EnvironmentVariableTarget Enumeration
Specifies the location where an environment variable is stored or retrieved in a set or get operation.
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
| Member name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the environment block associated with the current process. The user creates the environment variable in a set operation. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process. | |
| User | The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment key in the Windows operating system registry. When the user creates the environment variable in a set operation, the operating system stores the environment variable in the system registry, but not in the current process. If the user starts a new process, the operating system copies the environment variable from the registry to that process. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process. However, the environment variable in the registry persists until the user removes it programmatically or by means of an operating system tool. | |
| Machine | The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment key in the Windows operating system registry. When a user creates the environment variable in a set operation, the operating system stores the environment variable in the system registry, but not in the current process. If any user on the local machine starts a new process, the operating system copies the environment variable from the registry to that process. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process. However, the environment variable in the registry persists until a user removes it programmatically or by means of an operating system tool. |
The EnvironmentVariableTarget enumeration is used by certain overloads of the SetEnvironmentVariable, GetEnvironmentVariable, and GetEnvironmentVariables methods to specify the location, or target, where the name and value of an environment variable is stored or retrieved.
The target can be one of three locations: the environment block associated with the current process, the Windows operating system registry key reserved for environment variables associated with the current user, or the registry key reserved for environment variables associated with all users on the local machine.
The following code example demonstrates the EnvironmentVariableTarget enumeration in methods that create, modify, and delete environment variables.
' This example demonstrates the ' Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable, ' Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable, and ' Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables overloaded methods. Imports System Imports System.Collections Imports Microsoft.Win32 Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic Class Sample '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Globals: '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protected Shared fmtNameValue As String = " {0} {1}." Protected Shared myVarSuffix As String = "_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE" ' Four relatively unique environment variable names. Protected Shared myVarA As String = "A" & myVarSuffix ' default process Protected Shared myVarB As String = "B" & myVarSuffix ' Current Process Protected Shared myVarC As String = "C" & myVarSuffix ' Current User Protected Shared myVarD As String = "D" & myVarSuffix ' Local Machine '===================================================================================== ' EachVariable: ' Test whether a specific environment variable exists in a target. ' This section demonstrates Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protected Shared Sub EachVariable(var As String, tgt As EnvironmentVariableTarget) Dim str As String ' If 0 = tgt Then ' Zero means use the default target. str = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(var) Else str = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(var, tgt) End If Console.WriteLine(fmtNameValue, var, IIf(String.IsNullOrEmpty(str), _ "doesn't exist", str)) End Sub 'EachVariable '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' CheckEachVariable: ' Uses EachVariable to test whether each environment variable exists in a target. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protected Shared Sub CheckEachVariable() Console.WriteLine("Process:") EachVariable(myVarA, 0) ' Check the default target (current process) EachVariable(myVarB, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) EachVariable(myVarC, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) EachVariable(myVarD, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) Console.WriteLine() Console.WriteLine("User:") EachVariable(myVarA, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) EachVariable(myVarB, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) EachVariable(myVarC, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) EachVariable(myVarD, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) Console.WriteLine() Console.WriteLine("Machine:") EachVariable(myVarA, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) EachVariable(myVarB, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) EachVariable(myVarC, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) EachVariable(myVarD, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) Console.WriteLine() End Sub 'CheckEachVariable '===================================================================================== ' AllVariables: CheckAllVariables helper function. ' This section demonstrates Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Private Shared Sub AllVariables(tgt As EnvironmentVariableTarget) Dim value As String Dim key As String Dim de As DictionaryEntry For Each de In Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables(tgt) key = CStr(de.Key) value = CStr(de.Value) If key.Contains(myVarSuffix) Then Console.WriteLine(fmtNameValue, key, value) End If Next de Console.WriteLine() End Sub 'AllVariables '===================================================================================== ' CheckAllVariables: ' Uses AllVariables to test whether each environment variable exists in a target. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protected Shared Sub CheckAllVariables() Console.WriteLine("Process:") AllVariables(EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) Console.WriteLine("User:") AllVariables(EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) Console.WriteLine("Machine:") AllVariables(EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) End Sub 'CheckAllVariables '===================================================================================== ' ChkReg: CheckRegistry helper function. ' This function filters out irrelevant environment variables. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Private Shared Sub ChkReg(rk As RegistryKey) Dim exists As Boolean = False Dim registryNone As String = " Environment variable doesn't exist." Dim s As String For Each s In rk.GetValueNames() If s.Contains(myVarSuffix) Then Console.WriteLine(fmtNameValue, s, CStr(rk.GetValue(s))) exists = True End If Next s If exists = False Then Console.WriteLine(registryNone) End If Console.WriteLine() End Sub 'ChkReg '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' CheckRegistry: ' Uses ChkReg to display the User and Machine environment variables in the registry. