INIFiles - Getting those legacy files into order

Handling INI files can be a little tricky these days when you have to consider new security restrictions,  virtualized environment restrictions (SoftGrid and Citrix) and legacy applications that don't install the way they should... Or, more importantly stay installed the way they were intended to.

 

INI files are configuration files used to store application, user or machine information. They have been used for the past 10 years and have been used really well (by Microsoft) and abused by some (IBM's Lotus Notes) to store information and help configure applications.

 

There is a reasonable definition of INI Files located here;

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/INI+file

 

The reason I making this post is that INI files are causing some considerable issues with Vista, Citrix and SoftGrid deployments. Application installations are installing and configuring INI files in semi  or secure locations and either the user or the application is not able to properly read and/or write to these text based configuration stores. For example, under SoftGrid, the application will install correctly but when a user tries to run the application, critical information is either not stored or captured during the normal application loading/running process.

There are a few solutions;

1) Employ the MoveIniToRegistry Shim

Chris Jackson has an excellent posting on this technique found here

Http://blogs.msdn.com/cjacks/archive/2008/01/03/stock-viewer-shim-demo-application.asp

2) Use INIFileMapping

Frig (i.e. Hack) your local security settings and hope for the best (hint: turn off your mobile)

  

I prefer option 2, as the INI File Mapping allows use to replace your INI Files with entries (keys, names and values) in the Registry. This is great/useful as you can neatly avoid any local security restrictions as well as benefit from roaming profiles (e.g.. Not have to copy INI files on application start-up each time a new user logs onto a machine).

 

Microsoft has a great Knowledge Note/Support article which can be found here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/102889

 

I won't replicate what has already been said in the Microsoft article but there are a few caveats;

 

1. INI File Mapping works great for Vista and SoftGrid - but DO NOT use for Citrix when actually installing applications. See the Microsoft support note here:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186504
2. Your application needs to use the supported API's (GetPrivateProfileString and WritePrivateProfileString)

Note: you will find out really quickly if your application does not support INI File Mapping as your registry based settings will be ignored and your local INI file will be updated.