Simple INI File Class

Developer.com content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

INI Files now seem to have been completely removed
by the registry, but sometimes they are a much better option. This can be becuase of
safety for the registry, and allowing the user to more easily view and change settings.
This simple wrapper class wraps up a few simple INI file functions into a reusable, drop
in class for instant INI file use. It supports the following methods/properties:

• CreateINI – Creates a new INI file
• GetFile – Returns the value specified in the arguements passed
• INIFile – Gets/Sets the current INI file path
• MakePath – A private function used to create the ini file
• WriteFile – Writes a value to the INI file

You will probably want to extend its functionality by adding more INI file functions.
Anyway, the class is based around two Win API declares: WritePrivateProfileString and
GetPrivateProfileString. Both require a bit of extra work to make them effective, but
overall they are quite simple to use. A good alternative to the Windows Registry.

To get the class working just use:

Private m_cIni As CIniFile
Private Sub Form_Load()
  Set m_cIni = New CIniFile
End Sub

Add a new class module (CIniFIle) and copy the following
code into it:

Option Explicit

'// Private member that holds a reference to
'// the path of our ini file
Private strInI As String

'// Win API Declares
Private Declare Function WritePrivateProfileString _
  Lib "kernel32" Alias "WritePrivateProfileStringA" _
 (ByVal lpApplicationName As String, _
  ByVal lpKeyName As Any, _
  ByVal lpString As Any, _
  ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long

Private Declare Function GetPrivateProfileString _
  Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetPrivateProfileStringA" _
 (ByVal lpApplicationName As String, _
  ByVal lpKeyName As Any, _
  ByVal lpDefault As String, _
  ByVal lpReturnedString As String, _
  ByVal nSize As Long, _
  ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long

Private Function MakePath(ByVal strDrv As String, _
  ByVal strDir As String) As String
 
 '// Makes an INI file: Guarantees a sub dir
 Do While Right$(strDrv, 1) = ""
   strDrv = Left$(strDrv, Len(strDrv) - 1)
 Loop

 Do While Left$(strDir, 1) = ""
   strDir = Mid$(strDir, 2)
 Loop

 '// Return the path
 MakePath = strDrv & "" & strDir
End Function

Public Sub CreateIni(strDrv As String, strDir As String)


 '// Make a new ini file
 strInI = MakePath(strDrv, strDir)
End Sub

Public Sub WriteFile(strSection As String, _
 strKey As String, _
 strValue As String)
 
 '// Write to strINI
 WritePrivateProfileString strSection, _
   strKey, strValue, strInI
End Sub

Public Function GetFile(strSection As String, _
  strKey As String) As String

  Dim strTmp As String
  Dim lngRet As String

  strTmp = String$(100, 0)
  lngRet = GetPrivateProfileString(strSection, _
    strKey, "", strTmp, _
    Len(strTmp), strInI)
    
  GetFile = strTmp
 
End Function

Public Property Let INIFile(ByVal New_IniPath As String)

 '// Sets the new ini path
 strInI = New_IniPath
 
End Property

Public Property Get INIFile() As String

 '// Returns the current ini path
 INIFile = strInI
 
End Property