GFa Editor: Add more recent used files?

[Roger Cabo]

Hi everyone,

is there any chance to extend the recent files list larger than 9?

 

And in the properties dialogue is a History Path: [           ] [...]
What this is for and what happen if its empty?

[(X)]

If you look in the Windows Registry using Regedit, you can see many path & filenames of past edits.

I guess it would just be a matter of extracting them into a list for the user to select.

Your listing is probably different, but, my GFA files are listed under:

Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2435920626-2646016785-1003157155-1001\SOFTWARE\GFA\BASIC

Gfa_Setting, Gfa_IntSetting, Gfa_BinSetting, Gfa_LenSetting, Gfa_KillSetting
The GFA-BASIC 32 Registry Settings

With a special set of functions and instructions you can access the BASIC's registry; the part where GFA BASIC 32 stores its settings HKCU\Software\GFA\BASIC section (the current user).

GFA BASIC limits the length of the values that can be stored with Gfa_Setting and Gfa_BinSetting at 2047 bytes. It is however extremely unusual, though not forbidden, to write more than about 256 bytes into the Registry.

GFA-BASIC 32 does not use key values starting with an underscore. A GFA Editor Extension can therefore use key names starting with an underscore.

Syntax
Gfa_Setting(key$) [= value$]
Gfa_IntSetting(key$) [= value%]
Gfa_BinSetting(key$) [= value$]
length% = Gfa_LenSetting(key$)
Gfa_KillSetting key$

Description
Gfa_Setting(key$) [=] returns and sets the string value from the key setting value (key$) from HKCU\Software\GFA\BASIC entry. When the key name doesn't exist, the return value is an empty string. When a new value is written the existing value is deleted. The size of the string may not exceed 2047 characters.

Tip - To obtain the full qualified path of the first GLL extension, specify "Gll1" as the key.

Gfa_IntSetting(key$) [=] returns or sets a long value from the key setting value (key$) from HKCU\Software\GFA\BASIC entry in the Windows registry. When the key name doesn't exist, the return value is 0. The existing value is overwritten.

Tip - To obtain the current IDE language, specify "Language" for key$:

You might insert this line in your Gfa_Init procedure and add both German and English text to your GLL.

Gfa_BinSetting(key$)[=] returns or sets a key setting value (key$) from HKCU\Software\GFA\BASIC entry in the Windows registry in binary format. When the key name doesn't exist, the return value is an empty string. Because an empty string might be a valid value, the key name existence must be checked first using Gfa_LenSetting(key$).

In contrast with Gfa_Setting, the parameter of Gfa_BinSetting value$ may contain zero bytes. The existing value is overwritten.
Gfa_LenSetting() returns the length of the value of the key with name key$. Returns zero when the key doesn't exist.
Gfa_KillSetting deletes the registry entry with the name key$.

Example:

// Reading and writing the GFA-BASIC registry settings
Local Gll1$ = Gfa_Setting("Gll1")
Global CurrentLanguage As Int = Gfa_IntSetting("Language") // 1 = German; 0 = English
Dim a$, rc As RECT

' Read
If Gfa_LenSetting("DebPos") = SizeOf(rc)
a$ = Gfa_BinSetting("DebPos")
Poke$ V:rc, a$ ' copy data to rc
rc.Left = 0 ' access the data
EndIf

' Save
a$ = Peek$(V:rc, SizeOf(rc)) ' copy data to string
Gfa_BinSetting("DebPos") = a$ ' write binairy data
Gfa_KillSetting("DebPos")

Type RECT
- Int32 Left, Top, Right, Bottom
EndType

Remarks:
The general registry functions can be used as well. The key to use would then be: "HKCU\Software\GFA\BASIC"

See Also
vbDeleteSetting, vbGetSetting, vbGetSettingType, vbDeleteSetting, GetSetting, GetSettingType, SaveSetting, DeleteSetting, CreateRegKey, OpenRegKey, CloseRegKey, GetRegVal, GetRegValName, GetRegValType, GetRegValNameCount, GetRegSubKey, GetRegSubKeyCount

{Created by Sjouke Hamstra; Last updated: 08/10/2014 by James Gaite}

[Roger Cabo]

The registry contain File1 to File9. I added File10, but GB32 does not show up more than only 9.

Do you mean I, have to write a GLL that adds more entries manually?

[(X)]

Aug 24, 2023 12:38:34 GMT 1 Roger Cabo said:

The registry contain File1 to File9. I added File10, but GB32 does not show up more than only 9.

Do you mean I, have to write a GLL that adds more entries manually?

I assume the code responsible is in the GfaWin32.GLL, and Sjouke has not released the source code to my knowledge, which is completely understandable.

It should be a trivial task to increase the number or perhaps a bit more involved, to let the user pick from a practical range of numbers, to be selected somewhere in Preferences. 

To make similar requests you can directly contact the man himself: Sjouke Hamstra via his blog: gfabasic32.blogspot.com/

I am thinking of a few ways to generate a popup of 'recently used files' using a user generated GLL.  Definitely a good exercise!