Using ReactOS Registry format
Brad, Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases. I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck). I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website. If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this. Kind Regards, James Liggett
James Liggett wrote:
Brad, Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases.
I'm really not convinced that we need to be compatible with Windows' registry file format at that level. . . That would only benefit applications that don't use the Win32API to access the registry - and as far as I know, Windows doesn't allow you to access the registry like that, so there shouldn't be any applications that would benefit from that. . . I know there are linux applications that access the windows registry - and those are the only ones I can think of that would actually benefit from this, and even those would need modification to access Wine's registry if we did have binary compatibility with windows. . . . If I'm completely wrong and there are applications that do this, please tell me and I'll gladly put my foot in my mouth lol - but as far as I know, such a move wouldn't really do much for us except let us say, "We're compatible with windows' registry file format". . . hmm. . I suppose one benefit of this would be the ability to copy the registry from an actual windows drive to Wine. . . - but I think using a helper application for that would probably take care of that, and I'm still convinced that we shouldn't try to use the actual windows registry format.
I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck). I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website. If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
Kind Regards, James Liggett
Thanks everyone for keeping this topic active, I'm glad so many people are interested. --Brad DeMorrow
Brad DeMorrow wrote:
James Liggett wrote:
Brad, Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases.
I'm really not convinced that we need to be compatible with Windows' registry file format at that level. . . That would only benefit applications that don't use the Win32API to access the registry - and as far as I know, Windows doesn't allow you to access the registry like that, so there shouldn't be any applications that would benefit from that. . .
How about an application that carries a binary registry hive around, and uses "LoadHive" to merge it (temporarily) into the registry? How about deploying Wine in such a way that it uses the existing user profile, user.dat and all? User.dat is a registry file, that goes through load hive. The way I see the ultimate outcome, Wine should have "Registry providers". These would allow it to use several different registry back ends. The default one would probably be the one used today, but this way we could plug in an SQL back end if needed, as well as a Windows compatible one, if needed. Comments welcome.
I suppose one benefit of this would be the ability to copy the registry from an actual windows drive to Wine. . . - but I think using a helper application for that would probably take care of that, and I'm still convinced that we shouldn't try to use the actual windows registry format.
But what about actually using said registry, including modifying it? Shachar -- Shachar Shemesh Lingnu Open Source Consulting ltd. http://www.lingnu.com/
On 6/21/05, James Liggett <jrliggett(a)cox.net> wrote:
of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
While we're on the topic on the registry.. In addition to searching I think it would be very useful to be able to import a Windows .reg file. For instance, an app I have uses the registry as a massive data store. There are literally thousands of keys and values sitting in there. It would be nice to export a small branch of the registry and just import that into Wine. -Brian
Brian Vincent wrote:
On 6/21/05, James Liggett <jrliggett(a)cox.net> wrote:
of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
While we're on the topic on the registry..
In addition to searching I think it would be very useful to be able to import a Windows .reg file. For instance, an app I have uses the registry as a massive data store. There are literally thousands of keys and values sitting in there. It would be nice to export a small branch of the registry and just import that into Wine.
-Brian
I was under the impression that Wine could already import registry files. . . am I mistaken? --Brad DeMorrow
Brad DeMorrow wrote:
Brian Vincent wrote:
On 6/21/05, James Liggett <jrliggett(a)cox.net> wrote:
of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
While we're on the topic on the registry..
In addition to searching I think it would be very useful to be able to import a Windows .reg file. For instance, an app I have uses the registry as a massive data store. There are literally thousands of keys and values sitting in there. It would be nice to export a small branch of the registry and just import that into Wine.
I was under the impression that Wine could already import registry files. . . am I mistaken?
If I remember correctly, yes, the following command is enough: $ regedit file.reg -- Anssi Hannula
Anssi Hannula wrote:
Brad DeMorrow wrote:
Brian Vincent wrote:
On 6/21/05, James Liggett <jrliggett(a)cox.net> wrote:
of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
While we're on the topic on the registry..
In addition to searching I think it would be very useful to be able to import a Windows .reg file. For instance, an app I have uses the registry as a massive data store. There are literally thousands of keys and values sitting in there. It would be nice to export a small branch of the registry and just import that into Wine.
I was under the impression that Wine could already import registry files. . . am I mistaken?
If I remember correctly, yes, the following command is enough: $ regedit file.reg
This doesn't work for Windows NT .reg files though, as they are generated in Unicode format by default. It shouldn't require too many changes for regedit to work with Unicode files. The changes to the profile functions in kernel32 to work with Unicode were simple enough. -- Rob Shearman
Brian, I too think that's an excellent idea. I don't think that'll be too hard to do, seeing as .reg files are simple text files if I recall right. James On Tue, 2005-06-21 at 09:52 -0600, Brian Vincent wrote:
On 6/21/05, James Liggett <jrliggett(a)cox.net> wrote:
of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
While we're on the topic on the registry..
