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+
+:mod:`_winreg` -- Windows registry access
+=========================================
+
+.. module:: _winreg
+ :platform: Windows
+ :synopsis: Routines and objects for manipulating the Windows registry.
+.. sectionauthor:: Mark Hammond <MarkH@ActiveState.com>
+
+
+.. versionadded:: 2.0
+
+These functions expose the Windows registry API to Python. Instead of using an
+integer as the registry handle, a handle object is used to ensure that the
+handles are closed correctly, even if the programmer neglects to explicitly
+close them.
+
+This module exposes a very low-level interface to the Windows registry; it is
+expected that in the future a new ``winreg`` module will be created offering a
+higher-level interface to the registry API.
+
+This module offers the following functions:
+
+
+.. function:: CloseKey(hkey)
+
+ Closes a previously opened registry key. The hkey argument specifies a
+ previously opened key.
+
+ Note that if *hkey* is not closed using this method (or via
+ :meth:`handle.Close`), it is closed when the *hkey* object is destroyed by
+ Python.
+
+
+.. function:: ConnectRegistry(computer_name, key)
+
+ Establishes a connection to a predefined registry handle on another computer,
+ and returns a :dfn:`handle object`
+
+ *computer_name* is the name of the remote computer, of the form
+ ``r"\\computername"``. If ``None``, the local computer is used.
+
+ *key* is the predefined handle to connect to.
+
+ The return value is the handle of the opened key. If the function fails, an
+ :exc:`EnvironmentError` exception is raised.
+
+
+.. function:: CreateKey(key, sub_key)
+
+ Creates or opens the specified key, returning a :dfn:`handle object`
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that names the key this method opens or creates.
+
+ If *key* is one of the predefined keys, *sub_key* may be ``None``. In that
+ case, the handle returned is the same key handle passed in to the function.
+
+ If the key already exists, this function opens the existing key.
+
+ The return value is the handle of the opened key. If the function fails, an
+ :exc:`EnvironmentError` exception is raised.
+
+
+.. function:: DeleteKey(key, sub_key)
+
+ Deletes the specified key.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or any one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that must be a subkey of the key identified by the *key*
+ parameter. This value must not be ``None``, and the key may not have subkeys.
+
+ *This method can not delete keys with subkeys.*
+
+ If the method succeeds, the entire key, including all of its values, is removed.
+ If the method fails, an :exc:`EnvironmentError` exception is raised.
+
+
+.. function:: DeleteValue(key, value)
+
+ Removes a named value from a registry key.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *value* is a string that identifies the value to remove.
+
+
+.. function:: EnumKey(key, index)
+
+ Enumerates subkeys of an open registry key, returning a string.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or any one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *index* is an integer that identifies the index of the key to retrieve.
+
+ The function retrieves the name of one subkey each time it is called. It is
+ typically called repeatedly until an :exc:`EnvironmentError` exception is
+ raised, indicating, no more values are available.
+
+
+.. function:: EnumValue(key, index)
+
+ Enumerates values of an open registry key, returning a tuple.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or any one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *index* is an integer that identifies the index of the value to retrieve.
+
+ The function retrieves the name of one subkey each time it is called. It is
+ typically called repeatedly, until an :exc:`EnvironmentError` exception is
+ raised, indicating no more values.
+
+ The result is a tuple of 3 items:
+
+ +-------+--------------------------------------------+
+ | Index | Meaning |
+ +=======+============================================+
+ | ``0`` | A string that identifies the value name |
+ +-------+--------------------------------------------+
+ | ``1`` | An object that holds the value data, and |
+ | | whose type depends on the underlying |
+ | | registry type |
+ +-------+--------------------------------------------+
+ | ``2`` | An integer that identifies the type of the |
+ | | value data |
+ +-------+--------------------------------------------+
+
+
+.. function:: FlushKey(key)
+
+ Writes all the attributes of a key to the registry.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ It is not necessary to call RegFlushKey to change a key. Registry changes are
+ flushed to disk by the registry using its lazy flusher. Registry changes are
+ also flushed to disk at system shutdown. Unlike :func:`CloseKey`, the
+ :func:`FlushKey` method returns only when all the data has been written to the
+ registry. An application should only call :func:`FlushKey` if it requires
+ absolute certainty that registry changes are on disk.
