Fl_Preferences Class Reference

Fl_Preferences provides methods to store user settings between application starts. More...

`#include <Fl_Preferences.H>`

Inheritance diagram for Fl_Preferences:

## Classes

struct | Entry
class | Name
| 'Name' provides a simple method to create numerical or more complex procedural names for entries and groups on the fly. More...

## Public Types

typedef void * | ID
| Every Fl_Preferences-Group has a uniqe ID. More...
enum | Root { SYSTEM =0, USER }
| Define the scope of the preferences. More...

## Public Member Functions

char | clear ()
| Delete all groups and all entries.
char | deleteAllEntries ()
| Delete all entries.
char | deleteAllGroups ()
| Delete all groups.
char | deleteEntry (const char *entry)
| Deletes a single name/value pair. More...
char | deleteGroup (const char *group)
| Deletes a group. More...
int | entries ()
| Returns the number of entries (name/value pairs) in a group. More...
const char * | entry (int index)
| Returns the name of an entry. More...
char | entryExists (const char *key)
| Returns non-zero if an entry with this name exists. More...
| Fl_Preferences (Root root, const char *vendor, const char *application)
| The constructor creates a group that manages name/value pairs and child groups. More...
| Fl_Preferences (const char *path, const char *vendor, const char *application)
| Use this constructor to create or read a preferences file at an arbitrary position in the file system. More...
| Fl_Preferences (Fl_Preferences &parent, const char *group)
| Generate or read a new group of entries within another group. More...
| Fl_Preferences (Fl_Preferences *parent, const char *group)
| Create or access a group of preferences using a name. More...
| Fl_Preferences (Fl_Preferences &parent, int groupIndex)
| Open a child group using a given index. More...
| Fl_Preferences (Fl_Preferences *parent, int groupIndex)
| Fl_Preferences (const Fl_Preferences &)
| Create another reference to a Preferences group.
| Fl_Preferences (ID id)
| Create a new dataset access point using a dataset ID. More...
void | flush ()
| Writes all preferences to disk. More...
char | get (const char *entry, int &value, int defaultValue)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, float &value, float defaultValue)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, double &value, double defaultValue)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, char *&value, const char *defaultValue)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, char *value, const char *defaultValue, int maxSize)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, void *&value, const void *defaultValue, int defaultSize)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | get (const char *entry, void *value, const void *defaultValue, int defaultSize, int maxSize)
| Reads an entry from the group. More...
char | getUserdataPath (char *path, int pathlen)
| Creates a path that is related to the preferences file and that is usable for additional application data. More...
const char * | group (int num_group)
| Returns the name of the Nth (`num_group`) group. More...
char | groupExists (const char *key)
| Returns non-zero if a group with this name exists. More...
int | groups ()
| Returns the number of groups that are contained within a group. More...
ID | id ()
| Return an ID that can later be reused to open more references to this dataset.
const char * | name ()
| Return the name of this entry.
const char * | path ()
| Return the full path to this entry.
char | set (const char *entry, int value)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, float value)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, float value, int precision)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, double value)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, double value, int precision)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, const char *value)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
char | set (const char *entry, const void *value, int size)
| Sets an entry (name/value pair). More...
int | size (const char *entry)
| Returns the size of the value part of an entry. More...
virtual | ~Fl_Preferences ()
| The destructor removes allocated resources. More...

## Static Public Member Functions

static const char * | newUUID ()
| Returns a UUID as generated by the system. More...
static char | remove (ID id_)
| Remove the group with this ID from a database.

## Protected Attributes

Node * | node
RootNode * | rootNode

## Friends

class | Node
class | RootNode

## Detailed Description

Fl_Preferences provides methods to store user settings between application starts.

It is similar to the Registry on WIN32 and Preferences on MacOS, and provides a simple configuration mechanism for UNIX.

Fl_Preferences uses a hierarchy to store data. It bundles similar data into groups and manages entries into those groups as name/value pairs.

Preferences are stored in text files that can be edited manually. The file format is easy to read and relatively forgiving. Preferences files are the same on all platforms. User comments in preference files are preserved. Filenames are unique for each application by using a vendor/application naming scheme. The user must provide default values for all entries to ensure proper operation should preferences be corrupted or not yet exist.

Entries can be of any length. However, the size of each preferences file should be kept small for performance reasons. One application can have multiple preferences files. Extensive binary data however should be stored in separate files: see getUserdataPath().

Note
  Starting with FLTK 1.3, preference databases are expected to be in UTF-8 encoding. Previous databases were stored in the current character set or code page which renders them incompatible for text entries using international characters.

## Member Typedef Documentation

typedef void* Fl_Preferences::ID

Every Fl_Preferences-Group has a uniqe ID.

ID's can be retrieved from an Fl_Preferences-Group and can then be used to create more Fl_Preference references to the same data set, as long as the database remains open.

