SettingsProviders

This repository provides two custom implementations of the SettingsProvider class in the .NET Framework application settings architecture. They can be used to make the built-in application of WinForms and WPF application settings portable and more configurable:

• PortableSettingsProvider saves app settings in an XML format similar to the built-in settings provider
• PortableJsonSettingsProvider saves app settings in JSON format, powered by Newtonsoft.Json

Features

• Make application settings portable together with the app
• Configure the location and name of the settings file
• Easily plug into existing apps (just one line needed to make existing app settings portable)

Usage

Note: Change all occurrences of PortableSettingsProvider to PortableJsonSettingsProvider to use the JSON version.

1. Install the nuget package:
   Install-Package PortableSettingsProvider or
   Install-Package PortableJsonSettingsProvider
2. Apply the provider to your settings:

   PortableSettingsProvider.ApplyProvider(Properties.Settings.Default);
   

   Make sure to adjust the name of the settings instance if it is not the default settings.
   For an alternative approach, see here.
3. Optionally, you can set a different name and location for the settings file. A full configuration for a WinForms application might look like this:

static void Main()
{
	PortableSettingsProvider.SettingsFileName = "settings.config";
	PortableSettingsProvider.SettingsDirectory = "Some\\custom\\location";
	PortableSettingsProvider.ApplyProvider(Properties.Settings.Default);
	Application.Run(new Form1());
}

More

For a detailed explanation of the implementation and more options, visit the related CodeProject article. The article also explains the difference between roamed and local settings as the settings providers support both.

License

BSD-3-Clause License.