+
+ .. note::
+
+ If you don't know whether a :func:`FlushKey` call is required, it probably
+ isn't.
+
+
+.. function:: RegLoadKey(key, sub_key, file_name)
+
+ Creates a subkey under the specified key and stores registration information
+ from a specified file into that subkey.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or any of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that identifies the sub_key to load.
+
+ *file_name* is the name of the file to load registry data from. This file must
+ have been created with the :func:`SaveKey` function. Under the file allocation
+ table (FAT) file system, the filename may not have an extension.
+
+ A call to LoadKey() fails if the calling process does not have the
+ :const:`SE_RESTORE_PRIVILEGE` privilege. Note that privileges are different than
+ permissions - see the Win32 documentation for more details.
+
+ If *key* is a handle returned by :func:`ConnectRegistry`, then the path
+ specified in *fileName* is relative to the remote computer.
+
+ The Win32 documentation implies *key* must be in the :const:`HKEY_USER` or
+ :const:`HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE` tree. This may or may not be true.
+
+
+.. function:: OpenKey(key, sub_key[, res=0][, sam=KEY_READ])
+
+ Opens the specified key, returning a :dfn:`handle object`
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or any one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that identifies the sub_key to open.
+
+ *res* is a reserved integer, and must be zero. The default is zero.
+
+ *sam* is an integer that specifies an access mask that describes the desired
+ security access for the key. Default is :const:`KEY_READ`
+
+ The result is a new handle to the specified key.
+
+ If the function fails, :exc:`EnvironmentError` is raised.
+
+
+.. function:: OpenKeyEx()
+
+ The functionality of :func:`OpenKeyEx` is provided via :func:`OpenKey`, by the
+ use of default arguments.
+
+
+.. function:: QueryInfoKey(key)
+
+ Returns information about a key, as a tuple.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ The result is a tuple of 3 items:
+
+ +-------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | Index | Meaning |
+ +=======+=============================================+
+ | ``0`` | An integer giving the number of sub keys |
+ | | this key has. |
+ +-------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | ``1`` | An integer giving the number of values this |
+ | | key has. |
+ +-------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | ``2`` | A long integer giving when the key was last |
+ | | modified (if available) as 100's of |
+ | | nanoseconds since Jan 1, 1600. |
+ +-------+---------------------------------------------+
+
+
+.. function:: QueryValue(key, sub_key)
+
+ Retrieves the unnamed value for a key, as a string
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that holds the name of the subkey with which the value is
+ associated. If this parameter is ``None`` or empty, the function retrieves the
+ value set by the :func:`SetValue` method for the key identified by *key*.
+
+ Values in the registry have name, type, and data components. This method
+ retrieves the data for a key's first value that has a NULL name. But the
+ underlying API call doesn't return the type, Lame Lame Lame, DO NOT USE THIS!!!
+
+
+.. function:: QueryValueEx(key, value_name)
+
+ Retrieves the type and data for a specified value name associated with an open
+ registry key.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *value_name* is a string indicating the value to query.
+
+ The result is a tuple of 2 items:
+
+ +-------+-----------------------------------------+
+ | Index | Meaning |
+ +=======+=========================================+
+ | ``0`` | The value of the registry item. |
+ +-------+-----------------------------------------+
+ | ``1`` | An integer giving the registry type for |
+ | | this value. |
+ +-------+-----------------------------------------+
+
+
+.. function:: SaveKey(key, file_name)
+
+ Saves the specified key, and all its subkeys to the specified file.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *file_name* is the name of the file to save registry data to. This file cannot
+ already exist. If this filename includes an extension, it cannot be used on file
+ allocation table (FAT) file systems by the :meth:`LoadKey`, :meth:`ReplaceKey`
+ or :meth:`RestoreKey` methods.
+
+ If *key* represents a key on a remote computer, the path described by
+ *file_name* is relative to the remote computer. The caller of this method must
+ possess the :const:`SeBackupPrivilege` security privilege. Note that
+ privileges are different than permissions - see the Win32 documentation for
+ more details.
+
+ This function passes NULL for *security_attributes* to the API.
