here's code that will read/write to the registry, it has worked for me in vb6, access, and excel 2002. very end has "myTEST" to read a couple Adobe 7.0 keys, there is also a "Test" code to demo all the sub's
Option Explicit
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Update the Windows registry.
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
' NT tested by Brett Gerhardi Brett.Gerhardi@trinite.co.uk
'
' Perform the four basic functions on the Windows registry.
' Add
' Change
' Delete
' Query
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Software developers vary on where they want to update the
' registry with their particular information. The most common
' are in HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
'
' This BAS module handles all of my needs for string and
' basic numeric updates in the Windows registry.
'
' Brett found that NT users must delete each major key
' separately. See bottom of TEST routine for an example.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Private variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private m_lngRetVal As Long
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Constants required for values in the keys
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const REG_NONE As Long = 0 ' No value type
Private Const REG_SZ As Long = 1 ' nul terminated string
Private Const REG_EXPAND_SZ As Long = 2 ' nul terminated string w/enviornment var
Private Const REG_BINARY As Long = 3 ' Free form binary
Private Const REG_DWORD As Long = 4 ' 32-bit number
Private Const REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN As Long = 4 ' 32-bit number (same as REG_DWORD)
Private Const REG_DWORD_BIG_ENDIAN As Long = 5 ' 32-bit number
Private Const REG_LINK As Long = 6 ' Symbolic Link (unicode)
Private Const REG_MULTI_SZ As Long = 7 ' Multiple Unicode strings
Private Const REG_RESOURCE_LIST As Long = 8 ' Resource list in the resource map
Private Const REG_FULL_RESOURCE_DESCRIPTOR As Long = 9 ' Resource list in the hardware description
Private Const REG_RESOURCE_REQUIREMENTS_LIST As Long = 10
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Registry Specific Access Rights
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const KEY_QUERY_VALUE As Long = &H1
Private Const KEY_SET_VALUE As Long = &H2
Private Const KEY_CREATE_SUB_KEY As Long = &H4
Private Const KEY_ENUMERATE_SUB_KEYS As Long = &H8
Private Const KEY_NOTIFY As Long = &H10
Private Const KEY_CREATE_LINK As Long = &H20
Private Const KEY_ALL_ACCESS As Long = &H3F
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Constants required for key locations in the registry
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Const HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT As Long = &H80000000
Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER As Long = &H80000001
Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE As Long = &H80000002
Const HKEY_USERS As Long = &H80000003
Const HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA As Long = &H80000004
Const HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG As Long = &H80000005
Const HKEY_DYN_DATA As Long = &H80000006
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Constants required for return values (Error code checking)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS As Long = 0
Private Const ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED As Long = 5
Private Const ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS As Long = 259
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Open/Create constants
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const REG_OPTION_NON_VOLATILE As Long = 0
Private Const REG_OPTION_VOLATILE As Long = &H1
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Declarations required to access the Windows registry
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Private Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal lngRootKey As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegCreateKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegCreateKeyA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegDeleteKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegDeleteKeyA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String) As Long
Private Declare Function RegDeleteValue Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegDeleteValueA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function RegOpenKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegQueryValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegQueryValueExA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal lpReserved As Long, _
lpType As Long, lpData As Any, lpcbData As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegSetValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegSetValueExA" _
(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal Reserved As Long, _
ByVal dwType As Long, lpData As Any, ByVal cbData As Long) As Long
Public Function regDelete_Sub_Key(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, _
ByVal strRegKeyPath As String, _
ByVal strRegSubKey As String)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: Function for removing a sub key.
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key path you wish to traverse.
' strRegSubKey - is the name of the key which will be removed.
'
' Syntax:
' regDelete_Sub_Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _
"Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", "StringTestData"
'
' Removes the sub key "StringTestData"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Make sure the key exist before trying to delete it
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If regDoes_Key_Exist(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath) Then
' Get the key handle
m_lngRetVal = RegOpenKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' Delete the sub key. If it does not exist, then ignore it.
m_lngRetVal = RegDeleteValue(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey)
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt the registry.
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End If
End Function
Public Function regDoes_Key_Exist(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, _
ByVal strRegKeyPath As String) As Boolean
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: Function to see if a key does exist
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key path you want to test
'
' Syntax:
' strKeyQuery = regQuery_A_Key(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _
' "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products")
'
' Returns the value of TRUE or FALSE
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Initialize variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
lngKeyHandle = 0
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Query the key path
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegOpenKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' If no key handle was found then there is no key. Leave here.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If lngKeyHandle = 0 Then
regDoes_Key_Exist = False
Else
regDoes_Key_Exist = True
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt these files.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End Function
Public Function regQuery_A_Key(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, _
ByVal strRegKeyPath As String, _
ByVal strRegSubKey As String) As Variant
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: Function for querying a sub key value.
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key path you wish to traverse.
