Key-value file parser

Key-value file parser — parses .ini-like config files

Synopsis


#include <glib.h>


struct      GKeyFile;
#define     G_KEY_FILE_ERROR
enum        GKeyFileError;
enum        GKeyFileFlags;
GKeyFile*   g_key_file_new                  (void);
void        g_key_file_free                 (GKeyFile *key_file);
void        g_key_file_set_list_separator   (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gchar separator);
gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_file       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *file,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);
gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_data       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *data,
                                             gsize length,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);
gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_data_dirs  (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *file,
                                             gchar **full_path,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);
gchar*      g_key_file_to_data              (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gchar*      g_key_file_get_start_group      (GKeyFile *key_file);
gchar**     g_key_file_get_groups           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gsize *length);
gchar**     g_key_file_get_keys             (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gboolean    g_key_file_has_group            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name);
gboolean    g_key_file_has_key              (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

gchar*      g_key_file_get_value            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);
gchar*      g_key_file_get_string           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);
gchar*      g_key_file_get_locale_string    (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             GError **error);
gboolean    g_key_file_get_boolean          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);
gint        g_key_file_get_integer          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);
gchar**     g_key_file_get_string_list      (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gchar**     g_key_file_get_locale_string_list
                                            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gboolean*   g_key_file_get_boolean_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gint*       g_key_file_get_integer_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);
gchar*      g_key_file_get_comment          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

void        g_key_file_set_value            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *value);
void        g_key_file_set_string           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *string);
void        g_key_file_set_locale_string    (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             const gchar *string);
void        g_key_file_set_boolean          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gboolean value);
void        g_key_file_set_integer          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gint value);
void        g_key_file_set_string_list      (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *const   list[],
                                             gsize length);
void        g_key_file_set_locale_string_list
                                            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             const gchar *const   list[],
                                             gsize length);
void        g_key_file_set_boolean_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gboolean list[],
                                             gsize length);
void        g_key_file_set_integer_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gint list[],
                                             gsize length);
void        g_key_file_set_comment          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *comment,
                                             GError **error);
void        g_key_file_remove_group         (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             GError **error);
void        g_key_file_remove_key           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);
void        g_key_file_remove_comment       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Description

Details

struct GKeyFile

struct GKeyFile;

The GKeyFile struct contains only private fields and should not be used directly.


G_KEY_FILE_ERROR

#define G_KEY_FILE_ERROR g_key_file_error_quark()

Error domain for key file parsing. Errors in this domain will be from the GKeyFileError enumeration. See GError for information on error domains.


enum GKeyFileError

typedef enum
{
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ENCODING,
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_PARSE,
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_NOT_FOUND,
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND,
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND,
  G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE
} GKeyFileError;

Error codes returned by key file parsing.

G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ENCODINGthe text being parsed was in an unknown encoding
G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_PARSEdocument was ill-formed
G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_NOT_FOUNDthe file was not found
G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUNDa requested key was not found
G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUNDa requested group was not found
G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUEa value could not be parsed

enum GKeyFileFlags

typedef enum
{
  G_KEY_FILE_NONE              = 0,
  G_KEY_FILE_KEEP_COMMENTS     = 1 << 0,
  G_KEY_FILE_KEEP_TRANSLATIONS = 1 << 1
} GKeyFileFlags;

Flags which influence the parsing.

G_KEY_FILE_NONENo flags, default behaviour
G_KEY_FILE_KEEP_COMMENTSUse this flag if you plan to write the (possibly modified) contents of the key file back to a file; otherwise all comments will be lost when the key file is written back.
G_KEY_FILE_KEEP_TRANSLATIONSUse this flag if you plan to write the (possibly modified) contents of the key file back to a file; otherwise only the translations for the current language will be written back.

g_key_file_new ()

GKeyFile*   g_key_file_new                  (void);

Creates a new empty GKeyFile object. Use g_key_file_load_from_file(), g_key_file_load_from_data() or g_key_file_load_from_data_dirs() to read an existing key file.

