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Application Settings in C# 8.0

Project - Properties window in C# 8.0 contains "Application Settings" tab. How can I use them in code? For example, I have some Open File dialog in the program and I add string InitialiDirectory setting with default empty value.
How can I use it in the code to set Open File dialog initial directory, and keep new directory when dialog is closed?
Any other sample will be OK, basically I want to do two things: read current value and change it.

Bob Learned

Alex, have you seen this?

Using My.Settings in Visual Basic 2005
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/vbmysettings.asp

I realize that this is a VB.NET reference, but the concepts are very similar.

Bob

AlexFM

ASKER

Yes, this is direct link from the Settings page in Visual Studio. I didn't understand it and this is why I asked this question.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

heintalus

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e1v

If you add a setting called InitialDirectory, you can access it like this
string mySetting = Properties.Settings.Default.InitialDirectory;

If you will change it at runtime, it must be a user setting, not app setting, then you can change and save it with

Properties.Settings.Default.InitialDirectory= .....new Value;
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();

Bob Learned

1) The Settings.settings file + Settings.Designer is under the Properties folder.
2) The default file looks like this:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<SettingsFile xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2004/01/settings" CurrentProfile="(Default)">
<Profiles>
<Profile Name="(Default)" />
</Profiles>
<Settings />
</SettingsFile>

3) To add a setting, right-click on the project, and select 'Properties...'
4) Enter a name, type, scope, and cvalue.

Example:
MainFormLocation, string, User, {0,0}
MainFormSize, string, User, {640, 480}

5) The resulting file looks like this:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<SettingsFile xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2004/01/settings" CurrentProfile="(Default)" GeneratedClassNamespace="CTest.Properties" GeneratedClassName="Settings">
<Profiles />
<Settings>
<Setting Name="MainFormLocation" Type="System.String" Scope="User">
<Value Profile="(Default)">{0,0}</Value>
</Setting>
<Setting Name="MainFormSize" Type="System.String" Scope="User">
<Value Profile="(Default)">{640,480}</Value>
</Setting>
</Settings>
</SettingsFile>

6) C# does not, sadly, implement the My.Settings namespace. It is generated code for VB.NET. I tried to find a way to recreate the same thing in C# from a VB.NET class, but it is deep. I can show you what I tried, if you want.

Bob

Bob Learned

Cool B-) I like it ;)

Application Name.Properties.Settings.Default.

Bob

heintalus

As e1v pointed out after my post you dont even need the Application Name i.e. you can just use

Properties.Settings.Default.WhatEver

Andy

Expert1701

Create a property:

Name: OpenFileDialogDirectory
Type: string
Scope: User
Value: C:\

And then you can use this code:

OpenFileDialog openFileDialog = new OpenFileDialog();
openFileDialog.InitialDirectory = ((string)Properties.Settings.Default["OpenFileDialogDirectory"]);
if (openFileDialog.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{
Properties.Settings.Default["OpenFileDialogDirectory"] = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(openFileDialog.FileName);
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
}

Expert1701

Sorry, late post... and the code should be:

OpenFileDialog openFileDialog = new OpenFileDialog();
openFileDialog.InitialDirectory = Properties.Settings.Default.OpenFileDialogDirectory;
if (openFileDialog.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{
Properties.Settings.Default.OpenFileDialogDirectory = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(openFileDialog.FileName);
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
}

AlexFM

ASKER

Settings.Default.Save - this is what was missing. Thanks.