' strRegSubKey - is the name of the key which will be queryed.
'
' Syntax:
' strKeyQuery = regQuery_A_Key(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _
' "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", _
"StringTestData")
'
' Returns the key value of "StringTestData"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim intPosition As Integer
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
Dim lngDataType As Long
Dim lngBufferSize As Long
Dim lngBuffer As Long
Dim strBuffer As String
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Initialize variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
lngKeyHandle = 0
lngBufferSize = 0
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Query the key path
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegOpenKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' If no key handle was found then there is no key. Leave here.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If lngKeyHandle = 0 Then
regQuery_A_Key = ""
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle) ' always close the handle
Exit Function
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Query the registry and determine the data type.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegQueryValueEx(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey, 0&, _
lngDataType, ByVal 0&, lngBufferSize)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' If no key handle was found then there is no key. Leave.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If lngKeyHandle = 0 Then
regQuery_A_Key = ""
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle) ' always close the handle
Exit Function
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Make the API call to query the registry based on the type
' of data.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Select Case lngDataType
Case REG_SZ: ' String data (most common)
' Preload the receiving buffer area
strBuffer = Space(lngBufferSize)
m_lngRetVal = RegQueryValueEx(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey, 0&, 0&, _
ByVal strBuffer, lngBufferSize)
' If NOT a successful call then leave
If m_lngRetVal <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
regQuery_A_Key = ""
Else
' Strip out the string data
intPosition = InStr(1, strBuffer, Chr(0)) ' look for the first null char
If intPosition > 0 Then
' if we found one, then save everything up to that point
regQuery_A_Key = Left(strBuffer, intPosition - 1)
Else
' did not find one. Save everything.
regQuery_A_Key = strBuffer
End If
End If
Case REG_DWORD: ' Numeric data (Integer)
m_lngRetVal = RegQueryValueEx(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey, 0&, lngDataType, _
lngBuffer, 4&) ' 4& = 4-byte word (long integer)
' If NOT a successful call then leave
If m_lngRetVal <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
regQuery_A_Key = ""
Else
' Save the captured data
regQuery_A_Key = lngBuffer
End If
Case Else: ' unknown
regQuery_A_Key = ""
End Select
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt these files.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End Function
Public Sub regCreate_Key_Value(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal strRegKeyPath As String, _
ByVal strRegSubKey As String, varRegData As Variant)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: Function for saving string data.
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key path you wish to traverse.
' strRegSubKey - is the name of the key which will be updated.
' varRegData - Update data.
'
' Syntax:
' regCreate_Key_Value HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _
' "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", _
' "StringTestData", "22 Jun 1999"
'
' Saves the key value of "22 Jun 1999" to sub key "StringTestData"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
Dim lngDataType As Long
Dim lngKeyValue As Long
Dim strKeyValue As String
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Determine the type of data to be updated
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If IsNumeric(varRegData) Then
lngDataType = REG_DWORD
Else
lngDataType = REG_SZ
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Query the key path
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCreateKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Update the sub key based on the data type
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Select Case lngDataType
Case REG_SZ: ' String data
strKeyValue = Trim(varRegData) & Chr(0) ' null terminated
m_lngRetVal = RegSetValueEx(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey, 0&, lngDataType, _
ByVal strKeyValue, Len(strKeyValue))
Case REG_DWORD: ' numeric data
lngKeyValue = CLng(varRegData)
m_lngRetVal = RegSetValueEx(lngKeyHandle, strRegSubKey, 0&, lngDataType, _
lngKeyValue, 4&) ' 4& = 4-byte word (long integer)
End Select
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt these files.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End Sub
Public Function regCreate_A_Key(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, ByVal strRegKeyPath As String)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: This function will create a new key
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key you wish to create.
' to make sub keys, continue to make this
' call with each new level. MS says you
' can do this in one call; however, the
' best laid plans of mice and men ...
'
' Syntax:
' regCreate_A_Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\AAA-Registry Test"
' regCreate_A_Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Create the key. If it already exist, ignore it.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCreateKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt these files.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End Function
Public Function regDelete_A_Key(ByVal lngRootKey As Long, _
ByVal strRegKeyPath As String, _
ByVal strRegKeyName As String) As Boolean
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry files (System.dat
' and User.dat) before performing any type of
' modifications
'
' Description: Function for removing a complete key.
'
' Parameters:
' lngRootKey - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
' HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, etc
' strRegKeyPath - is name of the key path you wish to traverse.
' strRegKeyValue - is the name of the key which will be removed.
'
' Returns a True or False on completion.