Returns : an empty GKeyFile.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_free ()

void        g_key_file_free                 (GKeyFile *key_file);

Frees a GKeyFile.

key_file : a GKeyFile

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_list_separator ()

void        g_key_file_set_list_separator   (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gchar separator);

Sets the character which is used to separate values in lists. Typically ';' or ',' are used as separators. The default list separator is ';'.

key_file : a GKeyFile
separator : the separator

Since 2.6


g_key_file_load_from_file ()

gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_file       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *file,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);

Loads a key file into an empty GKeyFile structure. If the file could not be loaded then error is set to either a GFileError or GKeyFileError.

key_file : an empty GKeyFile struct
file : the path of a filename to load
flags : flags from GKeyFileFlags
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : TRUE if a key file could be loaded, FALSE othewise

Since 2.6


g_key_file_load_from_data ()

gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_data       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *data,
                                             gsize length,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);

Loads a key file from memory into an empty GKeyFile structure. If the object cannot be created then error is set to a GKeyFileError.

key_file : an empty GKeyFile struct
data : key file loaded in memory.
length : the length of data in bytes
flags : flags from GKeyFileFlags
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : TRUE if a key file could be loaded, FALSE othewise

Since 2.6


g_key_file_load_from_data_dirs ()

gboolean    g_key_file_load_from_data_dirs  (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *file,
                                             gchar **full_path,
                                             GKeyFileFlags flags,
                                             GError **error);

This function looks for a key file named file in the paths returned from g_get_user_data_dir() and g_get_system_data_dirs(), loads the file into key_file and returns the file's full path in full_path. If the file could not be loaded then an error is set to either a GFileError or GKeyFileError.

key_file : an empty GKeyFile struct
file : a relative path to a filename to open and parse
full_path : return location for a string containing the full path of the file, or NULL
flags : flags from GKeyFileFlags
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : TRUE if a key file could be loaded, FALSE othewise

Since 2.6


g_key_file_to_data ()

gchar*      g_key_file_to_data              (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

This function outputs key_file as a string.

key_file : a GKeyFile
length : return location for the length of the returned string, or NULL
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a newly allocated string holding the contents of the GKeyFile

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_start_group ()

gchar*      g_key_file_get_start_group      (GKeyFile *key_file);

Returns the name of the start group of the file.

key_file : a GKeyFile
Returns : The start group of the key file.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_groups ()

gchar**     g_key_file_get_groups           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             gsize *length);

Returns all groups in the key file loaded with key_file. The array of returned groups will be NULL-terminated, so length may optionally be NULL.

key_file : a GKeyFile
length : return location for the number of returned groups, or NULL
Returns : a newly-allocated NULL-terminated array of strings. Use g_strfreev() to free it.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_keys ()

gchar**     g_key_file_get_keys             (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

Returns all keys for the group name group_name. If group_name is NULL, the start group is used. The array of returned keys will be NULL-terminated, so length may optionally be NULL.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name, or NULL
length : return location for the number of keys returned, or NULL
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a newly-allocated NULL-terminated array of strings. Use g_strfreev() to free it.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_has_group ()

gboolean    g_key_file_has_group            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name);

Looks whether the key file has the group group_name.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
Returns : TRUE if group_name is a part of key_file, FALSE otherwise.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_has_key ()

gboolean    g_key_file_has_key              (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Looks whether the key file has the key key in the group group_name.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key name
error : return location for a GError
Returns : TRUE if key is a part of group_name, FALSE otherwise.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_value ()

gchar*      g_key_file_get_value            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the value associated with key under group_name. In the event the key cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. In the event that the group_name cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a string or NULL if the specified key cannot be found.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_string ()

gchar*      g_key_file_get_string           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the value associated with key under group_name. In the event the key cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. In the event that the group_name cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a string or NULL if the specified key cannot be found.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_locale_string ()

gchar*      g_key_file_get_locale_string    (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the value associated with key under group_name translated in the given locale if available. If locale is NULL then the current locale is assumed. If key cannot be found then NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. If the value associated with key cannot be interpreted or no suitable translation can be found then the untranslated value is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE and G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND, respectively. In the event that the group_name cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
locale : a locale or NULL
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a string or NULL if the specified key cannot be found.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_boolean ()

gboolean    g_key_file_get_boolean          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the value associated with key under group_name as a boolean. If key cannot be found then the return value is undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. Likewise, if the value associated with key cannot be interpreted as a boolean then the return value is also undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError
Returns : the value associated with the key as a boolean

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_integer ()

gint        g_key_file_get_integer          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the value associated with key under group_name as an integer. If key cannot be found then the return value is undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. Likewise, if the value associated with key cannot be interpreted as an integer then the return value is also undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError
Returns : the value associated with the key as an integer.

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_string_list ()

gchar**     g_key_file_get_string_list      (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the values associated with key under group_name. In the event the key cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. In the event that the group_name cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
length : return location for the number of returned strings, or NULL
error : return location for a GError, or NULL
Returns : a NULL-terminated string array or NULL if the specified key cannot be found. The array should be freed with g_strfreev().

