23

I have developed a python script where i have a setting window which has the options to select the paths for the installation of software.When clicked on OK button of the setting window, i want to write all the selected paths to the registry and read the same when setting window is opened again. My code looks as below.

def OnOk(self, event): data1=self.field1.GetValue() #path selected in setting window aReg = ConnectRegistry(None,HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE) keyVal=OpenKey(aReg,r"SOFTWARE\my path to\Registry", 0,KEY_WRITE) try: SetValueEx(keyVal,"Log file",0,REG_SZ,data1) except EnvironmentError: pass CloseKey(keyVal) CloseKey(aReg)

I get a error like below:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "D:\PROJECT\project.py", line 305, in OnOk keyVal=OpenKey(aReg,r"SOFTWARE\my path to\Registry", 0,KEY_WRITE) WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied

And to read from registry,the saved registry has to show up in the setting window.I tried with the below code.Though its working but not satisfied with the way i programmed it.Help me out for the better solution

key = OpenKey(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r'Software\my path to\Registry', 0, KEY_READ) for i in range(4): try: n,v,t = EnumValue(key,i) if i==0: self.field2.SetValue(v) elif i==1: self.field3.SetValue(v) elif i==2: self.field4.SetValue(v) elif i==3: self.field1.SetValue(v) except EnvironmentError: pass CloseKey(key)
Improve this question

10 Answers 10

Reset to default
40 
#Python3 version of hugo24's snippet import winreg REG_PATH = r"Control Panel\Mouse" def set_reg(name, value): try: winreg.CreateKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH) registry_key = winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH, 0, winreg.KEY_WRITE) winreg.SetValueEx(registry_key, name, 0, winreg.REG_SZ, value) winreg.CloseKey(registry_key) return True except WindowsError: return False def get_reg(name): try: registry_key = winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH, 0, winreg.KEY_READ) value, regtype = winreg.QueryValueEx(registry_key, name) winreg.CloseKey(registry_key) return value except WindowsError: return None #Example MouseSensitivity #Read value print (get_reg('MouseSensitivity')) #Set Value 1/20 (will just write the value to reg, the changed mouse val requires a win re-log to apply*) set_reg('MouseSensitivity', str(10)) #*For instant apply of SystemParameters like the mouse speed on-write, you can use win32gui/SPI #http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/3.4/pywin32/win32gui__SystemParametersInfo_meth.html
Improve this answer
Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

So basically it's enough to remove the underscore from _winreg :)
There is a bug in this code. If there is an exception, CloseKey() will never get called. It is better to use with winreg.OpenKey(...) as registry_key: block, which will ensure that the key is closed when the block is exited, even when there is an exception.
17

Same as @Aramanethota but with pep8 and func def for easy usage.

REG_PATH = r"SOFTWARE\my_program\Settings" def set_reg(name, value): try: _winreg.CreateKey(_winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH) registry_key = _winreg.OpenKey(_winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH, 0, _winreg.KEY_WRITE) _winreg.SetValueEx(registry_key, name, 0, _winreg.REG_SZ, value) _winreg.CloseKey(registry_key) return True except WindowsError: return False def get_reg(name): try: registry_key = _winreg.OpenKey(_winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, REG_PATH, 0, _winreg.KEY_READ) value, regtype = _winreg.QueryValueEx(registry_key, name) _winreg.CloseKey(registry_key) return value except WindowsError: return None
Improve this answer

Comments

11

Python script to read from registry is as follows:

try: root_key=OpenKey(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r'SOFTWARE\my path to\Registry', 0, KEY_READ) [Pathname,regtype]=(QueryValueEx(root_key,"Pathname")) CloseKey(root_key) if (""==Pathname): raise WindowsError except WindowsError: return [""]

Python script to write to the registry is:

try: keyval=r"SOFTWARE\my path to\Registry" if not os.path.exists("keyval"): key = CreateKey(HKEY_CURRENT_USER,keyval) Registrykey= OpenKey(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r"SOFTWARE\my path to\Registry", 0,KEY_WRITE) SetValueEx(Registrykey,"Pathname",0,REG_SZ,Pathname) CloseKey(Registrykey) return True except WindowsError: return False

Hope it helps you all.Cheers:)

Improve this answer

2 Comments

That part about if not os.path.exists("keyval") looks very wrong to me. On windows, it's looking for a file at "C:\Users\YOURNAME\keyval" to see if it exists, and it probably doesn't, so it calls CreateKey() every time. I don't see how that would ever work, even if you took the quotes off of it.
Also, CreateKey() just opens the key if it already exists. I would probably try to catch the OSError raised by OpenKey() if I was worried about the key not existing, and just use CreateKey() if I want to ensure it exists.
5

Reading registry keys:

def read(path, root=HKEY_CURRENT_USER): path, name = os.path.split(path) with suppress(FileNotFoundError), OpenKey(root, path) as key: return QueryValueEx(key, name)[0]

And writing:

def write(path, value, root=HKEY_CURRENT_USER): path, name = os.path.split(path) with OpenKey(root, path, 0, KEY_WRITE) as key: SetValueEx(key, name, 0, REG_SZ, value)

