The "Proper" way for storing app data

[Bryan]

Hi all,

I'm at a crossroads about how I should save my application data (database, images, config files etc...)...basically any file that needs to be able to change.

I've been hearing rumors that Vista locks down the pc so tight that users cannot save any data anywhere within the "Program Files" group without admin rights.

If this is the case, what is the "Best Practice" solution.

Thanks for all suggestions.

Regards,
Bryan

[Lars Frische]

Hi Bryan,

This works for me:

function GetAppDataPath: string;
var path: PChar;
begin
result := '';
GetMem(path, 255);
try
if SHGetSpecialFolderPath(Application.Handle, path, CSIDL_APPDATA ,
false) then
begin
result := StrPas(path) +
'\'+ChangeFileExt(ExtractFileName(Application.ExeName), '')+'\';
ForceDirectories(result);
end;
finally
FreeMem(path);
end;
end;

Cheers

Lars