Configuration Files - myapp.exe.config or app.config ?

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DotSpy - 28 Aug 2003 19:35 GMT

I did build a small VB Net application with a
configuration file called myapp.exe.config and it worked
OK.
My code is simply reading parameters (db path, trace
file...)
But at one point, I decided to test the dynamic key
mapping of the Treeview control (Dynamic
properties/Advanced...)
I expected a line to be added as "<add
key="TV_Favorites.AllowDrop" value="False" />".
To my surprise it overwrote my config file
(myapp.exe.config in \bin) and created a new config file
app.config in the project root.
My questions are :
- why are there TWO config files, myapp.exe.config and
app.config ?
- is it wise to keep only app.config ?
- why is this config file overwritten by dynamic
parameters ?

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Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook] - 29 Aug 2003 16:28 GMT

DotSpy,

> - why are there TWO config files, myapp.exe.config and
> app.config ?

This is normal.

Microsoft fixed a 'feature' of VS.NET 2002 in VS.NET 2003. :-|

You need to add your config file to your VS.NET project's root folder as
app.config, it needs to be named "app.config" without the quotes. When you
build your project VS.NET (both 2002 & 2003) will copy the app.config file
from the project root to your output folder and name it appropriately
(myproject.exe.config).

> - is it wise to keep only app.config ?

With VS.NET 2003 it is the only option, VS.NET 2002 had the 'bug' that was
fixed. Hopefully VS.NET 2004 keeps the VS.NET 2003 behavior as it seems the
most correct...

> - why is this config file overwritten by dynamic
> parameters ?

Which one is overwritten, the one in the bin folder. The folder that has all
the outputs from the build? Remember the config file is an output from the
build also, so it gets replaced with the app.config that is part of your
project. Also the app.config will be named correctly, so if you change
project properties the config created in the bin folder will be correct.

Hope this helps
Jay

> I did build a small VB Net application with a
> configuration file called myapp.exe.config and it worked
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> - why is this config file overwritten by dynamic
> parameters ?

Reply to this Message

Configuration Files - myapp.exe.config or app.config ?

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