Configuration Class

Definition

Represents a configuration file that is applicable to a particular computer, application, or resource. This class cannot be inherited.

public sealed class Configuration
Inheritance
Configuration

Examples

The following code example demonstrates how to use the Configuration class to access configuration file elements.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Globalization;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

// Before compiling this application, 
// remember to reference the System.Configuration assembly in your project. 
#region CustomSection class

// Define a custom section. This class is used to
// populate the configuration file.
// It creates the following custom section:
//  <CustomSection name="Contoso" url="http://www.contoso.com" port="8080" />.
public sealed class CustomSection : ConfigurationSection
{

    public CustomSection()
    {
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("name",
     DefaultValue = "Contoso",
     IsRequired = true,
     IsKey = true)]
    public string Name
    {
        get
        {
            return (string)this["name"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["name"] = value;
        }
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("url",
        DefaultValue = "http://www.contoso.com",
        IsRequired = true)]
    [RegexStringValidator(@"\w+:\/\/[\w.]+\S*")]
    public string Url
    {
        get
        {
            return (string)this["url"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["url"] = value;
        }
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("port",
        DefaultValue = (int)8080,
        IsRequired = false)]
    [IntegerValidator(MinValue = 0,
        MaxValue = 8080, ExcludeRange = false)]
    public int Port
    {
        get
        {
            return (int)this["port"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["port"] = value;
        }
    }
}

#endregion

#region Using Configuration Class
class UsingConfigurationClass
{


    // Show how to create an instance of the Configuration class
    // that represents this application configuration file.  
    static void CreateConfigurationFile()
    {
        try
        {

            // Create a custom configuration section.
            CustomSection customSection = new CustomSection();

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

            // Create the custom section entry  
            // in <configSections> group and the 
            // related target section in <configuration>.
            if (config.Sections["CustomSection"] == null)
            {
                config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection);
            }

            // Create and add an entry to appSettings section.
            
            string conStringname="LocalSqlServer";
            string conString = @"data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|aspnetdb.mdf;User Instance=true";
            string providerName="System.Data.SqlClient";

            ConnectionStringSettings connStrSettings = new ConnectionStringSettings();
            connStrSettings.Name = conStringname;
            connStrSettings.ConnectionString= conString;
            connStrSettings.ProviderName = providerName;

            config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings.Add(connStrSettings);
            
            // Add an entry to appSettings section.
            int appStgCnt =
                ConfigurationManager.AppSettings.Count;
            string newKey = "NewKey" + appStgCnt.ToString();

            string newValue = DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString() +
              " " + DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString();

            config.AppSettings.Settings.Add(newKey, newValue);

            // Save the configuration file.
            customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);

            Console.WriteLine("Created configuration file: {0}",
                config.FilePath);
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("CreateConfigurationFile: {0}", err.ToString());
        }
    }

    // Show how to use the GetSection(string) method.
    static void GetCustomSection()
    {
        try
        {

            CustomSection customSection;

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            customSection =
                config.GetSection("CustomSection") as CustomSection;

            Console.WriteLine("Section name: {0}", customSection.Name);
            Console.WriteLine("Url: {0}", customSection.Url);
            Console.WriteLine("Port: {0}", customSection.Port);
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Using GetSection(string): {0}", err.ToString());
        }
    }


    // Show how to use different modalities to save 
    // a configuration file.
    static void SaveConfigurationFile()
    {
        try
        {

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            // Save the full configuration file and force save even if the file was not modified.
            config.SaveAs("MyConfigFull.config", ConfigurationSaveMode.Full, true);
            Console.WriteLine("Saved config file as MyConfigFull.config using the mode: {0}",
                ConfigurationSaveMode.Full.ToString());

            config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            // Save only the part of the configuration file that was modified. 
            config.SaveAs("MyConfigModified.config", ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified, true);
            Console.WriteLine("Saved config file as MyConfigModified.config using the mode: {0}",
                ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified.ToString());

            config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            // Save the full configuration file.
            config.SaveAs("MyConfigMinimal.config");
            Console.WriteLine("Saved config file as MyConfigMinimal.config using the mode: {0}",
                ConfigurationSaveMode.Minimal.ToString());
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("SaveConfigurationFile: {0}", err.ToString());
        }
    }

    // Show how use the AppSettings and ConnectionStrings 
    // properties.
    static void GetSections(string section)
    {
        try
        {

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            // Get the selected section.
            switch (section)
            {
                case "appSettings":
                    try
                    {
                        AppSettingsSection appSettings =
                            config.AppSettings as AppSettingsSection;
                        Console.WriteLine("Section name: {0}",
                                appSettings.SectionInformation.SectionName);

                        // Get the AppSettings section elements.
                        Console.WriteLine();
                        Console.WriteLine("Using AppSettings property.");
                        Console.WriteLine("Application settings:");
                        // Get the KeyValueConfigurationCollection 
                        // from the configuration.
                        KeyValueConfigurationCollection settings =
                          config.AppSettings.Settings;

