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.NET Framework 3.5
Registry Class
Registry Methods
SetValue Method
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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
Registry..::.SetValue Method

Sets the value of a name/value pair in a registry key.

  NameDescription
Public methodStatic memberSupported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSetValue(String, String, Object)Sets the specified name/value pair on the specified registry key. If the specified key does not exist, it is created.
Public methodStatic memberSupported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSetValue(String, String, Object, RegistryValueKind)Sets the name/value pair on the specified registry key, using the specified registry data type. If the specified key does not exist, it is created.
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The following code example stores values of several data types in an example key, creating the key as it does so, and then retrieves and displays the values. The example demonstrates storing and retrieving the default (nameless) name/value pair, and the use of defaultValue when a name/value pair does not exist.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports Microsoft.Win32

Public Class Example
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' The name of the key must include a valid root.
        Const userRoot As String = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER"
        Const subkey As String = "RegistrySetValueExample"
        Const keyName As String = userRoot & "\" & subkey

        ' Integer values can be stored without specifying the
        ' registry data type, but Long values will be stored
        ' as strings unless you specify the type. Note that
        ' the integer is stored in the default name/value
        ' pair.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "", 5280)
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestLong", 12345678901234, _
            RegistryValueKind.QWord)

        ' Strings with expandable environment variables are
        ' stored as ordinary strings unless you specify the
        ' data type.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand", "My path: %path%")
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand2", "My path: %path%", _
            RegistryValueKind.ExpandString)

        ' Arrays of strings are stored automatically as 
        ' MultiString. Similarly, arrays of Byte are stored
        ' automatically as Binary.
        Dim strings() As String = {"One", "Two", "Three"}
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestArray", strings)

        ' Your default value is returned if the name/value pair
        ' does not exist.
        Dim noSuch As String = _
            Registry.GetValue(keyName, "NoSuchName", _
            "Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.")
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "NoSuchName: {0}", noSuch)

        ' Retrieve the Integer and Long values, specifying 
        ' numeric default values in case the name/value pairs
        ' do not exist. The Integer value is retrieved from the
        ' default (nameless) name/value pair for the key.
        Dim tInteger As Integer = _
            Registry.GetValue(keyName, "", -1)
        Console.WriteLine("(Default): {0}", tInteger)
        Dim tLong As Long = Registry.GetValue(keyName, _
             "TestLong", Long.MinValue)
        Console.WriteLine("TestLong: {0}", tLong)

        ' When retrieving a MultiString value, you can specify
        ' an array for the default return value. The value is
        ' declared inline, but could also be declared as:
        ' Dim default() As String = {"Default value."}
        '
        Dim tArray() As String = _
            Registry.GetValue(keyName, "TestArray", _
            New String() {"Default if TestArray does not exist."})
        For i As Integer = 0 To tArray.Length - 1
            Console.WriteLine("TestArray({0}): {1}", i, tArray(i))
        Next

        ' A string with embedded environment variables is not
        ' expanded if it was stored as an ordinary string.
        Dim tExpand As String = Registry.GetValue(keyName, _
             "TestExpand", "Default if TestExpand does not exist.")
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand: {0}", tExpand)

        ' A string stored as ExpandString is expanded.
        Dim tExpand2 As String = Registry.GetValue(keyName, _
             "TestExpand2", "Default if TestExpand2 does not exist.")
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand2: {0}...", _
            tExpand2.Substring(0, 40))

        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & _
            "Use the registry editor to examine the key.")
        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to delete the key.")
        Console.ReadLine()
        Registry.CurrentUser.DeleteSubKey(subkey)
    End Sub
End Class
'
' This code example produces output similar to the following:
'
'NoSuchName: Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.
'(Default): 5280
'TestLong: 12345678901234
'TestArray(0): One
'TestArray(1): Two
'TestArray(2): Three
'TestExpand: My path: %path%
'TestExpand2: My path: D:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\...
'
'Use the registry editor to examine the key.
'Press the Enter key to delete the key.
C#
using System;
using Microsoft.Win32;

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // The name of the key must include a valid root.
        const string userRoot = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER";
        const string subkey = "RegistrySetValueExample";
        const string keyName = userRoot + "\\" + subkey;

        // An int value can be stored without specifying the
        // registry data type, but long values will be stored
        // as strings unless you specify the type. Note that
        // the int is stored in the default name/value
        // pair.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "", 5280);
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestLong", 12345678901234,
            RegistryValueKind.QWord);

        // Strings with expandable environment variables are
        // stored as ordinary strings unless you specify the
        // data type.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand", "My path: %path%");
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand2", "My path: %path%",
            RegistryValueKind.ExpandString);

        // Arrays of strings are stored automatically as 
        // MultiString. Similarly, arrays of Byte are stored
        // automatically as Binary.
        string[] strings = {"One", "Two", "Three"};
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestArray", strings);

        // Your default value is returned if the name/value pair
        // does not exist.
        string noSuch = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName, 
            "NoSuchName",
            "Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("\r\nNoSuchName: {0}", noSuch);

