KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q104096: IniHeadr.exe Reads Section Headers from .INI Files

Article: Q104096
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsample kbOSWin311 kbOSWin300 kbGrpDSUser kbfile kb16bitonly kbSysSettings kbOSWin310
Last Modified: 05-DEC-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The Iniheadr.exe sample defines a function called GetPrivateProfileSections(),
which parses a given .INI file and returns a buffer containing the section
headers separated by NULLs and terminated by a double NULL. SECTION.C contains
the function and a necessary helper function. The sample allows the user to
choose an .INI file using the Open common dialog box. The section headings are
then placed in a list box.

The Windows SDK does not define a function to read all of the section headers
from a profile (.INI) file. An application must read the entire .INI file and
parse it to obtain the section headers.

NOTE: Microsoft recommends using Windows's application programming interfaces
(APIs) to read .INI files. The method described below is not guaranteed to work
on future releases, especially for system .INI files such as WINFILE.INI,
WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI, CONTROL.INI, and so forth.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download
Center:

Iniheadr.exe

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of
posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure
servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.


A profile file (WIN.INI) or a private profile (such as CLOCK.INI) must have the
following form:

  [section heading]
  entry=value

     .
     .
     .

For example, given a profile containing the following section headings

  [windows]
     .
     .
     .

  [Desktop]

     .
     .
     .
  [Extensions]

GetPrivateProfileSections() parses the profile file and places the following in a
buffer:

   windows<NULL>Desktop<NULL>Extensions<NULL><NULL>

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbsample kbOSWin311 kbOSWin300 kbGrpDSUser kbfile kb16bitonly kbSysSettings kbOSWin310 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch
Version           : WINDOWS:

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.