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C# Express 2008 Write to App.Config

This is what I am trying to accomplish.
I need to store an API key and Username securely within a program with the ability to update it.

I have dabbled in C# years ago and am fairly descent in VB.NET, PHP, VBScript and other scripting languages.

From what I have read I should use the App.config file rather than an INI file due to security. i have added the entries to my App.Config (see code below) and can read them just fine. My script will first check those values, if either are null then open a form to enter the information.

I cannot for the life of me find how to save that information back to the app.config or app.config.exe file.

I have googled for many of hours and found references to ConfigurationManager which apparently is not valid in C# Express. I only have ConfigurationSettings.

C# 2008 Express .Net 3.5

App.config
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <appSettings>
    <add key="apiKey" value="##############" />
    <add key="apiUsername" value="APIUsername" />
  </appSettings>
</configuration>
 
C#
string strApiKey = Convert.ToString(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings["apiKey"]);

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Dirk Haest

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Dirk Haest

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thecureis

ASKER

Thank you both for your replies. I have tried both of those methods and the problem is that "ConfigurationManager" throws an error "The name 'ConfigurationManager' does not exist in the current context" as with the AppSettingsSection i get an error as well.

I do have
using System.Configuration;

I believe that the ConfigurationManager was replaced with ConfigurationSettings in C#2008 Express Edition.

If I replace ConfigurationManager with ConfigurationSettings then i get the following errors.

The type or namespace name 'Configuration' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

'System.configuration.ConfigurationSettings' does not contain a definition for 'OpenExecConfiguration'

The name 'ConfigurationUserLevel' does not exist in the current context

They type or namespace name 'AppSettignsSection' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

thecureis

ASKER

I ended up figuring it out. I had to go to Project->Add Reference->system.configuration

Since I will be creating a hybrid from both of your posts I am splitting the points.

Thank you both.