Registry.GetValue(String, String, Object) Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: Microsoft.Win32

Assembly:: Microsoft.Win32.Registry.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Package:: Microsoft.Win32.Registry v5.0.0

Source:: Registry.cs

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Retrieves the value associated with the specified name, in the specified registry key. If the name is not found in the specified key, returns a default value that you provide, or null if the specified key does not exist.

public:
 static System::Object ^ GetValue(System::String ^ keyName, System::String ^ valueName, System::Object ^ defaultValue);

public static object? GetValue (string keyName, string? valueName, object? defaultValue);

public static object GetValue (string keyName, string valueName, object defaultValue);

static member GetValue : string * string * obj -> obj

Public Shared Function GetValue (keyName As String, valueName As String, defaultValue As Object) As Object

Parameters

keyName: String

The full registry path of the key, beginning with a valid registry root, such as "HKEY_CURRENT_USER".

valueName: String

The name of the name/value pair.

defaultValue: Object

The value to return if valueName does not exist.

Returns

Object

null if the subkey specified by keyName does not exist; otherwise, the value associated with valueName, or defaultValue if valueName is not found.

Exceptions

SecurityException

The user does not have the permissions required to read from the registry key.

IOException

The RegistryKey that contains the specified value has been marked for deletion.

ArgumentException

keyName does not begin with a valid registry root.

Examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

Remarks

The string valueName is not case-sensitive.

Note

A registry key can contain one value that is not associated with any name. When this unnamed value is displayed in the registry editor, the string "(Default)" appears instead of a name. To retrieve this unnamed value, specify either null or the empty string ("") for valueName.

Valid root names are HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_USERS, HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA, HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG, and HKEY_DYN_DATA. For example, in Visual Basic the string "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\MyTestKey" accesses key/value pairs for the subkey "MyTestKey" in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER root.

When the GetValue method retrieves expandable string values (RegistryValueKind.ExpandString), it expands environment strings using data from the local environment. If a value containing expandable references to environment variables has been stored as a string (RegistryValueKind.String), rather than as an expandable string (RegistryValueKind.ExpandString), GetValue does not expand it. You can expand such a string after it has been retrieved by calling the Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables method.

Note

The recommended way to retrieve data from HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA is to use the PerformanceCounter class rather than the RegistryKey.GetValue method.

The GetValue and SetValue methods open and close registry keys each time they are used, so they do not perform as well as the methods of the RegistryKey class if you access a large number of values.

RegistryKey also provides methods that allow you to add an access control list (ACL) to a registry key, to test the data type of a value before retrieving it, and to delete keys.

Applies to

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