Microsoft® Access® 2010 Programmer's Reference

Chapter 10. Working with the Windows Registry

WHAT'S IN THIS CHAPTER?

• Registry basics such as what it does and how it is organized

• Frequently used functions in the Registry API that you can use to add personalization scenarios to your applications

• Advanced Registry functions that allow you to enumerate keys and values on a local or remote computer

The Registry is the heart and soul of the Windows operating system. It maintains information about the hardware and software installed on a computer, configuration settings, user settings, and information that the system needs to function. In fact, Windows can't operate without it.

The ability to read and write the information in the Registry is essential to all but the most basic software developer. As you move toward doing more and more serious programming, understanding the Registry is critical.

As you'll see, VBA includes four built-in Registry functions, which allow you to store, retrieve, and delete values from one specific area of the Registry. To do anything more advanced, you need to use the Windows Registry APIs. If you don't feel confident with API programming, you should first read Chapter 9, which provides the background you'll need to understand the more advanced topics in this chapter.

Although you can't damage anything by simply reading the Registry, making changes to Registry entries when you don't know what you're doing is a bit like randomly pressing buttons in the control room of your local nuclear power station — press the ...