[KingDeath360]

This is a lightweight INI class for reading and writing INI data in VB .NET
that can also support reading and writing the INI data in memory so there no need to load from disk.
Version 1.0 Created By Ben Jones.

INI Members
Spoiler (Click to View)
EraseKey (Erase a key from a selection)
EraseSection (Erase a selection and it's key values)
LoadFromFile (Loads INI data from a filename)
LoadFromString (Loads INI data from a string)
KeyExists (Check if a key exists in a selection)
ReadSelections (Returns a list of selection names)
ReadSectionValues (Returns a list of key names from a selection)
ReadString (Returns a value from a key name in selection)
RenameKey (Renames a key in a selection)
RenameSelection (Renames a selection)
SelectionExsits (Checks that a selection exists)
SaveToFile (Saves INI contents to a file)
ToString (Returns the INI Raw data)
Update (Updates the INI data)
ValueExsits (Checks that a value exists in a selection)
WriteString (Writes a string to the INI data)


Code:

Code

'Memory ini file class for VB.NET 2010
'Note keys and group names are case sensitive. Comments are also not supported as yet.
Option Explicit On
Imports System.Text
Imports System.IO

Public Class memIni

    Private IniData As List(Of String)
    Private groups As List(Of String)

    'INI data consts
    Private Const SplitChar As Char = "•"
    Private Const AssignChar As Char = "="
    Private Const groupStart As Char = "["
    Private Const groupEnd As Char = "]"

    Private Const IDX_ERROR As Integer = -1

    Public Function EraseKey(ByVal group As String, ByVal Key As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim Found As Boolean = False
      Dim TempData As New List(Of String)

      'Return true or false if group found.
      For Each Line In IniData
      'get index of split char,
      Dim Idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      'Get group name.
      Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, Idx)

      'Check we found group.
      If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, Idx + 1)

            If Not Line.Split(AssignChar)(0).Equals(Key) Then
            'Build the line.
            Line = SelName & SplitChar & Line
            'Add to list
            Call TempData.Add(Line)
            Else
            Found = True
            End If
      Else
            'Add to list.
            Call TempData.Add(Line)
      End If
      Next

      'Set new list data.
      IniData = TempData

      'Clear up
      TempData = Nothing

      Return Found

    End Function

    Public Function EraseSection(ByVal group As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      'Remove a group and all it's keys.
      Dim TempINI As New List(Of String)

      If Not groupExsits(group) Then
      Return False
      Else
      'If found remove group.
      For Each Line In IniData
            If Not Line.StartsWith(SelName) Then
            'Add data to new list.
            Call TempINI.Add(Line)
            End If
      Next
      End If

      'Set new list data.
      IniData = TempINI
      Return True

      'Clear up
      TempINI = Nothing

    End Function

    Public Sub LoadFromFile(ByVal Filename As String)
      Dim sr As StreamReader
      'Load ini data from a filename.
      Try
      sr = New StreamReader(Filename)
      'Read the whole file.
      Dim Buffer As String = sr.ReadToEnd
      'Load ini data.
      Call LoadFromString(Buffer)
      'Close file.
      Call sr.Close()
      Catch ex As Exception
      Throw New FileNotFoundException
      End Try

    End Sub

    Public Sub LoadFromString(ByVal Source As String)
      Dim Lines() As String = Source.Split(vbLf)
      Dim Temp As String = vbNullString
      Dim sSel As String = vbNullString
      Dim Idx As Integer = IDX_ERROR

      'Create collections
      IniData = New List(Of String)

      For Each Line In Lines
      Temp = Line.Trim()

      If (Temp.Length > 0) Then
            'Check for selectin start and end brackets.
            If Temp.StartsWith(groupStart) And Temp.EndsWith(groupEnd) Then
            sSel = Temp
            Else
            Call IniData.Add(sSel & SplitChar & Temp)
            End If
      End If
      Next
    End Sub

    Public Function KeyExists(ByVal group As String, ByVal Key As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim Found As Boolean = False

      'Return true if a key is found in a group.
      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get position of split char.
      Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Get group name.
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, idx)
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx + 1)

            'Check if we have a group match.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Check if we got a match on the keyname.
            If Line.Split(AssignChar)(0).TrimEnd().Equals(Key) Then
            Found = True
            Exit For
            End If
            End If
      End If
      Next

