
Write registry entries

This page allows you to specify the registry entries to be installed or edited by the package on the destination computer. Once again this feature is available with the custom actions, but it is much easier to manage registry entries using this editor.

Registry Entry Manager

To add an entry, click on the Add button and the entry editor dialog will be displayed.
To edit an entry, select it and click on the Edit button, or double-click on it.
To remove an entry, select it and click on the Remove button or press DEL.
To import/export registry files (.reg), click on REG tools and select the desired option.

Using the mouse context menu (right click on a registry item), you can also copy/cut/paste registry entries. This feature is useful if you wish to keep properties of an entry and only change one property for example.

Import/export registry files

You can import registry entries from .REG files created using RegEdit (RegEdit.exe in Windows folder). Currently only registry files in the REGEDIT4 format are supported (non unicode). If you try to import other registry formats, Paquet Builder will raise an exception.

If you are working under XP or Vista, be sure to select the "W9X/WNT" .reg format in the list when exporting with RegEdit.

Another solution consists in editing a .reg file with NotePad and changing the header to REGEDIT4. Be sure to save the file in the ANSI format.

Paquet Builder will only import string and dword values (the two types supported by the packages). Other entries are just ignored.

You can also export registry entries to .REG files compatible with RegEdit. These .reg files may also be edited using NotePad or any other text editor.

Entry Editor

Using the editor:
The Windows registry entry editor lets you enter or modify the settings for the selected entry. Please have a look at the help topic of the "Write a registry entry" custom action for explanation about the different terms in the editor.
Component:
Specifies the component's name the registry entry belongs to. Component names are available in the list box: use the "drop down" button to see available components. If the component is not installed, then the registry entry will not be created. Set the component to None if you want the registry entry to be always created.

Notes

If you wish to modify the default value of a registry key, then leave the "Ident" field blank.
Paquet Builder supports working with two types of registry entries: string and dword (integers). Do not forget to specify the type when you create registry entries. Support for other types may be added upon request (thanks to plug-ins). Please post your request if you need more support.
Disclaimer: only advanced users who know how the Windows Registry works should use this feature.
Regarding administrative rights: on Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista, only users with administrative rights can write or modify registry entries. To know whether end users have such a right, you can use the %ISADMIN% variable.
Registry entries created with the registry manager are by default automatically removed by the uninstaller.