Hi All,

Does anyone know how to prevent the SettingsProvider from creating an application version folder? I noticed when my class inherits from SettingsProvider, a folder called "5.0.0.0" (as an example) is created in the same level as the "app.settings" file path. It seems to happen when my CustomSettingsProvider class is initialized or when its SetPropertyValues is called.

Thanks.

--Lenard

It is because you use Application.CommonAppDataPath. Reading the property will cause the directory to be created as a side-effect. Just remove the code that reads and deletes the directory and it shouldn't be created anymore. Assuming there is no other code in your app that uses the property.

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Hans Passant.

Hi Lenardd,

Could you please provide the code of the CustomSettingsProvider class? I have tested similar code and did not meet the same issue. The code I tested can be download from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181001(VS.80).aspx.

Regards,
Aland Li

---

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Hi Lenardd,

Could you please provide the code of the CustomSettingsProvider class?

Regards,
Aland Li

---

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Hi,

We are changing the issue type to “General Discussion�because you have not followed up with the necessary information. If you have more time to look at the issue and provide more information, please feel free to change the issue type back to “Question�by opening the Options list at the top of the post window, and changing the type. If the issue is resolved, we will appreciate it if you can share the solution so that the answer can be found and used by other community members having similar questions.

Aland Li

---

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Alan, my apologies for not responding sooner. My code is below:

public class CustomSettingsProvider : SettingsProvider
{
    const string SETTINGSROOT = "userSettings";

    private XmlDocument settingsXML = null;
   
    public override void Initialize(string name, NameValueCollection collection)
    {
        base.Initialize("CustomSettingsProvider", collection);
      
        settingsXML = new XmlDocument();

        try
        {
            settingsXML.Load(Path.Combine(GetAppSettingsPath(), GetAppSettingsFilename()));
        }
        catch
        {
            // Create new document
            XmlDeclaration dec = settingsXML.CreateXmlDeclaration("1.0", "utf-8", string.Empty);
            settingsXML.AppendChild(dec);

            XmlNode nodeRoot = default(XmlNode);

            nodeRoot = settingsXML.CreateNode(XmlNodeType.Element, SETTINGSROOT, "");
            settingsXML.AppendChild(nodeRoot);
         }
    }
    public override string ApplicationName
    {
        get
        {
            return Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name;
        }
        set { }
    }
    
    public virtual string GetAppSettingsPath()
    {
       return Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.CommonAppDataPath);
    }
    public virtual string GetAppSettingsFilename()
    {
        // Used to determine the filename to store the settings
        return ApplicationName + ".settings";
    }
    public override void SetPropertyValues(SettingsContext context, SettingsPropertyValueCollection collection)
    {
        foreach (SettingsPropertyValue propertyValue in collection)
        {
            SetValue(propertyValue);
        }
              
        settingsXML.Save(Path.Combine(GetAppSettingsPath(), GetAppSettingsFilename()));
 
        // HACK - Manually delete the application's "version directory". Don't need it.
       if (Directory.Exists(Application.CommonAppDataPath))
        {
            Directory.Delete(Application.CommonAppDataPath);
        }
    }
    public override SettingsPropertyValueCollection GetPropertyValues(SettingsContext context, SettingsPropertyCollection collection)
    {
        // Create new collection of values
        SettingsPropertyValueCollection values = new SettingsPropertyValueCollection();

        // Iterate through the settings to be retrieved
        foreach (SettingsProperty setting in collection)
        {
            SettingsPropertyValue value = new SettingsPropertyValue(setting);
            value.IsDirty = false;
            value.SerializedValue = GetValue(setting);
            
            values.Add(value);
        }
        return values;
    }
    private string GetValue(SettingsProperty setting)
    {
        string ret = string.Empty;

        try
        {
            ret = settingsXML.SelectSingleNode(SETTINGSROOT + "/" + setting.Name).InnerText;
        }

        catch
        {
            if ((setting.DefaultValue != null))
            {
                ret = setting.DefaultValue.ToString();
            }
            else
            {
                ret = string.Empty;
            }
        }

        return ret;
    }
    private void SetValue(SettingsPropertyValue propertyValue)
    {
        XmlElement settingNode = default(XmlElement);

        try
        {
            settingNode = (XmlElement)settingsXML.SelectSingleNode(SETTINGSROOT + "/" + propertyValue.Name);
            settingNode.InnerText = propertyValue.SerializedValue.ToString();
        }
        catch 
        {
            if (IsUserScopedSetting(propertyValue.Property))
            {
                settingNode = settingsXML.CreateElement(propertyValue.Name);
                settingNode.InnerText = propertyValue.SerializedValue.ToString();
                settingsXML.SelectSingleNode(SETTINGSROOT).AppendChild(settingNode);
            }
        }
    }
    private bool IsUserScopedSetting(SettingsProperty property)
    {
        // Determine if the setting is marked as User
        foreach (DictionaryEntry d in property.Attributes)
        {
            Attribute a = (Attribute)d.Value;
            if (a is System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute)
            {
                return true;
            }
        }
        return false;
    }
}

Hi Lenardd,

Sorry for the late reply. I have created a test project and test your code, but I did not meet the same issue. Could you please provide more information or the detail steps to reproduce the issue. You can also create a small project in which the issue can be reproduced and email it to me: alala666888@hotmail.com.

Regards,
Aland Li

---

Please mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark if they don't. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

It is because you use Application.CommonAppDataPath. Reading the property will cause the directory to be created as a side-effect. Just remove the code that reads and deletes the directory and it shouldn't be created anymore. Assuming there is no other code in your app that uses the property.

---

Hans Passant.

Thanks nobugz.

I guess I will put up with it since I need to know the "CommonAppDataPath".

--Lenard