RegRead a default value with no value set

[DW1]

When you regread() a default value ( RegRead( <regkey>,"") ), but the default value has no value set (Appears in regedit as Name: "(Default)", Type: "REG_SZ", Data: "(value not set)" ), regread will error out.

Is this expected behavior? It very well might be... just want to know

Reproducer: Test 1 will pass because it has a value... Test 2 will fail because there is no value set:

$var = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion", "ProgramFilesDir")
If @error Then
    MsgBox(0, "Test 1", "Error reading registry: " & @error)
Else
    MsgBox(4096, "Test 1", "passed")
EndIf

$var = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion", "")
If @error Then
    MsgBox(0, "Test 2", "Error reading registry: " & @error)
Else
    MsgBox(4096, "Test 2", "passed")
EndIf

[trancexx]

I don't get that error.

[DW1]

I don't get that error.

Really, both pass for you?.... man... WTF LOL

EDIT: I was running 3.2.10.0

I will update to latest build and test again...

Updated to latest build.... still fails for me on test2

fails on beta also.

@trancexx:

can you run this and have it pass?

$var = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "")
If @error Then
    MsgBox(0, "Test 2", "Error reading registry: " & @error)
Else
    MsgBox(4096, "Test 2", "passed")
EndIf

Edited September 11, 2008 by danwilli

[trancexx]

@error = -1

just as for

$var = RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion", "Imaginarykey")

[DW1]

OK, so is this expected behavior? for a default key with no value... not an imaginary key that does not exist

EDIT: Or is a default key with no value actually an imaginary key that only exists in the regedit gui?

Edited September 11, 2008 by danwilli

[trancexx]

OK, so is this expected behavior? for a default key with no value... not an imaginary key that does not exist

EDIT: Or is a default key with no value actually an imaginary key that only exists in the regedit gui?

You could say that we are thinking along the same line about this.

[DW1]

LOL,

Can we get final word from a dev if this is expected behavior or not?

It would be nice if a default key with no value still returned without an @error to use it as a sort of RegKeyExists function instead of having to use RegEnumKey in a loop at 1 key level higher.

Maybe I just haven't seen the proper way to check if a key exists when it is empty (only has a default value in it with no data). Can somebody show me an example?

[Skruge]

Maybe I just haven't seen the proper way to check if a key exists when it is empty (only has a default value in it with no data). Can somebody show me an example?

RegRead("HKLM\Software\ImaginaryKey", "")
If @error = 1 then ConsoleWrite("Key does not exist")

The problem is, you're looking for a non-zero @error code rather than looking its value.

From the RegRead help entry:

Failure: Returns "" and sets the @error flag:

1 if unable to open requested key

2 if unable to open requested main key

3 if unable to remote connect to the registry

-1 if unable to open requested value

-2 if value type not supported

Default values that appear in Regedit as "(value not set)" do not actually exist, so RegRead will set @error to -1.

Default values can also be blank strings, in which case they do exist and RegRead will not error out.

Try editing a Default value in Regedit to see the difference.

[DW1]

The problem is, you're looking for a non-zero @error code rather than looking its value.

Oh wow... is it Friday yet? LOL

Well mark that down as one of my stupid user tricks

Thanks