                        // Display each KeyValueConfigurationElement.
                        foreach (KeyValueConfigurationElement keyValueElement in settings)
                        {
                            Console.WriteLine("Key: {0}", keyValueElement.Key);
                            Console.WriteLine("Value: {0}", keyValueElement.Value);
                            Console.WriteLine();
                        }
                    }
                    catch (ConfigurationErrorsException e)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Using AppSettings property: {0}",
                            e.ToString());
                    }
                    break;

                case "connectionStrings":
                    ConnectionStringsSection
                        conStrSection =
                        config.ConnectionStrings as ConnectionStringsSection;
                    Console.WriteLine("Section name: {0}",
                        conStrSection.SectionInformation.SectionName);

                    try
                    {
                        if (conStrSection.ConnectionStrings.Count != 0)
                        {
                            Console.WriteLine();
                            Console.WriteLine("Using ConnectionStrings property.");
                            Console.WriteLine("Connection strings:");

                            // Get the collection elements.
                            foreach (ConnectionStringSettings connection in
                              conStrSection.ConnectionStrings)
                            {
                                string name = connection.Name;
                                string provider = connection.ProviderName;
                                string connectionString = connection.ConnectionString;

                                Console.WriteLine("Name:               {0}",
                                  name);
                                Console.WriteLine("Connection string:  {0}",
                                  connectionString);
                                Console.WriteLine("Provider:            {0}",
                                   provider);
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    catch (ConfigurationErrorsException e)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Using ConnectionStrings property: {0}",
                            e.ToString());
                    }
                    break;

                default:
                    Console.WriteLine(
                        "GetSections: Unknown section (0)", section);
                    break;
            }
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("GetSections: (0)", err.ToString());
        }
    }

    // Show how to use the Configuration object properties 
    // to obtain configuration file information.
    static void GetConfigurationInformation()
    {
        try
        {

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            Console.WriteLine("Reading configuration information:");

            ContextInformation evalContext =
                config.EvaluationContext as ContextInformation;
            Console.WriteLine("Machine level: {0}",
                evalContext.IsMachineLevel.ToString());
                    
            string filePath = config.FilePath;
            Console.WriteLine("File path: {0}", filePath);
             
            bool hasFile = config.HasFile;
            Console.WriteLine("Has file: {0}", hasFile.ToString());

            ConfigurationSectionGroupCollection
                groups = config.SectionGroups;
            Console.WriteLine("Groups: {0}", groups.Count.ToString());
            foreach (ConfigurationSectionGroup group in groups)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Group Name: {0}", group.Name);
               // Console.WriteLine("Group Type: {0}", group.Type);
            }

            ConfigurationSectionCollection
                sections = config.Sections;
            Console.WriteLine("Sections: {0}", sections.Count.ToString());
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("GetConfigurationInformation: {0}",err.ToString());
        }
    }

#endregion 

#region Application Main
    //*** User Interaction Class ***//

    // Obtain user's input and provide feedback.
    // This class contains the application Main() function.
    // It calls the ConfigurationManager methods based 
    // on the user's selection.
    class ApplicationMain
    {
        // Display user's menu.
        public static void UserMenu()
        {
            string applicationName =
                Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()[0] + ".exe";
            StringBuilder buffer = new StringBuilder();

            buffer.AppendLine("Application: " + applicationName);
            buffer.AppendLine("Make your selection.");
            buffer.AppendLine("?    -- Display help.");
            buffer.AppendLine("Q,q  -- Exit the application.");
            
            buffer.Append("1    -- Instantiate the");
            buffer.AppendLine(" Configuration class.");

            buffer.Append("2    -- Use GetSection(string) to read ");
            buffer.AppendLine(" a custom section.");
            
            buffer.Append("3    -- Use SaveAs methods");
            buffer.AppendLine(" to save the configuration file.");

            buffer.Append("4    -- Use AppSettings property to read");
            buffer.AppendLine(" the appSettings section.");
            buffer.Append("5    -- Use ConnectionStrings property to read");
            buffer.AppendLine(" the connectionStrings section.");

            buffer.Append("6    -- Use Configuration class properties");
            buffer.AppendLine(" to obtain configuration information.");

            Console.Write(buffer.ToString());
        }

        // Obtain user's input and provide
        // feedback.
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Define user selection string.
            string selection;

            // Get the name of the application.
            string appName =
                Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()[0];

            // Get user selection.
            while (true)
            {

                UserMenu();
                Console.Write("> ");
                selection = Console.ReadLine();
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(selection))
                    break;
            }

            while (selection.ToLower() != "q")
            {
                // Process user's input.
                switch (selection)
                {
                    case "1":
                        // Show how to create an instance of the Configuration class.
                        CreateConfigurationFile();
                        break;

                    case "2":
                        // Show how to use GetSection(string) method.
                        GetCustomSection();
                        break;

                    case "3":
                        // Show how to use ConnectionStrings.
                        SaveConfigurationFile();
                        break;

                    case "4":
                        // Show how to use the AppSettings property.
                        GetSections("appSettings");
                        break;

                    case "5":
                        // Show how to use the ConnectionStrings property.
                        GetSections("connectionStrings");
                        break;

                    case "6":
                        // Show how to obtain configuration file information.
                        GetConfigurationInformation();
                        break;

                    default:
                        UserMenu();
                        break;
                }
                Console.Write("> ");
                selection = Console.ReadLine();
            }
        }
    }
#endregion

