TXMLPropStorage

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TXMLPropStorage is a component to save and restore selected properties (either TForm or any control on it). It works with the TForm.SessionProperties property. It's available on Misc tab of the Component Palette.

Usage

1. Drop a TXMLPropStorage component on form and set filename property, for example: session.xml
2. Select form, go to Object Inspector and open editor window for the SessionProperties property of TForm.
3. Add here properties of form and/or controls to be stored inside session.xml (example: width;height).
4. Compile the application.

Your application now will read selected property value from session.xml and apply it on runtime (like Width, Height, Left, Top for TForm).

TINIPropStorage component works the same way as TXMLPropStorage, except it stores the session information in an IniFile.

StoredValues property

TINIPropStorage and TXMLPropStorage have a StoredValues property which stores some value (it's useful to use no others config file).

Some properties (as CheckGroup.Item[n].Checked) cannot be saved in SessionProperties of TForm, then you need do this manually. It's useful to save other setting information too.

Let's write a simple demo:

• Run Lazarus and start a new application;
• Drop a TXMLPropStorage and TCheckGroup component;
• Add one item in TCheckGroup (Item Test);
• Click in XMLPropStorage1 and access StoredValues property editor;
• Add a new value with name = item0_checked and value = -1 (True = -1);
• In the OnRestoreProperties event add this code:

CheckGroup1.Checked[0] := StrToBool(XMLPropStorage1.StoredValue['item0_checked']);

• In the OnSavingProperties event add this code:

XMLPropStorage1.StoredValue['item0_checked'] := BoolToStr(CheckGroup1.Checked[0]);

• Run the demo program, change checked property of TCheckGroup.Items[n] and close form. Your changes was saved? :)

You can change Key property of StoredValues.Items[n] if you're saving some information confidential (it uses XOREncode and XORDecode functions of RTL on saving and restoring routines).

Notes

TXMLPropStorage has a default handler if you don't set a filename. Under Windows/MacOS the settings will be saved in the application directory as PROGRAMNAME.xml.

Under Unix likes it will be saved in the home directory of the current user as .PROGRAMNAME

It is therefore a very good idea to leave the filename blank for unix programs meant to be run by normal users.

According to bug report 13949, note 28856: "The StoredValues[] array can only be used during the OnRestoreProperties or OnSaveProperties events. Outside these events, the values will not be stored." and "If you want to save/load values that are not published properties of a component or control, you should save them in a OnSaveProperties event, and load them using the OnRestoreProperties event."

See also

• TXMLPropStorage doc
• SessionProperties doc
• Hardware Access