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_locale_string_list ()

gchar**     g_key_file_get_locale_string_list
                                            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the values associated with key under group_name translated in the given locale if available. If locale is NULL then the current locale is assumed. If key cannot be found then NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. If the values associated with key cannot be interpreted or no suitable translations can be found then the untranslated values are returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE and G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND, respectively. In the event that the group_name cannot be found, NULL is returned and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_GROUP_NOT_FOUND. The returned array is NULL-terminated, so length may optionally be NULL.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
locale : a locale
length : return location for the number of returned strings or NULL
error : return location for a GError or NULL
Returns : a newly allocated NULL-terminated string array or NULL if the key isn't found. The string array should be freed with g_strfreev().

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_boolean_list ()

gboolean*   g_key_file_get_boolean_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the values associated with key under group_name as booleans. If key cannot be found then the return value is undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. Likewise, if the values associated with key cannot be interpreted as booleans then the return value is also undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
length : the number of booleans returned
error : return location for a GError
Returns : the values associated with the key as a boolean

g_key_file_get_integer_list ()

gint*       g_key_file_get_integer_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gsize *length,
                                             GError **error);

Returns the values associated with key under group_name as integers. If key cannot be found then the return value is undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_KEY_NOT_FOUND. Likewise, if the values associated with key cannot be interpreted as integers then the return value is also undefined and error is set to G_KEY_FILE_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
length : the number of integers returned
error : return location for a GError
Returns : the values associated with the key as a integer

Since 2.6


g_key_file_get_comment ()

gchar*      g_key_file_get_comment          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Retreives a comment above key from group_name. group_name. If key is NULL then comment will be read from above group_name. If both key and group_name are NULL, then comment will be read from above the first group in the file.

Return value:

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError
Returns : a comment that should be freed with g_free()

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_value ()

void        g_key_file_set_value            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *value);

Associates a new value with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created. If group_name cannot be found then it is created as well.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
value : a string

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_string ()

void        g_key_file_set_string           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *string);

Associates a new string value with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created. If group_name cannot be found then it is created as well.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
string : a string

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_locale_string ()

void        g_key_file_set_locale_string    (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             const gchar *string);

Associates a string value for key and locale under group_name. If the translation for key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
locale : a locale
string : a string

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_boolean ()

void        g_key_file_set_boolean          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gboolean value);

Associates a new boolean value with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
value : TRUE or FALSE

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_integer ()

void        g_key_file_set_integer          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gint value);

Associates a new integer value with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
value : an integer value

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_string_list ()

void        g_key_file_set_string_list      (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *const   list[],
                                             gsize length);

Associates a list of string values for key under group_name. If the key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
list : an array of locale string values
length : number of locale string values in list

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_locale_string_list ()

void        g_key_file_set_locale_string_list
                                            (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *locale,
                                             const gchar *const   list[],
                                             gsize length);

Associates a list of string values for key and locale under group_name. If the translation for key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
locale : a locale
list : a NULL-terminated array of locale string values
length : the length of list

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_boolean_list ()

void        g_key_file_set_boolean_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gboolean list[],
                                             gsize length);

Associates a list of boolean values with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
list : an array of boolean values
length : length of list

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_integer_list ()

void        g_key_file_set_integer_list     (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             gint list[],
                                             gsize length);

Associates a list of integer values with key under group_name. If key cannot be found then it is created.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
list : an array of integer values
length : number of integer values in list

Since 2.6


g_key_file_set_comment ()

void        g_key_file_set_comment          (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             const gchar *comment,
                                             GError **error);

Places a comment above key from group_name. group_name. If key is NULL then comment will be written above group_name. If both key and group_name are NULL, then comment will be written above the first group in the file.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
comment : a comment
error : return location for a GError

Since 2.6


g_key_file_remove_group ()

void        g_key_file_remove_group         (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             GError **error);

Removes the specified group, group_name, from the key file.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
error : return location for a GError or NULL

Since 2.6


g_key_file_remove_key ()

void        g_key_file_remove_key           (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Removes key in group_name from the key file.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key name to remove
error : return location for a GError or NULL

Since 2.6


g_key_file_remove_comment ()

void        g_key_file_remove_comment       (GKeyFile *key_file,
                                             const gchar *group_name,
                                             const gchar *key,
                                             GError **error);

Removes a comment above key from group_name. group_name. If key is NULL then comment will be written above group_name. If both key and group_name are NULL, then comment will be written above the first group in the file.

key_file : a GKeyFile
group_name : a group name
key : a key
error : return location for a GError

Since 2.6