If exist

[nobby]

Hey,

I was wondering if there is a function that checks for the existance of a registry key in the style

RegExist("keyname")

Cheers

[trids]

Haven't tried it myself, but .. according to the helpfile, RegRead() returns the following values for @Error ..

• 0 if success
• 1 if Unable to open requested key
• -1 if Unable to open requested value
• -2 if Value type not supported

HTH

[kami]

If registry key does not exist, RegRead function will return 0.

So, if you are comparing non-REG_DWORD key with variable,

you will have to convert it to string....

But if you want only to check does corresponding key exist,

like "trids" said, @error can be used.

[GEOSoft]

If registry key does not exist, RegRead function will return 0.

Just the opposite. If the registry key and value exist it returns 0. To see if a key exists you can use RegRead for the Key and default value. For example

RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives","")

After that you would use error handleing to do what you want.

If @Error <>0 THEN RegWrite ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives,"","REG_SZ",)

Note: The code statements are all one line but may appear wrapped.

Edited December 31, 2003 by GEOSoft

[kami]

Just the opposite.  If the registry key and value exist it returns 0.

Try this.... You'll be suprised....

$Test = "test"
$Test = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Something\Test", "")
MsgBox(0, "Test", $Test)

[trids]

Try this.... You'll be suprised....

Kami .. your example works as expected: the problem is that you should look at @error after the RegRead(). Not $Test.

The following code highlights that RegRead() was Unable to open requested key .. because @error = 1

$Test = "test"
$Test = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Something\Test", "")
MsgBox(0, "Test", @error & ";" & $Test)

Unless @error=0, $Test is meaningless

[willichan]

Its a few years down the line, but just in case someone is trying to do this, the correct check would be

RegRead($RegKeyImLookingFor,"")
If @Error > 0 Then
   ;Key does not exist
    DoSomething()
Else
   ;Key does exist
    DoSomethingElse()
EndIf

Error codes <0 relate to values, not the key. You may get an error code <0, even if the key exists. You won't get a value related error if the key does not exist.

[GEOSoft]

Its a few years down the line, but just in case someone is trying to do this, the correct check would be

RegRead($RegKeyImLookingFor,"")
If @Error > 0 Then
 ;Key does not exist
    DoSomething()
Else
 ;Key does exist
    DoSomethingElse()
EndIf

Error codes <0 relate to values, not the key. You may get an error code <0, even if the key exists. You won't get a value related error if the key does not exist.

You can't ignore -1 (Value does not exist). If you are checking default value and it exists but it's not set then the returned error is -1 Edited April 10, 2009 by GEOSoft

[willichan]

You can't ignore -1 (Value does not exist). If you are checking default value and it exists but it's not set then the returned error is -1

I appreciate the feedback. On more than one occasion, over the years, your posts have set me on the right track to find the solution I needed ... this thread included.

The idea here is to check for the existence of the key, not the value. Even if you do get a -1 result for an uninitialized "Default" value (I am curious as to what version of Windows you got that result from), you still know that the key exists. You wouldn't get a -1 or a -2 result if the key did not exist.

Edited April 13, 2009 by willichan

[microbious]

best example ever

RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\test", "")
if @error = -1 Then
    MsgBox (0,"","yes it does")
ElseIf @Error = 1 Then 
    MsgBox (0,"","no it doesnt")
EndIf

Edited May 1, 2009 by stoopid

[willichan]

best example ever

RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\test", "")
if @error = -1 Then
    MsgBox (0,"","yes it does")
ElseIf @Error = 1 Then 
    MsgBox (0,"","no it doesnt")
EndIf

Gettingsmarter,

You not only miss critical values this way, but you also run an unnecessary If statement, which means a slower script.

Values of 0 or -2 can also indicate the existence of the key. You can assume that any positive value means that the key either does not exist, or is inaccessible. The cleanest and simplest method would be to use the code I submitted on Apr 10, 2009.

[mr-es335]

microbious,

Thanks for this snippet...very much appreciated!

[Jos]

no need for this after 14 years!