        // Retrieve the int and long values, specifying 
        // numeric default values in case the name/value pairs
        // do not exist. The int value is retrieved from the
        // default (nameless) name/value pair for the key.
        int tInteger = (int) Registry.GetValue(keyName, "", -1);
        Console.WriteLine("(Default): {0}", tInteger);
        long tLong = (long) Registry.GetValue(keyName, "TestLong",
            long.MinValue);
        Console.WriteLine("TestLong: {0}", tLong);

        // When retrieving a MultiString value, you can specify
        // an array for the default return value. 
        string[] tArray = (string[]) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
            "TestArray",
            new string[] {"Default if TestArray does not exist."});
        for(int i=0; i<tArray.Length; i++)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TestArray({0}): {1}", i, tArray[i]);
        }

        // A string with embedded environment variables is not
        // expanded if it was stored as an ordinary string.
        string tExpand = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
             "TestExpand", 
             "Default if TestExpand does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand: {0}", tExpand);

        // A string stored as ExpandString is expanded.
        string tExpand2 = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
            "TestExpand2",
            "Default if TestExpand2 does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand2: {0}...",
            tExpand2.Substring(0, 40));

        Console.WriteLine("\r\nUse the registry editor to examine the key.");
        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to delete the key.");
        Console.ReadLine();
        Registry.CurrentUser.DeleteSubKey(subkey);
    }
}
//
// This code example produces output similar to the following:
//
//NoSuchName: Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.
//(Default): 5280
//TestLong: 12345678901234
//TestArray(0): One
//TestArray(1): Two
//TestArray(2): Three
//TestExpand: My path: %path%
//TestExpand2: My path: D:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\...
//
//Use the registry editor to examine the key.
//Press the Enter key to delete the key.
Visual C++
using namespace System;
using namespace Microsoft::Win32;

int main()
{   
    // The name of the key must include a valid root.
    String^ userRoot = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER";
    String^ subKey = "RegistrySetValueExample2";
    String^ keyName = String::Concat(userRoot, "\\", subKey);

    // An int value can be stored without specifying the
    // registry data type, but Int64 values will be stored
    // as strings unless you specify the type. Note that
    // the int is stored in the default name/value
    // pair.
    Registry::SetValue(keyName, "", 5280);
    Registry::SetValue(keyName, "TestInt64", 12345678901234, 
        RegistryValueKind::QWord);

    // Strings with expandable environment variables are
    // stored as ordinary strings unless you specify the
    // data type.
    Registry::SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand", "My path: %path%");
    Registry::SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand2", "My path: %path%", 
        RegistryValueKind::ExpandString);

    // Arrays of strings are stored automatically as 
    // MultiString. Similarly, arrays of Byte are stored
    // automatically as Binary.
    array<String^>^ strings  = {"One", "Two", "Three"};
    Registry::SetValue(keyName, "TestArray", strings);

    // Your default value is returned if the name/value pair
    // does not exist.
    String^ noSuch = (String^)Registry::GetValue(keyName, 
        "NoSuchName", 
        "Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.");
    Console::WriteLine("\r\nNoSuchName: {0}", noSuch);

    // Retrieve the int and Int64 values, specifying 
    // numeric default values in case the name/value pairs
    // do not exist. The int value is retrieved from the
    // default (nameless) name/value pair for the key.
    int testInteger = (int)Registry::GetValue(keyName, "", -1);
    Console::WriteLine("(Default): {0}", testInteger);
    long long testInt64 = (long long)Registry::GetValue(keyName, 
        "TestInt64", System::Int64::MinValue);
    Console::WriteLine("TestInt64: {0}", testInt64);

    // When retrieving a MultiString value, you can specify
    // an array for the default return value. 
    array<String^>^ testArray = (array<String^>^)Registry::GetValue(
        keyName, "TestArray", 
        gcnew array<String^> {"Default if TestArray does not exist."});
    for (int i = 0; i < testArray->Length; i++)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("TestArray({0}): {1}", i, testArray[i]);
    }

    // A string with embedded environment variables is not
    // expanded if it was stored as an ordinary string.
    String^ testExpand = (String^)Registry::GetValue(keyName, 
        "TestExpand", "Default if TestExpand does not exist.");
    Console::WriteLine("TestExpand: {0}", testExpand);

    // A string stored as ExpandString is expanded.
    String^ testExpand2 = (String^)Registry::GetValue(keyName, 
        "TestExpand2", "Default if TestExpand2 does not exist.");
    Console::WriteLine(
        "TestExpand2: {0}...", testExpand2->Substring(0, 40));
    Console::WriteLine(
        "\r\nUse the registry editor to examine the key.");
    Console::WriteLine("Press the Enter key to delete the key.");
    Console::ReadLine();
    Registry::CurrentUser->DeleteSubKey(subKey);
}
//
// This code example produces output similar to the following:
//
// NoSuchName: Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.
// (Default): 5280
// TestInt64: 12345678901234
// TestArray(0): One
// TestArray(1): Two
// TestArray(2): Three
// TestExpand: My path: %path%
// TestExpand2: My path: D:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\...
//
// Use the registry editor to examine the key.
// Press the Enter key to delete the key.
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