How to make a config file accessible to many assemblies?

[memeloo]

in my project where I have a c# gui and a two dlls, one in c# and the other in c++/cli I have to be able to read/write the same config file but I don't know how to do it. currently my app is single threaded, but who knows maybe I make it multithreaded, what then? I guess I will have to use locks. please, give me some clues.

how many different configs are there at all? I know only app configs that sit in the same folder as the application and user configs somewhere else in the user profile folders... do you know other types?

[Arjay]

If you plan to write, understand that by default you won't have write permissions to the folder that contains the config file on the newer OS's (Vista and above).

If you need to read/write user data, then use a Settings file.

Btw, what kind of data are you planning on working with?

[memeloo]

for now it will be only strings, with last folder used, or some window positions. by saying that I don't know how to do it I meant that I don't know which way to choose. I know how to read config files in .net (those in xml format). but how would you do it so that all three assemblies can read/write it. would you create another assembly with static methods that would read the config? or perhaps you would rather write non-static methods and pass an instance of the config reader to instances of other assemblies or classes within it?

[monalin]

for now it will be only strings, with last folder used, or some window positions. by saying that I don't know how to do it I meant that I don't know which way to choose. I know how to read config files in .net (those in xml format). but how would you do it so that all three assemblies can read/write it. would you create another assembly with static methods that would read the config? or perhaps you would rather write non-static methods and pass an instance of the config reader to instances of other assemblies or classes within it?

Sounds like you would be better off just using a settings file not a config file. However, if you're using a .config file for an application and your application has 3 .dlls loaded in it. Those .dlls will read from the same .config file as their parent application.

If that doesn't do what you want then try.

ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(String exePath)

However I don't think .config files make a lot of sense in your situation.

[memeloo]

thx for pointing this out @monalin, I know there are config and setting files but I never thought about the differences, I've been just using app.configs until now... settings sounds to be a better solution indeed.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...a-b4eef593b9a3
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...e-754d2c174a94