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Q127200: HOWTO: Use Other Registry Keys with Visual C++ 2.0 and Above

Article: Q127200
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 2000,4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbDebug kbide kbOSWin2000 kbVC kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbGrpDSToo
Last Modified: 26-MAR-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0, 6.0, used with:
   - the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server 
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SUMMARY
=======

It is possible to instruct Microsoft Visual C++ to use a Registry key other than
the default by specifying the /I<key_suffix> option as shown in the MORE
INFORMATION section below. This allows you to specify different environments
with invocations of Visual C++. By making multiple copies of the Visual C++
icon, you can specify different environments or customization options and start
Visual C++ using these settings.

NOTE: Use of the /I switch is not supported. The /I switch is usually used to
have different environments or it can be used as to help debug problems with
Visual C++ where the default registry is suspected of being corrupted. It is not
recommended to use the /I switch in order to run different point releases of
Visual C++.

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

The default Registry key used by Visual C++ version 2.0 is "Visual C++ 2.0" and
the default Registry key used by Visual C++ version 4.0 is "Developer." Visual
C++ version 5.0 uses the "DevStudio\5.0" key, while Visual C++ version 6.0 uses
the "DevStudio\6.0" key.

All keys are found in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER on Local Machine window under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft.

In the properties for the Visual C++ icon, you can add the /I switch to the
Command Line field. The /I switch must be followed immediately by the extension
to the registry entry that will be used.

For example, the following switch starts Visual C++ using the "Visual C++
2.0_Test" key:

     /I_Test

The first time Visual C++ is started with this switch it will create the "Visual
C++ 2.0_Test" key using the default settings. At this point, you will have two
keys, the original "Visual C++ 2.0" key and the "Visual C++ 2.0_Test" key.
Future invocations of Visual C++ using the /I_Test switch will use the existing
"Visual C++ 2.0_Test" key, taking advantage of customizations that are specific
to that key.

CAUTION: Don't make modifications to the Registry by hand. The Registry is
intended to be edited only by the application that uses it.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbenv kbDebug kbide kbOSWin2000 kbVC kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbGrpDSTools 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVC32bitSearch
Version           : :2000,4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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