[Solved] TIniFile - ReadSection

[Avishai]

Greetings,

I've been struggling with this too long.  What's wrong with this code?

procedure TForm1.mnuOpenFileClick(Sender: TObject);
var
  Ini: TIniFile;
begin
  Ini := TIniFile.Create(UTF8ToSys(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,'.vrb')));
  if OpenDlg.Execute then begin
    FName:= OpenDlg.FileName;
    Ini.ReadSection('Items',cbxShem.Items);  // ---- This seems to do nothing
    if cbxShem.Items.Count>0 then
      cbxShem.ItemIndex:= 0;
  end;
  FreeAndNil(Ini);
end;

The "ReadSection" doesn't do what I am expecting.

[Avishai]

This is the code that creates the IniFile:

procedure TForm1.mnuSaveVerbClick(Sender: TObject);
var
  I: Integer;
  Ini: TIniFile;
  Lst: TStringLIst;
  IniStr: String;
begin
  Lst:= TStringList.Create;
    for I:= 0 to Form1.ComponentCount-1 do begin
      if Form1.Components is TComboBox then
        with Form1.Components as TComboBox do
          Lst.Add(Text);
      if Form1.Components is TEdit then
        with Form1.Components as TEdit do
          Lst.Add(Text);
    end;
    IniStr:= Lst.CommaText;
  Ini := TIniFile.Create(UTF8ToSys(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,'.vrb')));
     Ini.WriteString('Items',Lst[0],IniStr);
  FreeAndNil(Ini);
  FreeAndNil(Lst);
end;

[Avishai]

Very strange.  I manually created a Section above the Section I am trying to read and now everything works.  Go figure.  I read in another post that the first Section was being ignored so I thought maybe that was it.

[Blaazen]

I don't know if I understand your code (and your goal) correctly but you use:

ReadSection and WriteString - which are not opposite function.

ReadSection reads all section names (and not their content).

WriteString is oppsite to ReadString.

[Avishai]

My goal is to fill a TComboBox.Items with all of the Section Keys, so ReadSection seems to be what I want.

[Blaazen]

 But you write everything to only one section with name 'Items'

Code: [Select]

Ini.WriteString('Items',Lst[0],IniStr);
so then ReadSection can find only one section IMO.

EDIT: Sorry, I wanted tell that you write only one Key to Section 'Items'

I use ini files and first section is not ignored.

[Lush]

I read in another post that the first Section was being ignored so I thought maybe that was it.

In that other thread you mention, the first section was being ignored because of the file encoding. It was a UTF-8 (or 16) file that had a BOM at the beginning and thus messed up the first section title.

Encode your file as ANSI, or UTF-8 without BOM and try again.

[Avishai]

Since I use  "Ini := TIniFile.Create(UTF8ToSys(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,'.vrb')));" to write and read the file, it should be UTF8 without BOM.  But I checked with NotePad++ and it is UTF8 without BOM as it should be.  Still, it seems to overlook the first section.  I'm still looking for the answer but if I find it, I'll post it for others.

[Avishai]

Well, I don't have THE answer, but I solved the problem.  I closed down Lazarus and restarted it and everything seems to work fine.

I'm new to Lazarus so forgive me if I'm asking an obvious question.  I notice that on some of the posts, it says "[Solved]".  How do you do that?

[Lush]

I notice that on some of the posts, it says "[Solved]".  How do you do that?

Just edit your first post (the "modify" link) and change your title

[Avishai]

Yes, of course  [Solved]!  Thanks for putting up with a newbe.