'
' Syntax:
' regDelete_A_Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software", "AAA-Registry Test"
'
' Removes the key "AAA-Registry Test" and all of its sub keys.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngKeyHandle As Long
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Preset to a failed delete
' --------------------------------------------------------------
regDelete_A_Key = False
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Make sure the key exist before trying to delete it
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If regDoes_Key_Exist(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath) Then
' Get the key handle
m_lngRetVal = RegOpenKey(lngRootKey, strRegKeyPath, lngKeyHandle)
' Delete the key
m_lngRetVal = RegDeleteKey(lngKeyHandle, strRegKeyName)
' If the value returned is equal zero then we have succeeded
If m_lngRetVal = 0 Then regDelete_A_Key = True
' Always close the handle in the registry. We do not want to
' corrupt the registry.
m_lngRetVal = RegCloseKey(lngKeyHandle)
End If
End Function
Sub Test()
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Test Windows registry basic functions.
' Written by Kenneth Ives kenaso@home.com
'
' Rename this to "Main". Press F8 to step thru the code. You
' will be able to stop at will and execute Regedit.exe to see
' the results. Or, you can press F5 and this test procedure
' has its own stops built in.
'
' Perform the four basic functions on the Windows registry.
' Add
' Change
' Delete
' Query
'
' Important: If you treat all key data strings as being
' case sensitive, you should never have a problem.
' Always backup your registry (System.dat and
' User.dat) before performing any type of updates.
'
' Rename this procedure back to TEST so as not to intefere if
' this BAS module is used in another application.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Define variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Dim lngRootKey As Long
Dim strKeyQuery As Variant ' we are not sure what type of
' data will be returned
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Initialize variables
' --------------------------------------------------------------
strKeyQuery = vbNullString
lngRootKey = HKEY_CURRENT_USER
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' See if the key already exist. If the key does not exist, we
' will create one. Some people want to automatically create a
' key if it does not exist. This philosophy can be dangerous.
' Querying the registry is one function and updating is another.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If Not regDoes_Key_Exist(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test") Then
' create the main key and the first sub key
regCreate_A_Key lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test"
regCreate_A_Key lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products"
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' see if the next sub key exist.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If Not regDoes_Key_Exist(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products") Then
' create the first sub key
regCreate_A_Key lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products"
End If
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Create a string type sub key
' --------------------------------------------------------------
regCreate_Key_Value lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", _
"StringTestData", "22 SEP 1999"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Create a numeric type sub key
' --------------------------------------------------------------
regCreate_Key_Value lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", _
"NumericTestData", 1234567890
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' See if we have successfully created the key. The value of
' of the sub key will be returned. strKeyQuery is a variant
' because we do not know if the data being returned is string
' or numeric. Once it is returned then we can manipulate it.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
strKeyQuery = regQuery_A_Key(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", "StringTestData")
strKeyQuery = regQuery_A_Key(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", "NumericTestData")
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Stop processing here.
' Execute Regedit.exe and verify that all the keys have
' been added to the registry.
' Press F5 or F8 to continue.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Stop
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Change the value of the sub key, "StringTestData", from
' "22 SEP 1999" to "September 22, 1999"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
regCreate_Key_Value lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", _
"StringTestData", "September 22, 1999"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' See if the sub key has been updated
' --------------------------------------------------------------
strKeyQuery = regQuery_A_Key(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", "StringTestData")
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Stop processing here.
' Execute Regedit.exe and verify that the sub key has
' been updated in the registry.
' Press F5 or F8 to continue.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Stop
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Delete the sub key, "NumericTestData", only.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
regDelete_Sub_Key lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test\Products", "NumericTestData"
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Stop processing here.
' Execute Regedit.exe and verify the sub key ("NumericTestData")
' has been removed from the registry.
' Press F5 or F8 to continue.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
Stop
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Remove the complete key from the registry. You do not want
' to remove the "Software" key. NT users must remove each
' major key component separately as shown below. Windows 95/98
' users can do this in one step by using the second line only.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
If Not regDelete_A_Key(lngRootKey, "Software\AAA-Registry Test", "Products") Then
MsgBox "Failed to delete requested subkey! ", vbOKOnly + vbExclamation, "Registry Key Delete"
GoTo Normal_Exit:
End If
If Not regDelete_A_Key(lngRootKey, "Software", "AAA-Registry Test") Then
MsgBox "Failed to delete requested main key! ", vbOKOnly + vbExclamation, "Registry Key Delete"
GoTo Normal_Exit:
End If
Normal_Exit:
' --------------------------------------------------------------
' Terminate program.
' Execute Regedit.exe and verify that the key
' ("AAA-Registry Test") and all of its sub keys have been
' removed from the registry.
' --------------------------------------------------------------
End
End Sub
'********** TEST QUERY ADOBE 7.0 KEYS *****
Public Sub myTEST()
'get install path for 7.0 (default) key
MsgBox regQuery_A_Key(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "software\adobe\acrobat reader\7.0\installpath\", "")
'get eula key
MsgBox regQuery_A_Key(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "software\adobe\acrobat reader\7.0\adobeviewer\", "eula")
End Sub