      Return Found
    End Function

    Public Sub Readgroups(ByVal groups As List(Of String))
      'Return a list of group names.
      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get index of split char.
      Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)

      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(1, idx - 2)

            'Check if group is found.
            If Not groups.Contains(sName) Then
            'Add the groups
            Call groups.Add(sName)
            End If
      End If
      Next
    End Sub

    Public Sub ReadSectionValues(ByVal group As String, ByVal Values As List(Of String))
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd

      'Return a list of key names from group.
      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get index of split char.
      Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)

      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, idx)
            'Check for group name.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx + 1)
            'Get key names
            Call Values.Add(Line.Split(AssignChar)(0).TrimStart())
            End If
      End If
      Next
    End Sub

    Public Function ReadString(ByVal group As String, ByVal Key As String, Optional ByVal iDefaut As String = vbNullString) As String
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim sValue As String = vbNullString

      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get position of split char.
      Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Get group name.
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, idx)
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx + 1)

            'Check if we have a group match.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Check if we got a match on the keyname.
            If Line.Split(AssignChar)(0).Trim().Equals(Key) Then
            'Get value
            sValue = Line.Split(AssignChar)(1).TrimStart()
            Exit For
            End If
            End If
      End If
      Next

      If String.IsNullOrEmpty(sValue) Then
      'Return default if no string is found.
      Return iDefaut
      Else
      'Return found value.
      Return sValue
      End If

    End Function

    Public Function RenameKey(ByVal group As String, ByVal OldKey As String, ByVal NewKey As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim LineIdx As Integer = 0
      Dim Found As Boolean = False
      Dim Line As String = vbNullString

      'Check if selecion is found.
      If Not groupExsits(group) Then
      Return Found
      End If

      For Each Line In IniData
      'get index of split char,
      Dim Idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      'Get group name.
      Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, Idx)
      If (Idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Check we found group.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, Idx + 1)
            'Check for old key
            If (Line.Split(AssignChar)(0)).Trim().Equals(OldKey) Then
            Exit For
            End If
            End If
      End If
      'INC line counter.
      LineIdx += 1
      Next

      Try
      Found = True
      'Set new ini data.
      IniData(LineIdx) = SelName & SplitChar & NewKey & AssignChar & Line.Split(AssignChar)(1)
      Catch ex As Exception
      Found = False
      End Try

      Return Found
    End Function

    Public Function Renamegroup(ByVal OldName As String, ByVal NewName As String) As Boolean
      'Rename a group.
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & OldName & groupEnd
      Dim TempData As New List(Of String)

      'Check for group.
      If Not groupExsits(OldName) Then
      Return False
      Else
      For Each Line In IniData
            Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
            'Check for split char.
            If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Check for old selecion.
            If Line.StartsWith(SelName) Then
            'Remove group name.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx)
            'Rename group.
            Line = groupStart & NewName & groupEnd & Line
            End If
            End If
            'Store new data
            Call TempData.Add(Line)
      Next
      End If

      'Set new ini data.
      IniData = TempData
      Return True

      'Clear up
      TempData = Nothing

    End Function

    Public Function groupExsits(ByVal group As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim Found As Boolean = False

      If IsNothing(IniData) Then
      Return False
      End If

      'Return true or false if group found.
      For Each Line In IniData
      If Line.StartsWith(SelName) Then
            'group found exit for.
            Found = True
            Exit For
      End If
      Next

      Return Found

    End Function

    Public Function SaveToFile(ByVal Filename As String)
      Dim Done As Boolean = True
      'Save ini data to filename.
      Dim sw As StreamWriter

      Try
      'Create new stream writer.
      sw = New StreamWriter(Filename)
      'Write contents to file.
      Call sw.Write(ToString)
      'Close filename.
      Call sw.Close()
      Catch ex As Exception
      Done = False
      End Try

      Return Done

    End Function

    Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
      Dim sb As New StringBuilder()

      'If list not created create it.
      If IsNothing(groups) Then
      Call Update()
      End If

      For Each Item In groups
      Call sb.AppendLine(Item)
      Next

      Return sb.ToString()

    End Function

    Public Sub Update()
      'Rebuild the ini data.
      Dim sName As String = vbNullString
      Dim idx As Integer = IDX_ERROR