Extended for type handling. Provide type as argument, match current type in registry or python value type.

def write(path, value, root=HKEY_CURRENT_USER, regtype=None): path, name = os.path.split(path) with OpenKey(root, path, 0, KEY_WRITE|KEY_READ) as key: with suppress(FileNotFoundError): regtype = regtype or QueryValueEx(key, name)[1] SetValueEx(key, name, 0, regtype or REG_DWORD if isinstance(value, int) else REG_SZ, str(value) if regtype==REG_SZ else value)

Imports

import os from winreg import ( HKEY_CURRENT_USER, OpenKey, QueryValueEx, SetValueEx, KEY_READ, KEY_WRITE, KEY_READ|KEY_WRITE, REG_SZ, REG_DWORD, FileNotFoundError ) from contextlib import suppress

Read more

Suppress

Winreg context manager

Improve this answer

2 Comments

You're not saying what path is, nor giving an example on how to use, nor what imports are needed.
The path is the path to the value you want to read or write in the registry (e.g. "SOFTWARE/MySoftware/Enabled"). Usage: enabled = read("SOFTWARE/MySoftware/Enabled") loads the registry value for enabled into a variable of the same name. Writing is similar but you have to provide a value to write. The rest are registry related things like selecting which root of the registry you want to manipulate.
1

Looks like you don't have permission to edit the Registry. Incase if you are Admin, Please run this script in Elevated state.

Improve this answer

4 Comments

Yes i was using the guest user,so i did not get it right. I changed the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to HKEY_CURRENT_USER and it's working fine now.
IS HKEY_CURRENT_USER works for both admin and other user account??
If Guest user can Access the key in registry, then so can Admin.
Thank u @Travis G. I will go with HKEY_CURRENT USER.
1

Here is a class I wrote (python 2) which has the ability to restore state when you finish manipulating the registry. The class was not tested properly so it may contain some bugs:

import _winreg as winreg class Registry(object): def __init__(self, restore_state=False): self.m_backup = {} self.m_restore_state = restore_state def get_key(self, hkey, subkey, access, create_if_doesnt_exist=True): created_key = False registry_key = None try: registry_key = winreg.OpenKey(hkey, subkey, 0, access) except WindowsError: try: if create_if_doesnt_exist: registry_key = winreg.CreateKey(hkey, subkey) if registry_key not in self.m_backup: self.m_backup[registry_key] = ({}, (hkey, subkey)) else: registry_key = None except WindowsError: if registry_key: self.close_key(registry_key) raise Exception('Registry does not exist and could not be created.') return registry_key def close_key(self, registry_key): closed = False if registry_key: try: winreg.CloseKey(registry_key) closed = True except: closed = False return closed def get_reg_value(self, hkey, subkey, name): value = None registry_key = self.get_key(hkey, subkey, winreg.KEY_READ, False) if registry_key: try: value, _ = winreg.QueryValueEx(registry_key, name) except WindowsError: value = None finally: self.close_key(registry_key) return value def set_reg_value(self, hkey, subkey, name, type, value): registry_key = self.get_key(hkey, subkey, winreg.KEY_WRITE, True) backed_up = False was_set = False if registry_key: if self.m_restore_state: if registry_key not in self.m_backup: self.m_backup[registry_key] = ({}, None) existing_value = self.get_reg_value(hkey, subkey, name) if existing_value: self.m_backup[registry_key][0][name] = (existing_value, type, False) else: self.m_backup[registry_key][0][name] = (None, None, True) backed_up = True try: winreg.SetValueEx(registry_key, name, 0, type, value) was_set = True except WindowsError: was_set = False finally: if not backed_up: self.close_key(registry_key) return was_set def restore_state(self): if self.m_restore_state: for registry_key, data in self.m_backup.iteritems(): backup_dict, key_info = data try: for name, backup_data in backup_dict.iteritems(): value, type, was_created = backup_data if was_created: print registry_key, name winreg.DeleteValue(registry_key, name) else: winreg.SetValueEx(registry_key, name, 0, type, value) if key_info: hkey, subkey = key_info winreg.DeleteKey(hkey, subkey) except: raise Exception('Could not restore value') self.close_key(registry_key) def __del__(self): if self.m_restore_state: self.restore_state()
Improve this answer

Comments

1

for Creating / writing values in registry key:

from winreg import* import winreg keyVal = r'SOFTWARE\\python' try: key = OpenKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, keyVal, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS) except: key = CreateKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, keyVal) SetValueEx(key, "Start Page", 0, REG_SZ, "snakes") CloseKey(key)

If access denied - try running the command (CMd or IDE) in administrative mode

for reading value in registry-key

from winreg import* Registry = ConnectRegistry(None, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE) RawKey = OpenKey(Registry, "SOFTWARE\\python") try: i = 0 while 1: name, value, type = EnumValue(RawKey, i) print("name:",name,"value:", value,"i:", i) i += 1 except WindowsError: print("")
Improve this answer

1 Comment

In the write example the statement "import winreg" is pointless. The variable "keyval" is better named "keypath". The key's valuename and the actual value are better defined by variables such as [valuename = "Start Page"] and [regszvalue = "snakes"].
1

