PRB: Private Profile (INI) Files Not Designed as Database (74602)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.1
This article was previously published under Q74602
3.00 3.10
WINDOWS
kbprg
SYMPTOMS
In the Microsoft Windows graphical environment, a private profile or
initialization file, as the name suggests, is designed to be used when
a program initializes and terminates. A profile stores a limited
amount of information from one program session to the next. A profile
is are not designed to serve as a database.
STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
Windows assumes that an INI file is not larger than 64K; file access
is not guaranteed beyond that point. Even if a text editor is used to
extend the file, Windows does not search for information past the 64K
boundary.
Also, Windows performs a linear search of INI files; therefore, the
longer the file becomes, the longer it takes to access an item at the
end of the file. Each time an application accesses an INI file,
Windows opens and closes the file which incurs additional overhead.
One alternative to using initialization files to store large amounts
of information is for the program to write to and maintain its own
files. This approach is faster, more flexible, and more reliable than
using profile for purposes for which it is not designed.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 2/14/2005 |
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| Keywords: | kb16bitonly kbprb kbSysSettings KB74602 |
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