      'Create groups list.
      groups = New List(Of String)

      If IsNothing(IniData) Then
      Exit Sub
      End If

      For Each Item In IniData
      Dim sPos As Integer = Item.IndexOf(SplitChar)

      If (sPos > 0) Then
            'Get group.
            sName = Item.Substring(0, sPos)

            'Check if group is found.
            If Not groups.Contains(sName) Then
            'Add the groups
            Call groups.Add(sName)
            End If

            'Fix item line.
            Item = Item.Remove(0, sPos + 1)
            'Check if group in groups
            idx = groups.IndexOf(sName)

            If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            Call groups.Insert(idx + 1, Item)
            End If
      End If
      Next
    End Sub

    Public Function ValueExsits(ByVal group As String, ByVal Value As String) As Boolean
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim Found As Boolean = False

      'Check if group exsits.
      If Not groupExsits(group) Then
      Return Found
      End If

      'Return true if a key is found in a group.
      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get position of split char.
      Dim idx As Integer = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Get group name.
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, idx)
            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx + 1)

            'Check if we have a group match.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Check if we got a match on the keyname.
            If Line.Split(AssignChar)(1).TrimEnd().Equals(Value) Then
            Found = True
            Exit For
            End If
            End If
      End If
      Next

      Return Found
    End Function

    Public Sub WriteString(ByVal group As String, ByVal Key As String, ByVal Value As String)
      Dim SelName As String = groupStart & group & groupEnd
      Dim ItemPos As Integer = 0

      'If item list is not created create it.
      If (IsNothing(IniData)) Then
      IniData = New List(Of String)
      End If

      For Each Line In IniData
      'Get position of split char.
      Dim idx As String = Line.IndexOf(SplitChar)
      If (idx <> IDX_ERROR) Then
            'Get group name.
            Dim sName As String = Line.Substring(0, idx)

            'Remove group name from string.
            Line = Line.Remove(0, idx + 1)

            'Check if we have a group match.
            If sName.Equals(SelName) Then
            'Check if we got a match on the keyname.
            If Line.Split(AssignChar)(0).Equals(Key) Then
            Exit For
            End If
            End If
      End If
      'Inc counter
      ItemPos += 1
      Next

      Try
      'Try updateing the item.
      IniData(ItemPos) = SelName & SplitChar & Key & AssignChar & Value
      Catch ex As Exception
      'Add new item.
      Call IniData.Add(SelName & SplitChar & Key & AssignChar & Value)
      End Try

    End Sub

End Class

Reading Usage:

Code

Dim i As New INIcreater.memIni
      i.LoadFromFile("testing.txt")
      MsgBox(i.ReadString("grouphere", "keyhere"))

Writing Usage:

Code

Dim i As New INIcreater.memIni
      i.LoadFromFile("testing.txt")
i.WriteString("grouphere", "keyhere", "valuehere")

[sh@rp]

Why reinvent the wheel ..... o_O....

You do prefer using P/Invoke functions : http://pastebin.com/91jwdLbL

[Nikey646]

Why reinvent the wheel ..... o_O....

You do prefer using P/Invoke functions : http://pastebin.com/91jwdLbL

Cross Platform Support > P/Invoke.

Why cut off support for any OS besides those w/ access to the Kernal32.dll for Windows.

[SIM-1456245]

Cross Platform Support > P/Invoke.

Why cut off support for any OS besides those w/ access to the Kernal32.dll for Windows.

Wait, what? Cross-Platform with VB.Net? O_o

[Nikey646]

Wait, what? Cross-Platform with VB.Net? O_o

Mono has (limited) support for VB.Net. Not sure about the Compilers for Xamarin's .Net Emulator's on Android/iOS.

Still cross-platform, and last i checked, you didn't need to use Mono's Compiler to make a binary that worked on Mono, as long as it didn't use feature's Mono itself doesn't support.

[SIM-1456245]

Mono has (limited) support for VB.Net. Not sure about the Compilers for Xamarin's .Net Emulator's on Android/iOS.

Still cross-platform, and last i checked, you didn't need to use Mono's Compiler to make a binary that worked on Mono, as long as it didn't use feature's Mono itself doesn't support.

Yeah yeah yeah. But there is soo many other reasons why this class is good. One of them being the fact of practice. I coded a JSON serializer/deserializer just for fun.