## Member Enumeration Documentation

enum Fl_Preferences::Root

Define the scope of the preferences.

Enumerator
SYSTEM | Preferences are used system-wide.
USER | Preferences apply only to the current user.

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Root | root,
|  | const char * | vendor,
|  | const char * | application
| ) |  |

The constructor creates a group that manages name/value pairs and child groups.

Groups are ready for reading and writing at any time. The root argument is either Fl_Preferences::USER or Fl_Preferences::SYSTEM.

This constructor creates the base instance for all following entries and reads existing databases into memory. The vendor argument is a unique text string identifying the development team or vendor of an application. A domain name or an EMail address are great unique names, e.g. "researchATmatthiasm.com" or "fltk.org". The application argument can be the working title or final name of your application. Both vendor and application must be valid relative UNIX pathnames and may contain '/'s to create deeper file structures.

A set of Preferences marked "run-time" exists exactly one per application and only as long as the application runs. It can be used as a database for volatile information. FLTK uses it to register plugins at run-time.

Parameters

  [in] | root | can be `USER` or `SYSTEM` for user specific or system wide preferences
  [in] | vendor | unique text describing the company or author of this file
  [in] | application | unique text describing the application

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | const char * | path,
|  | const char * | vendor,
|  | const char * | application
| ) |  |

Use this constructor to create or read a preferences file at an arbitrary position in the file system.

The file name is generated in the form `path/application.prefs`. If `application` is `NULL`, `path` must contain the full file name.

Parameters

  [in] | path | path to the directory that contains the preferences file
  [in] | vendor | unique text describing the company or author of this file
  [in] | application | unique text describing the application

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Fl_Preferences & | parent,
|  | const char * | group
| ) |  |

Generate or read a new group of entries within another group.

Use the `group` argument to name the group that you would like to access. `Group` can also contain a path to a group further down the hierarchy by separating group names with a forward slash '/'.

Parameters

  [in] | parent | reference object for the new group
  [in] | group | name of the group to access (may contain '/'s)

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Fl_Preferences * | parent,
|  | const char * | group
| ) |  |

Create or access a group of preferences using a name.

Parameters

  [in] | parent | the parameter parent is a pointer to the parent group. `Parent` may be `NULL`. It then refers to an application internal database which exists only once, and remains in RAM only until the application quits. This database is used to manage plugins and other data indexes by strings.
  [in] | group | a group name that is used as a key into the database

See Also
  Fl_Preferences( Fl_Preferences&, const char *group )

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Fl_Preferences & | parent,
|  | int | groupIndex
| ) |  |

Open a child group using a given index.

Use the `groupIndex` argument to find the group that you would like to access. If the given index is invalid (negative or too high), a new group is created with a UUID as a name.

The index needs to be fixed. It is currently backward. Index 0 points to the last member in the 'list' of preferences.

Parameters

  [in] | parent | reference object for the new group
  [in] | groupIndex | zero based index into child groups

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Fl_Preferences * | parent,
|  | int | groupIndex
| ) |  |

See Also
  Fl_Preferences( Fl_Preferences&, int groupIndex )

Fl_Preferences::Fl_Preferences | ( | Fl_Preferences::ID | id | ) |

Create a new dataset access point using a dataset ID.

ID's are a great way to remember shortcuts to database entries that are deeply nested in a preferences database, as long as the database root is not deleted. An ID can be retrieved from any Fl_Preferences dataset, and can then be used to create multiple new references to the same dataset.

ID's can be very helpful when put into the `user_data()` field of widget callbacks.

Fl_Preferences::~Fl_Preferences | ( |  | ) |

virtual

The destructor removes allocated resources.

When used on the base preferences group, the destructor flushes all changes to the preferences file and deletes all internal databases.

The destructor does not remove any data from the database. It merely deletes your reference to the database.

## Member Function Documentation

char Fl_Preferences::deleteEntry | ( | const char * | key | ) |

Deletes a single name/value pair.

This function removes the entry `key` from the database.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry to delete

Returns
  0 if deleting the entry failed

char Fl_Preferences::deleteGroup | ( | const char * | group | ) |

Deletes a group.

Removes a group and all keys and groups within that group from the database.

Parameters

  [in] | group | name of the group to delete

Returns
  0 if call failed

int Fl_Preferences::entries | ( |  | ) |

Returns the number of entries (name/value pairs) in a group.

Returns
  number of entries

const char * Fl_Preferences::entry | ( | int | index | ) |

Returns the name of an entry.

There is no guaranteed order of entry names. The index must be within the range given by entries().

Parameters

  [in] | index | number indexing the requested entry

Returns
  pointer to value cstring

char Fl_Preferences::entryExists | ( | const char * | key | ) |

Returns non-zero if an entry with this name exists.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry that is searched for

Returns
  0 if entry was not found

void Fl_Preferences::flush | ( |  | ) |

Writes all preferences to disk.

