out, but I think I got the solution! :O))))

After trying everything, from setting the results in messages and reading the inifile in a memo, think you should set your directory pointing to the directory where your ini resides. In my case it was 'c:\myprogram.ini' and this even worked with your original code you posted above.

Hope this helps.
brUINTje.

viktornet

OK, I didn't tested any of the code I gave you so far, but I finally test it and here is one that works perfectly.... I've got an EditBox, two buttons, and one listbox.... here is the whole unit....

unit Unit1;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs,
StdCtrls;

type
TForm1 = class(TForm)
Button1: TButton;
Button2: TButton;
Edit1: TEdit;
ListBox1: TListBox;
procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
procedure Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
private
{ Private declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
end;

var
Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.DFM}

uses IniFiles;

const
      FileName = 'C:\windows\desktop\MyProgram.Ini';

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
myprogIni: TIniFile;
mypath: string;
begin
if fileexists(FileName) then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create(FileName);
MyPath := MyprogIni.ReadString('Path of my program', 'program-path', '');
edit1.text := mypath;
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;
procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
var
myprogIni: TIniFile;
str : string;
i : integer;
begin
if fileexists(FileName) then begin
myprogIni := TIniFile.Create(FileName);
ListBox1.Items.BeginUpdate;
myprogIni.ReadSectionValues('Path of my program', ListBox1.Items);
for i := 0 to ListBox1.Items.Count - 1 do begin
     str := ListBox1.Items[i];
     ListBox1.Items[i] := Copy(str, Pos('=', str) + 1, Length(str));
end;
ListBox1.Items.EndUpdate;
myprogIni.Free;
end;
end;
end.

Hope this helps...

-Viktor
--Ivanov

viktornet

bruntje, it works with his first code because there is on;y one item in there.... try putting in two or more, and you'll see that you'll always get the last filepath, and not all of them.....

-Viktor
--Ivanov

Brian Mulder

OK viktor that should do it!
:P)

Brian Mulder

you got that 12:06 comment posted before my 12:07 ? probably my computer is somewhat running into the future. But what the hack :O), if you want I can post some code with two listboxes, and a memo. The memo is for creating your ini and the listboxes the first will display the all sections in the ini, and the second will show the values in the section.

:O)))
Always a pleasure

mathes

ASKER

Hi experts,

thank you all for your help. I am convinced we all had a benefit from this discussion and learned
something new.
The tested code of victor really works bugfree, so I think he deserved the points.

With kind regards

Mathes

Brian Mulder

Good Morning !:O) and you're right!

kretzschmar

Hi Mathes, Hi experts,

i take a mistake for ReadSectionValues with ReadSection
of Course in ReadSectionValues come the whole line(s)
xx=yy

to get then only the yy-part, there can also used this fragment

For i := 0 to ListBox1.Items.Count - 1 do
ListBox1.Items[I] := ListBox1.Items.Values[ListBox1.Items.Names[I]];

meikl