My solution:

def add_key(name,pathh): try: keyval=r"System\my path\Register" if not os.path.exists("keyval"): key = winreg.CreateKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER,keyval) Registrykey = winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r"System\my path\Register", 0,winreg.KEY_WRITE) winreg.SetValueEx(Registrykey,name,1,winreg.REG_SZ,pathh) winreg.CloseKey(Registrykey) return True except WindowsError: return False
Improve this answer

1 Comment

There are 7 other answers to this question, one of them "accepted" (7 years ago). I cannot tell if this adds value -- perhaps if it was better formatted it might (just) ?
1

The 'winreg' module is so ...strange working module, so, I wrote a class called 'WindowsRegistry' for working with Windows registry and 'winreg' module easier. I hope it will be more usefull:

import winreg import re class WindowsRegistry: """Class WindowsRegistry is using for easy manipulating Windows registry. Methods ------- query_value(full_path : str) Check value for existing. get_value(full_path : str) Get value's data. set_value(full_path : str, value : str, value_type='REG_SZ' : str) Create a new value with data or set data to an existing value. delete_value(full_path : str) Delete an existing value. query_key(full_path : str) Check key for existing. delete_key(full_path : str) Delete an existing key(only without subkeys). Examples: WindowsRegistry.set_value('HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run', 'Program', r'"c:\Dir1\program.exe"') WindowsRegistry.delete_value('HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run/Program') """ @staticmethod def __parse_data(full_path): full_path = re.sub(r'/', r'\\', full_path) hive = re.sub(r'\\.*$', '', full_path) if not hive: raise ValueError('Invalid \'full_path\' param.') if len(hive) <= 4: if hive == 'HKLM': hive = 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' elif hive == 'HKCU': hive = 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' elif hive == 'HKCR': hive = 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT' elif hive == 'HKU': hive = 'HKEY_USERS' reg_key = re.sub(r'^[A-Z_]*\\', '', full_path) reg_key = re.sub(r'\\[^\\]+$', '', reg_key) reg_value = re.sub(r'^.*\\', '', full_path) return hive, reg_key, reg_value @staticmethod def query_value(full_path): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: opened_key = winreg.OpenKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1], 0, winreg.KEY_READ) winreg.QueryValueEx(opened_key, value_list[2]) winreg.CloseKey(opened_key) return True except WindowsError: return False @staticmethod def get_value(full_path): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: opened_key = winreg.OpenKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1], 0, winreg.KEY_READ) value_of_value, value_type = winreg.QueryValueEx(opened_key, value_list[2]) winreg.CloseKey(opened_key) return value_of_value except WindowsError: return None @staticmethod def set_value(full_path, value, value_type='REG_SZ'): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: winreg.CreateKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1]) opened_key = winreg.OpenKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1], 0, winreg.KEY_WRITE) winreg.SetValueEx(opened_key, value_list[2], 0, getattr(winreg, value_type), value) winreg.CloseKey(opened_key) return True except WindowsError: return False @staticmethod def delete_value(full_path): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: opened_key = winreg.OpenKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1], 0, winreg.KEY_WRITE) winreg.DeleteValue(opened_key, value_list[2]) winreg.CloseKey(opened_key) return True except WindowsError: return False @staticmethod def query_key(full_path): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: opened_key = winreg.OpenKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1] + r'\\' + value_list[2], 0, winreg.KEY_READ) winreg.CloseKey(opened_key) return True except WindowsError: return False @staticmethod def delete_key(full_path): value_list = WindowsRegistry.__parse_data(full_path) try: winreg.DeleteKey(getattr(winreg, value_list[0]), value_list[1] + r'\\' + value_list[2]) return True except WindowsError: return False
Improve this answer

2 Comments

tested? Your set_value variables and examples seem to be in conflict
It was 2 years ago, I remember I used it, but for now I was complitely forgotten python:D
0

It's hard to come up with something new here, but I see a lot of answers missing some important quirks.

One of the most important is that if you are greedy on the permissions, you will not be able to Read keys, while you can Write (and vice versa). In this case the read operation will not throw an exception, and you will have no idea what happened. So make sure to use: winreg.KEY_ALL_ACCESS.

Here's and example script that read the Windows (API) for ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING registry setting found under: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console and given by the Name: VirtualTerminalLevel.

import winreg as wrg RIGHTS = wrg.KEY_ALL_ACCESS # Enable ALL Permissions to Registry Hive [KEY_ALL_ACCESS] HKCU = wrg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER # The HKCU Hive VTL = r'Console\\' # VT Location/Path VTK = 'VirtualTerminalLevel' # VT Registry Key Name for (Windows) ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING VTH = wrg.OpenKeyEx(HKCU, VTL, 0, RIGHTS) VT = wrg.QueryValueEx(VTH, VTK)[0] wrg.CloseKey(VTH) print(VT) # 1

To keep the code essential (and functioning in your REPL) there are no checks here at all! So you'd have to implement those yourself.

Improve this answer

Comments

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.