}

Remarks

Configuration settings are stored in a hierarchy of configuration files. The Configuration class instance represents the merged view of the configuration settings from all of the configuration files that apply to a specific physical entity, such as a computer, or to a logical entity, such as an application or a Web site. The logical entity can exist on the local computer or on a remote server. For information about configuration files, see Configuring Apps and ASP.NET Configuration Files.

When no configuration file exists for a specified entity, the Configuration object represents the default configuration settings as defined by the Machine.config file.

You can get a Configuration object by using the following classes:

The names of the methods that return a Configuration object begin with "Open".

You can also generate a configuration file that represents the configuration settings in a Configuration object. To do this, use one of the following methods:

  • Call the Save method to create a new configuration file.

  • Call the SaveAs method to generate a new configuration file at another location.

The names of the methods that create configuration files begin with "Save".

Note

To enable access to configuration settings on a remote computer, use the Aspnet_regiis command-line tool. For more information about this tool, see ASP.NET IIS Registration Tool (Aspnet_regiis.exe). For information about creating and accessing custom configuration settings other than the intrinsic sections included in the .NET Framework, refer to ConfigurationSection.

Notes to Inheritors

The Configuration class provides programmatic access for editing configuration files. You use one of the "Open" methods provided by the WebConfigurationManager class for Web applications or by the ConfigurationManager class for client applications. These methods return a Configuration object, which in turn provides the methods and properties that handle the underlying configuration files. You can access these files for reading or writing configuration information.

You use the GetSection(String) method or the GetSectionGroup(String) method to read configuration information. Note that the user or process that reads must have the following permissions:

  • Read permission on the configuration file at the current configuration hierarchy level.

  • Read permissions on all the parent configuration files.

If your application needs read-only access to its own configuration, it is recommended that you use the GetSection method overloads for Web applications. For client application, use the GetSection(String) method.

These methods provide access to the cached configuration values for the current application, which has better performance than the Configuration class.

Note: If you use a static GetSection method that takes a path parameter, the path parameter must refer to the application in which the code is running, otherwise the parameter is ignored and configuration information for the currently running application is returned.

You use one of the Save methods to write configuration information. Note that the user or process that writes must have the following permissions:

  • Write permission on the configuration file and directory at the current configuration hierarchy level.

  • Read permissions on all the configuration files.

Properties

AppSettings

Gets the AppSettingsSection object configuration section that applies to this Configuration object.

AssemblyStringTransformer

Specifies a function delegate that is used to transform assembly strings in configuration files.

ConnectionStrings

Gets a ConnectionStringsSection configuration-section object that applies to this Configuration object.

EvaluationContext

Gets the ContextInformation object for the Configuration object.

FilePath

Gets the physical path to the configuration file represented by this Configuration object.

HasFile

Gets a value that indicates whether a file exists for the resource represented by this Configuration object.

Locations

Gets the locations defined within this Configuration object.

NamespaceDeclared

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the configuration file has an XML namespace.

RootSectionGroup

Gets the root ConfigurationSectionGroup for this Configuration object.

SectionGroups

Gets a collection of the section groups defined by this configuration.

Sections

Gets a collection of the sections defined by this Configuration object.

TargetFramework

Gets or sets the targeted version of .NET when a version earlier than the current one is targeted.

TypeStringTransformer

Specifies a function delegate that is used to transform type strings in configuration files.

Methods

Equals(Object)

Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object.

(Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()

Serves as the default hash function.

(Inherited from Object)
GetSection(String)

Returns the specified ConfigurationSection object.

GetSectionGroup(String)

Gets the specified ConfigurationSectionGroup object.

GetType()

Gets the Type of the current instance.

(Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone()

Creates a shallow copy of the current Object.

(Inherited from Object)
Save()

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the current XML configuration file.

Save(ConfigurationSaveMode, Boolean)

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the current XML configuration file.

Save(ConfigurationSaveMode)

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the current XML configuration file.

SaveAs(String, ConfigurationSaveMode, Boolean)

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the specified XML configuration file.

SaveAs(String, ConfigurationSaveMode)

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the specified XML configuration file.

SaveAs(String)

Writes the configuration settings contained within this Configuration object to the specified XML configuration file.

ToString()

Returns a string that represents the current object.

(Inherited from Object)

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET 8 (package-provided), 9 (package-provided)
.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7 (package-provided), 4.7, 4.7.1 (package-provided), 4.7.1, 4.7.2 (package-provided), 4.7.2, 4.8 (package-provided), 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 2.0 (package-provided)
Windows Desktop 3.0, 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

See also