vb.net - Most efficent way to save custom settings -

my vs2013 vb app saves settings registry , has grown point bothering me. want save settings (strings) files. bonus can on network , used multiple users. there may hundreds, thousands of lines. preferred format use? old ini, csv, xml? settings files don't appear option in case far can see.

i recommend creating object of class , use serialization xml .net applications. easy implement, supported , can import , export settings 1 computer another. can set application ready settings network. in addition, make future programming / upgrades easier.

i listing here working example ( tested ). code in use since 2012 , working enterprise level application.

note: included 1 " setting item " demo add own.

first : settings or options class :

imports system.xml.serialization imports system.io  <serializable()> _ public class options      public keys_use_lists boolean      public sub new()          keys_use_lists = true      end sub  #region "methods"      public sub save(byval path string)         try             dim _xmlserilizer new xmlserializer(gettype(options))             dim _streamwriter new streamwriter(path)             _xmlserilizer.serialize(_streamwriter, me)             _streamwriter.close()         catch ex exception             msgbox("error saving database setting." & vbcrlf & "internal error: " & ex.message)         end try     end sub      public function doload(byval path string) options         dim _opt new options         try             if io.file.exists(path)                 dim _xmlserilizer new xmlserializer(gettype(options))                 dim _filestream new filestream(path, filemode.open)                  _opt = directcast(_xmlserilizer.deserialize(_filestream), options)                 _filestream.close()             end if         catch ex exception             msgbox("error loading database setting." & vbcrlf & "internal error: " & ex.message)         end try         return _opt     end function  #end region   end class 

second : use through interface ( winforms example )

public class frmoptions        public _options new options      private sub frmoptions_load(sender object, e eventargs) handles mybase.load          if io.file.exists(application.startuppath & "/_options.opt")             _options = _options.doload(application.startuppath & "/_options.opt")         end if          chkuselist.checked = _options.keys_use_lists       end sub      private sub btnok_click(sender object, e eventargs) handles btnok.click          if io.file.exists(application.startuppath & "/_options.opt")             _options = _options.doload(application.startuppath & "/_options.opt")         end if          _options.keys_use_lists = chkuselist.checked          _options.save(application.startuppath & "/_options.opt")          me.dialogresult = windows.forms.dialogresult.ok         me.close()      end sub    end class 

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