So I'm working with DirectX, and I'm wanting to have most of my main configuration constants stored in an .ini file.

I used this method originally:

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/10809/A-Small-Class-to-Read-INI-File

I combined the two classes into a single class with a single header and .cpp file, with a couple of my own tweaks. Worked like a charm! It's nice beting able to choose file/section/key/value, and declare each file as its own object.

However, when trying to implement this into windows programs, it seems to work differently.

In the case here:

GetPrivateProfileString(szSection, szKey, szDefault, szResult, 255, m_szFileName);

I get errors because it's trying to pass char* pointers, but I guess the winAPI version looks for an LPCTSTR instead.

So if I change all char* to LPCTSTR, then memset and memcpy have issues, since they are looking for a char*

All that aside, is there an easy method for working with .ini files? I know they're considered outdated, but it's used heavily in the Unreal Engines, and I prefer that method of configuration over using the registry as M$ recommends.

Microsoft does not recommend using the registry and hasn't for a very long time now.

You can try calling GetPrivateProfileStringA directly if it exists, but it would be much cleaner to sort out how your inconsistent attitudes towards unicode in the build settings.

Also, using plain delete after new[] is undefined behavior. Sadly it generally does not cause problems on MSVC but will as soon as you switch compilers, platforms or maybe next version.

XML can be a nice solution, but if you just need regular settings like screen.width = 100, then you want a good old-fashioned .ini file that is human readable and has nice ASCII art

Just look at unreal, at least back when i tinkered with it. If you want a hierarchy, then the . character is that hierarchy:

##################

# Rendering #

##################

renderer.width = 100

renderer.height = 200 # some comment

renderer.fullscreen = true

Then create a static config:: system that either just treats the variables as plain text, which is just fine, or relates to specific variables, depending on your needs

XML is fine too, if you have a configuration tool for your game/application. I admit it's very easy today to make that kind of tool in .NET, and it might be a huge timesaver, depending on how familiar you are with the .NET framework.

If you want a solution in C++, here is one of mine:

Config.hpp

#ifndef __CONFIG_HPP
#define __CONFIG_HPP

#include <map>
#include <utility>
#include <string>

namespace platformer
{
	class Config
	{
		static std::map<std::string, std::string> kv;
		
	public:
		static bool get(const std::string, const bool);
		static int get(const std::string, const int);
		static float get(const std::string, const float);
		static std::string get(const std::string, const std::string);

		//Changing the value in the key map.
		template <typename T>
		static void set( std::string v, T b )
		{
			if ( Config::kv.find(v) == Config::kv.end()) 
				return;
			
			kv[v] = b;
		}
		static bool load( std::string file );
	};
}

#endif

Config.cpp

#include "config.hpp"
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>

namespace platformer
{	
	std::map<std::string, std::string> Config::kv;
	
	//Gets a bool value from map
	bool Config::get(const std::string v, const bool def)
	{
		if ( Config::kv.find(v) == Config::kv.end()) 
			return def;
		bool b;
		std::istringstream convert( kv[v] );
		if ( !(convert >> b) )
			return def;
		return b;
	}
	
	//Gets an int value from map
	int Config::get(const std::string v, const int def)
	{
		if ( Config::kv.find(v) == Config::kv.end()) 
			return def;
		int i;
		std::istringstream convert( kv[v] );
		if ( !(convert >> i) )
			return def;
		return i;
	}
	
	//Gets a float value from map
	float Config::get(const std::string v, const float def)
	{
		if ( Config::kv.find(v) == Config::kv.end()) 
			return def;
		float f;
		std::istringstream convert( kv[v] );
		if ( !(convert >> f) )
			return def;
		return f;
	}
	//Gets a string value from map
	std::string Config::get(const std::string v, const std::string def)
	{
		if ( Config::kv.find(v) == Config::kv.end()) 
			return def;
		return kv[v];
	}
	//Loading the config file into the keymap.
	bool Config::load( std::string f )
	{
		std::fstream filestream;
		filestream.open( f.c_str(), std::fstream::in );
		
		if (!filestream) return false; // could not open file
		
		//Reads one line in config file at a time and place it in the map.
		while( !filestream.eof() )
		{
			char line[256];
			filestream.getline( line, 256 );
			std::string test( line );
			std::string en;
			std::string to;
			bool temp = true;
			//en is the value name and to is the value.
			for ( std::string::iterator it=test.begin(); it!=test.end(); ++it)
			{
				if( *it == '#' ) 
					break;
				if( *it == '=' )
					temp = false;
				if( *it != '=' && *it != ' ' )
				{
					if(temp)
						en += *it;
					else
						to += *it;
				}
			}
			if( en.length() > 0)
				kv.insert( std::pair<std::string,std::string>(en,to) );
		}
		filestream.close();
		return true;
	}

}

It's not very efficient, but it doesn't have to be!