Hi, I normally programme embedded systems so my variables are saved on in battery backed NVram using a memory map. I've now moved on to these new fangled PC's without memory mapped NVRam. So I'm trying to work out the best way to save data. As far as I can see writting to text/bianry file is the way to do it, but I'm sure someone must have a better way to do it. Thanks in advance if anyone can help me out.

Have you thought about using a USB stick/device for the file storage? Or possibly a memory card, such as one would use for an MP3 player? They have the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to program.

To save your program variables, it's quite common to use ini / conf files, in either the system wide location (/etc), or in the user's home directory for a per-user experience (~/.program_name).

Similarly, if there are a number of groups of settings that should / can be saved, then creating a directory in the user's home directory (~/.program_name/) and saving to text files in there, is often used. (ie: ~/.program_name/settings1.conf, and ~/.program_name/settings2.conf). If the settings are to be global to the system, then saving them to the system-wide location (/etc/program_name/) in a few files can also work well.

Under Windows, they can mix this approach with the registry for saving settings too.

HTH,

LaughingBoy.