+
+
+.. function:: SetValue(key, sub_key, type, value)
+
+ Associates a value with a specified key.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *sub_key* is a string that names the subkey with which the value is associated.
+
+ *type* is an integer that specifies the type of the data. Currently this must be
+ :const:`REG_SZ`, meaning only strings are supported. Use the :func:`SetValueEx`
+ function for support for other data types.
+
+ *value* is a string that specifies the new value.
+
+ If the key specified by the *sub_key* parameter does not exist, the SetValue
+ function creates it.
+
+ Value lengths are limited by available memory. Long values (more than 2048
+ bytes) should be stored as files with the filenames stored in the configuration
+ registry. This helps the registry perform efficiently.
+
+ The key identified by the *key* parameter must have been opened with
+ :const:`KEY_SET_VALUE` access.
+
+
+.. function:: SetValueEx(key, value_name, reserved, type, value)
+
+ Stores data in the value field of an open registry key.
+
+ *key* is an already open key, or one of the predefined :const:`HKEY_\*`
+ constants.
+
+ *value_name* is a string that names the subkey with which the value is
+ associated.
+
+ *type* is an integer that specifies the type of the data. This should be one
+ of the following constants defined in this module:
+
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | Constant | Meaning |
+ +==================================+=============================================+
+ | :const:`REG_BINARY` | Binary data in any form. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_DWORD` | A 32-bit number. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN` | A 32-bit number in little-endian format. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_DWORD_BIG_ENDIAN` | A 32-bit number in big-endian format. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_EXPAND_SZ` | Null-terminated string containing |
+ | | references to environment variables |
+ | | (``%PATH%``). |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_LINK` | A Unicode symbolic link. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_MULTI_SZ` | A sequence of null-terminated strings, |
+ | | terminated by two null characters. (Python |
+ | | handles this termination automatically.) |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_NONE` | No defined value type. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_RESOURCE_LIST` | A device-driver resource list. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+ | :const:`REG_SZ` | A null-terminated string. |
+ +----------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+
+ *reserved* can be anything - zero is always passed to the API.
+
+ *value* is a string that specifies the new value.
+
+ This method can also set additional value and type information for the specified
+ key. The key identified by the key parameter must have been opened with
+ :const:`KEY_SET_VALUE` access.
+
+ To open the key, use the :func:`CreateKeyEx` or :func:`OpenKey` methods.
+
+ Value lengths are limited by available memory. Long values (more than 2048
+ bytes) should be stored as files with the filenames stored in the configuration
+ registry. This helps the registry perform efficiently.
+
+
+.. _handle-object:
+
+Registry Handle Objects
+-----------------------
+
+This object wraps a Windows HKEY object, automatically closing it when the
+object is destroyed. To guarantee cleanup, you can call either the
+:meth:`Close` method on the object, or the :func:`CloseKey` function.
+
+All registry functions in this module return one of these objects.
+
+All registry functions in this module which accept a handle object also accept
+an integer, however, use of the handle object is encouraged.
+
+Handle objects provide semantics for :meth:`__bool__` - thus ::
+
+ if handle:
+ print "Yes"
+
+will print ``Yes`` if the handle is currently valid (has not been closed or
+detached).
+
+The object also support comparison semantics, so handle objects will compare
+true if they both reference the same underlying Windows handle value.
+
+Handle objects can be converted to an integer (e.g., using the builtin
+:func:`int` function), in which case the underlying Windows handle value is
+returned. You can also use the :meth:`Detach` method to return the integer
+handle, and also disconnect the Windows handle from the handle object.
+
+
+.. method:: PyHKEY.Close()
+
+ Closes the underlying Windows handle.
+
+ If the handle is already closed, no error is raised.
+
+
+.. method:: PyHKEY.Detach()
+
+ Detaches the Windows handle from the handle object.
+
+ The result is an integer (or long on 64 bit Windows) that holds the value of the
+ handle before it is detached. If the handle is already detached or closed, this
+ will return zero.
+
+ After calling this function, the handle is effectively invalidated, but the
+ handle is not closed. You would call this function when you need the
+ underlying Win32 handle to exist beyond the lifetime of the handle object.
+