Portable MUSHclient anyone?

Now that I have your attention I'll begin.... :P

Hey Nick, what are the chances of you using XML files to store MUSHclient data instead of the Registry?

The reason for me asking is that I'm trying to move all the apps that I use regularly, at home and work, to my external HD so I won't have to keep two differnt copies of everything.

I could have easily use another MUD client but I don't want to, I want to use MUSHclient :P

Anyways, what are the chances of something like this happening?

Only fairly rarely-changed stuff is in the registry, like the things in the Global Options menu.

You can use Regedit to export data from the registry, the appropriate registry path is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Gammon Software Solutions\MUSHclient

This will create a file you could then import into your other PC.

However your normal world files are already XML files, so you should be able to copy them without any problems.

I think the main attraction is to not have the registry at all. You might not have admin rights to import into the registry on the other computer. So, the idea to have a completely self-contained program on the portable drive (e.g. USB "key-chain" drive). But since, as you point out, most changing settings aren't in the registry, the problem isn't so bad for MUSHclient.

Agreed in principle, however I thought one of the purposes of the Registry was to store user-specific information, hence HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

One problem I had when trying to do away with the registry, is where do you store the location of the XML file that has the global data, if it isn't in the Registry? There is a chicken-and-egg situation there.

I think that the Mozilla programs use profiles for that. When you launch the program, you pick the data files from the profile. I think what DOES get stored in the registry is stuff like, which profile is the default? If there's no default profile, it prompts you to point you to a profile.

That's understandable. You could store the info in the MUSHclient directory. Ksilyan is correct that my main point is to be able to take MUSHclient anywhere with me and not have to worry about leaving behind "traces" of me being there. I travel quite a bit and I usually end up work on a system somewhere for several hours. I MUD to make the time go by durring slow times.

If you want an example to look at for how it's done, peel open the Portable FileZilla FTP program. It has an option of storing program information in the Registry or in a XML file in the program directory. I use that, Portable Firefox, Portable Open Office, Portable GAIM, and sometimes Portable NVU. All of these I got from the PortableApps.com site. Because I work on company computers, and sometimes client computers, I don't want to leave behind a bunch of info that should not be there. The programs I use at work were made with portability in mind. It only makes sense to want everything I use regularly the same :P

Having all my most used applications availible on an external hard drive for easy access has been so very useful. If I can help out with anything, if you decide to go with this idea, I'll do what I can to make it go as easy as possible.