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protected Shared Sub CheckRegistry() Dim subkeyU As String = "Environment" Dim subkeyM As String = "System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" Dim fmtSubkey As String = """{0}"" key:" Console.WriteLine(fmtSubkey, subkeyU) ChkReg(Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(subkeyU)) Console.WriteLine(fmtSubkey, subkeyM) ChkReg(Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(subkeyM)) End Sub 'CheckRegistry '===================================================================================== ' Main: '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Shared Sub Main() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Environment variable values '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dim existsA As String = "exists in the default target (Process)" Dim existsB As String = "exists in Process" Dim existsC As String = "exists in User" Dim existsD As String = "exists in Machine" '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Messages: '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dim msg1 As String = "Step 1:" & vbCrLf & _ " Check whether the environment variables already exist in " _ & vbCrLf & " the various targets..." & vbCrLf Dim msg2 As String = "Step 2:" & vbCrLf & _ " Set the environment variable for each target..." & vbCrLf Dim msg31 As String = "Step 3, part 1:" & vbCrLf & _ " Display the environment variables in each target..." & vbCrLf Dim msg32 As String = "Step 3, part 2:" & vbCrLf & _ " Check whether the User and Machine environment variables " _ & vbCrLf & " were created in the Windows operating system registry..." _ & vbCrLf Dim msg41 As String = "Step 4, part 1:" & vbCrLf & _ " Delete the environment variables created for this sample..." _ & vbCrLf Dim msg42 As String = "Step 4, part 2:" & vbCrLf & _ " Check whether the environment variables were deleted " _ & vbCrLf & " in each target..." & vbCrLf Dim msg43 As String = "Step 4, part 3:" & vbCrLf & _ " Check whether the User and Machine environment variables " _ & vbCrLf & " were deleted from the Windows operating system registry..." _ & vbCrLf Dim fmt2x As String = " {0,9}: Set {1} = ""{2}""" '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 1: ' Check whether the sample environment variables already exist. ' WARNING: These variables will be deleted at the end of this sample. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg1) CheckEachVariable() Console.WriteLine() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 2: ' Set the environment variable for each target. ' This section demonstrates Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg2) ' Set the environment variable for the default target (the current process). Console.WriteLine(fmt2x, "(default)", myVarA, existsA) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarA, existsA) ' Set the environment variable for the the current process. Console.WriteLine(fmt2x, "Process", myVarB, existsB) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarB, existsB, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) ' Set the environment variable for the the current user. Console.WriteLine(fmt2x, "User", myVarC, existsC) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarC, existsC, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) ' Set the environment variable for the the local machine. Console.WriteLine(fmt2x, "Machine", myVarD, existsD) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarD, existsD, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) Console.WriteLine() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 3, part 1: ' Display the environment variables in each target. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg31) CheckAllVariables() Console.WriteLine() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 3, part 2: ' Check whether the User and Machine environment variables were created in the Windows ' operating system registry. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg32) CheckRegistry() Console.WriteLine() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 4, part 1: ' Delete the environment variables created for this sample. ' This section demonstrates using Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable to delete an ' environment variable. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg41) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarA, Nothing) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarB, Nothing, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarC, Nothing, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(myVarD, Nothing, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 4, part 2: ' Check whether the environment variables were deleted in each target. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg42) CheckEachVariable() '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' Step 4, part 3: ' Check whether the User and Machine environment variables were deleted from the ' Windows operating system registry. '------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Console.WriteLine(msg43) CheckRegistry() End Sub 'Main End Class 'Sample ' 'This example produces the following results: ' 'Step 1: ' Check whether the environment variables already exist in ' the various targets... ' 'Process: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' 'User: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' 'Machine: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' ' 'Step 2: ' Set the environment variable for each target... ' ' (default): Set A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE = "exists in the default target (Process)" ' Process: Set B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE = "exists in Process" ' User: Set C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE = "exists in User" ' Machine: Set D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE = "exists in Machine" ' 'Step 3, part 1: ' Display the environment variables in each target... ' 'Process: ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in Process. ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in the default target (Process). ' 'User: ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in User. ' 'Machine: ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in Machine. ' ' 'Step 3, part 2: ' Check whether the User and Machine environment variables ' were created in the Windows operating system registry... ' '"Environment" key: ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in User. ' '"System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" key: ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE exists in Machine. ' ' 'Step 4, part 1: ' Delete the environment variables created for this sample... ' 'Step 4, part 2: ' Check whether the environment variables were deleted ' in each target... ' 'Process: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' 'User: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' 'Machine: ' A_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' B_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' C_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' D_GETSET_ENVAR_SAMPLE doesn't exist. ' 'Step 4, part 3: ' Check whether the User and Machine environment variables ' were deleted from the Windows operating system registry... ' '"Environment" key: ' Environment variable doesn't exist. ' '"System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" key: ' Environment variable doesn't exist. '
Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98
The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.