In addition to searching I think it would be very useful to be able to import a Windows .reg file. For instance, an app I have uses the registry as a massive data store. There are literally thousands of keys and values sitting in there. It would be nice to export a small branch of the registry and just import that into Wine.
-Brian
Hi James,
Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases. I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck).
A bunch of dlls and applications are synced between Wine and ROS from time to time, also including regedit. What about implemting the missing find functionality at your own to bring both projects a little foreward? ;-)
I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website.
I can forward you a mail from Steven Edwards to bring a bit light into this issue: S> I think ReactOS's registry is binary compatible with NT4. It and the windows 2000 format was S> documented/reversed for samba and the linux ntchpwd bootdisk projects. If I remeber right Eric S> Kohl offered to release some of his work to Wine for the binary format so you might want to ping S> him about the implementation details. So Eric Kohl would be the right man to ask about the internals of NT's registry format.
If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
Regards, Martin
Hi Martin, Thanks for this info. It looks like this might work. How do I contact Eric Kohl? Thanks, James On Tue, 2005-06-21 at 17:57 +0200, Martin Fuchs wrote:
Hi James,
Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases. I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck).
A bunch of dlls and applications are synced between Wine and ROS from time to time, also including regedit. What about implemting the missing find functionality at your own to bring both projects a little foreward? ;-)
I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website.
I can forward you a mail from Steven Edwards to bring a bit light into this issue:
S> I think ReactOS's registry is binary compatible with NT4. It and the windows 2000 format was S> documented/reversed for samba and the linux ntchpwd bootdisk projects. If I remeber right Eric S> Kohl offered to release some of his work to Wine for the binary format so you might want to ping S> him about the implementation details.
So Eric Kohl would be the right man to ask about the internals of NT's registry format.
If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
Regards,
Martin
Hi Martin, Thanks for this info. It looks like this might work. How do I contact Eric Kohl?
Thanks, James
This is his email address: Eric Kohl <eric.kohl(a)t-online.de> Perhaps you should also send a note to the ReactOS Development List. Regards, Martin
On Tue, 2005-06-21 at 17:57 +0200, Martin Fuchs wrote:
Hi James,
Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases. I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck).
A bunch of dlls and applications are synced between Wine and ROS from time to time, also including regedit. What about implemting the missing find functionality at your own to bring both projects a little foreward? ;-)
I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website.
I can forward you a mail from Steven Edwards to bring a bit light into this issue:
S> I think ReactOS's registry is binary compatible with NT4. It and the windows 2000 format was S> documented/reversed for samba and the linux ntchpwd bootdisk projects. If I remeber right Eric S> Kohl offered to release some of his work to Wine for the binary format so you might want to ping S> him about the implementation details.
So Eric Kohl would be the right man to ask about the internals of NT's registry format.
If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
Regards,
Martin
Hi! Wine had support for reading win2000 registry files once. It was dropped some time ago. I had implemented it around 1999/2000. Have a look in the CVS. Bye Juergen
Hi Martin, Thanks for this info. It looks like this might work. How do I contact Eric Kohl?
Thanks, James
On Tue, 2005-06-21 at 17:57 +0200, Martin Fuchs wrote:
Hi James,
Last night Martin Fuchs suggested that we look into using ReactOS's registry format in order to be compatible with Windows registry databases. I have the latest release of ReactOS running on QEMU on my box, so I checked it out. Basically, they're using the same regedit program from Wine, missing find command and all (Which I too feel is a pain in the neck).
A bunch of dlls and applications are synced between Wine and ROS from time to time, also including regedit. What about implemting the missing find functionality at your own to bring both projects a little foreward? ;-)
I looked at the config stuff, and I found what looked like some binary database files for each of the main registry sections. Unfortunately, there's no documentation at all on any of this on their website.
I can forward you a mail from Steven Edwards to bring a bit light into this issue:
S> I think ReactOS's registry is binary compatible with NT4. It and the windows 2000 format was S> documented/reversed for samba and the linux ntchpwd bootdisk projects. If I remeber right Eric S> Kohl offered to release some of his work to Wine for the binary format so you might want to ping S> him about the implementation details.
So Eric Kohl would be the right man to ask about the internals of NT's registry format.
If we decide to go this route, we may be in for a hell of a lot of work. But, I do agree with all of your points. I think the current system could use some improvement, especially in the area of searching. Let me know what you think of all this.
Regards,
Martin
participants (8)
-
Anssi Hannula -
Brad DeMorrow -
Brian Vincent -
James Liggett -
Jürgen Schmied -
Martin Fuchs -
Robert Shearman -
Shachar Shemesh