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• Search and Replace Another Example
• Search and Replace in Binary Buffer
• Splitting Registry Binary Entry for Writing to INI File
• System Ini writing multiple device lines to
• System.Ini and Device lines
• Use Binary Functions to Edit INI Files
• Use BinaryRead Like FileRead
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Using Binary Functions to Edit INI Files

Keywords:    INI files IniWritePvt

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Question:

I have an interesting bug and/or problem:

I am basically trying to edit the *headers* in an INI file, without recreating them anew. For speed and just plain old practice, I decided to use the binary functions to search and replace. Based on one changed variable, however, I need to change several different headers. Therefore, I call my search and replace function 2 or 3 times to operate on a single file.

My problem seems to be: if I run my program and do the replace, I get different results for the same input. However, if I have the debug(@on) in my program near my possibly offending code, even if I immediately hit the RUN button, the code works every time I have tried it. My best guess so far is that the Write hasn't taken place before the next read occurs - but I have inserted 10 second delays, and gotten almost identical results. (w/debug it works, w/o debug it sometimes works, or does one set of replaces) I'd like to stick to the binary s&r if I can,though I'd consider switching to FileRead /write if I had to.

Answer:

Here are some points to consider:

1. INI Files are tricky. The system caches them and writes them to disk in its own sweet time if you or any program you run is using the IniWritePvt functions (aka Windows API SetPrivateProfileString"). If there is a write pending, and you modify the file, then windows updates it.....

   Try adding:

   IniWritePvt("","","","yourinifilename.ini")
   

   to the top of the script to force a "flush" of any cached copies to disk. The three null parameters is a hint to windows to flush it out of cache.

2. For debugging, try adding a bunch of:

   BinaryWrite(xx,"file1.txt")
   

   (then file2.txt file3.txt, etc)

   so you can see the step by step progress of your changes. And see if some disappear or something.

P.S. I don't think FileRead/Write will change the problem.

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Article ID:   W12739

Filename:   Use Binary Functions to Edit INI Files.txt

File Created: 1999:04:15:16:49:18

Last Updated: 1999:04:15:16:49:18