The best way to store some app specific data

Question

Hello everyone.

I am developing an app(windows) which require to store folder paths selected by user for processing input files.What would be best option to store these names.I need help to choose from

1)writing to registry & then reading back
2)writing to app.config(am using vs 2005) & reading back (but config file shows the new entries only after restarting the app :-(.... )
3)rely on the Database.

Thanks for reading

Arc · Answer

You can write to a simple text file or a database or the registry or whatever. It realy doesn't matter. However writing to the registry pretty much hides it from user access. That way you don't have to worry about the user deleting your text file. That is of course unless the user is very tech savvy and purposely wants to delete your entries in the registry..but that is rare.

Jan Montano · Answer

Hi Ever since I learned XML I preferred to use it over storing data in the registry. This way I only need to concentrate on one file and not be able to mess up the registry. If I'm not mistaken using the configuration file in 2005 is far better than the previous version. I think what you're saying only applies to 2002. In 2005 you can change the configuration values at run-time and be able to read the new values using the System.Configuration.Configuration Class unlike before that values are loaded during the start of the application