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The INIClass provides a simple interface to different methods of non-volatile storage (e.g., storage that is persistent beyond the life cycle of your programs). By default, the INIClass object centrally handles reads and writes for a given configuration (.INI) file. It also supports other methods of non-volatile storage by allowing read and write access to the Windows system registry or a local table. The [[init  initialize the iniclass object .htm|INIClass Init method]] controls which access method is used.

**INIClass Concepts**

By convention an INI file is an ASCII text file that stores information between computing sessions and contains entries of the form:

**[SECTION1]**

**ENTRY1=value**

**ENTRYn=value**

**[SECTIONn]**

**ENTRY1=value**

**ENTRYn=value**

The INIClass automatically creates INI files and the sections and entries within them. The INI class also updates and deletes sections and entries. In particular, the INIClass makes it very easy to save and restore Window sizes and positions between sessions; plus it provides a single repository for INI file code, so you only need to specify the INI file name in one place.

**INIClass Relationship to Other Application Builder Classes**

The PopupClass and the PrintPreviewClass optionally use the INIClass; otherwise, it is completely independent of other Application Builder Classes.

**INIClass ABC Template Implementation**

The ABC Templates generate code to instantiate a global INIClass object called INIMgr. If you request to **Use INI file to save and restore program settings** in the **Global Properties **dialog, then each procedure based on the Window procedure template (Frame, Browse, and Form) calls the INIMgr to save and restore its WINDOW's position and size.

**INIClass Source Files**

The INIClass source code is installed by default to the Clarion \LIBSRC folder. The INIClass source code and its respective components are contained in:

|  | ABUTIL.INC | INIClass declarations |
|  | ABUTIL.CLW | INIClass method definitions |

**INIClass Conceptual Example**

The following example shows a typical sequence of statements to declare, instantiate, initialize, use, and terminate an INIClass object.

**  PROGRAM**

**  INCLUDE('ABUTIL.INC')             !declare INIClass class**

**  MAP**

**  END**

**INIMgr  INIClass                    !declare INIMgr object**

**Sound   STRING('ON ')               !user's sound preference**

**Volume  BYTE(3)                     !user's volume preference**

**PWindow  WINDOW('Preferences'),AT(,,89,34),MAX,RESIZE**

**      CHECK('&Sound'),AT(8,6),USE(Sound),VALUE('ON','OFF')**

**      PROMPT('&Volume'),AT(31,19),USE(?VolumePrompt)**

**      SPIN(@s20),AT(8,20,21,7),USE(Volume),HVSCROLL,RANGE(0,9),STEP(1)**

**      BUTTON('OK'),AT(57,3,30,10),USE(?OK)**

**     END**

** CODE**

** INIMgr.Init('.\MyApp.INI')                     !initialize the INIMgr object**

** INIMgr.Fetch('Preferences','Sound',Sound)      !get sound, default 'ON'**

** Volume=INIMgr.TryFetch('Preferences','Volume') !get volume, no default**

** IF Volume**

**  Sound=INIMgr.FetchField('Preferences','Sound&Vol',1)  !get comma delimited sound**

**  Volume=INIMgr.FetchField('Preferences','Sound&Vol',2) !get comma delimited volume**

** END**

** OPEN(PWindow)**

** INIMgr.Fetch('Preferences',PWindow)             !restore window size & pos**

** ACCEPT**

**  IF EVENT() = EVENT:Accepted**

**   IF FIELD() = ?OK**

**    INIMgr.Update('Preferences','Sound',Sound)   !store sound**

**    INIMgr.Update('Preferences','Volume',Volume) !store volume**

**    INIMgr.Update('Preferences','Sound&Vol',|    !store comma delimited values**

**           CLIP(Sound)&','&Volume)       !e.g., Sound&Vol=ON,3 **

**    POST(EVENT:CloseWindow)**

**   END**

**  END**

** END**

** INIMgr.Update('Preferences',PWindow)            !store window size & pos**