This function works only with the base preferences group. This function is rarely used as deleting the base preferences flushes automatically.

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | int & | value,
|  | int | defaultValue
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0).

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | value | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | float & | value,
|  | float | defaultValue
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0).

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | value | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | double & | value,
|  | double | defaultValue
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0).

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | value | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | char *& | text,
|  | const char * | defaultValue
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0). get() allocates memory of sufficient size to hold the value. The buffer must be free'd by the developer using 'free(value)'.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | text | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | char * | text,
|  | const char * | defaultValue,
|  | int | maxSize
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0). 'maxSize' is the maximum length of text that will be read. The text buffer must allow for one additional byte for a trailing zero.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | text | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set
  [in] | maxSize | maximum length of value plus one byte for a trailing zero

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | void *& | data,
|  | const void * | defaultValue,
|  | int | defaultSize
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0). get() allocates memory of sufficient size to hold the value. The buffer must be free'd by the developer using 'free(value)'.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | data | returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set
  [in] | defaultSize | size of default value array

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

char Fl_Preferences::get | ( | const char * | key,
|  | void * | data,
|  | const void * | defaultValue,
|  | int | defaultSize,
|  | int | maxSize
| ) |  |

Reads an entry from the group.

A default value must be supplied. The return value indicates if the value was available (non-zero) or the default was used (0). 'maxSize' is the maximum length of text that will be read.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [out] | data | value returned from preferences or default value if none was set
  [in] | defaultValue | default value to be used if no preference was set
  [in] | defaultSize | size of default value array
  [in] | maxSize | maximum length of value

Returns
  0 if the default value was used

Todo:
  maxSize should receive the number of bytes that were read.

char Fl_Preferences::getUserdataPath | ( | char * | path,
|  | int | pathlen
| ) |  |

Creates a path that is related to the preferences file and that is usable for additional application data.

This function creates a directory that is named after the preferences database without the ``.prefs extension and located in the same directory. It then fills the given buffer with the complete path name.

Exmaple:

Fl_Preferences prefs( USER, "matthiasm.com", "test" );
char path[FL_PATH_MAX];
prefs.getUserdataPath( path );

creates the preferences database in (MS Windows):

c:/Documents and Settings/matt/Application Data/matthiasm.com/test.prefs

and returns the userdata path:

c:/Documents and Settings/matt/Application Data/matthiasm.com/test/

Parameters

  [out] | path | buffer for user data path
  [in] | pathlen | size of path buffer (should be at least `FL_PATH_MAX`)

Returns
  0 if path was not created or pathname can't fit into buffer

const char * Fl_Preferences::group | ( | int | num_group | ) |

Returns the name of the Nth (`num_group`) group.

There is no guaranteed order of group names. The index must be within the range given by groups().

Parameters

  [in] | num_group | number indexing the requested group

Returns
  'C' string pointer to the group name

char Fl_Preferences::groupExists | ( | const char * | key | ) |

Returns non-zero if a group with this name exists.

Group names are relative to the Preferences node and can contain a path. "." describes the current node, "./" describes the topmost node. By preceding a groupname with a "./", its path becomes relative to the topmost node.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of group that is searched for

Returns
  0 if no group by that name was found

int Fl_Preferences::groups | ( |  | ) |

Returns the number of groups that are contained within a group.

Returns
  0 for no groups at all

const char * Fl_Preferences::newUUID | ( |  | ) |

static

Returns a UUID as generated by the system.

A UUID is a "universally unique identifier" which is commonly used in configuration files to create identities. A UUID in ASCII looks like this: `937C4900-51AA-4C11-8DD3-7AB59944F03E`. It has always 36 bytes plus a trailing zero.

Returns
  a pointer to a static buffer containing the new UUID in ASCII format. The buffer is overwritten during every call to this function!

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | int | value
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | value | set this entry to `value`

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | float | value
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | value | set this entry to `value`

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | float | value,
|  | int | precision
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | value | set this entry to `value`
  [in] | precision | number of decimal digits to represent value

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | double | value
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | value | set this entry to `value`

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | double | value,
|  | int | precision
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | value | set this entry to `value`
  [in] | precision | number of decimal digits to represent value

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | const char * | text
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | text | set this entry to `value`

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

char Fl_Preferences::set | ( | const char * | key,
|  | const void * | data,
|  | int | dsize
| ) |  |

Sets an entry (name/value pair).

The return value indicates if there was a problem storing the data in memory. However it does not reflect if the value was actually stored in the preferences file.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry
  [in] | data | set this entry to `value`
  [in] | dsize | size of data array

Returns
  0 if setting the value failed

int Fl_Preferences::size | ( | const char * | key | ) |

Returns the size of the value part of an entry.

Parameters

  [in] | key | name of entry

Returns
  size of value

The documentation for this class was generated from the following files:

- Fl_Preferences.H
- Fl_Preferences.cxx

- © 1998-2012 by Bill Spitzak and others.