RegQueryValue

The RegQueryValue function retrieves the data associated with the default or unnamed value of a specified registry key. The data must be a null-terminated string.

This function is provided for compatibility with Windows version 3.1. Win32-based applications should use the RegQueryValueEx function.

LONG RegQueryValue(
  HKEY hKey,       // handle to key to query
  LPCTSTR lpSubKey,
                   // name of subkey to query
  LPTSTR lpValue,  // buffer for returned string
  PLONG lpcbValue  // receives size of returned string
);
 

Parameters

hKey

Handle to a currently open key or any of the following predefined reserved handle values:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS
Windows NT: HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA
Windows 95 and Windows 98: HKEY_DYN_DATA

lpSubKey

Pointer to a null-terminated string containing the name of the subkey of the hKey parameter for which the default value is retrieved. If this parameter is NULL or points to an empty string, the function retrieves the default value for the key identified by hKey.

lpValue

Pointer to a buffer that receives the null-terminated string associated with the default value of the specified key.

If lpValue is NULL, and lpcbValue is non-NULL, the function returns ERROR_SUCCESS, and stores the size of the data, in bytes, in the variable pointed to by lpcbValue. This lets an application determine the best way to allocate a buffer for the value's data.

lpcbValue

Pointer to a variable that specifies the size, in bytes, of the buffer pointed to by the lpValue parameter. When the function returns, this variable contains the size of the data copied to lpValue, including the terminating null character.

If the buffer specified by lpValue parameter is not large enough to hold the data, the function returns the value ERROR_MORE_DATA, and stores the required buffer size, in bytes, into the variable pointed to by lpcbValue.

In all cases the value returned in lpcbValue includes the size of the terminating null character in the string.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is ERROR_SUCCESS.

If the function fails, the return value is a nonzero error code defined in WINERROR.H. You can use the FormatMessage function with the FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM flag to get a generic description of the error.

Remarks

The key identified by the hKey parameter must have been opened with KEY_QUERY_VALUE access (KEY_READ access includes KEY_QUERY_VALUE access).

If the ANSI version of this function is used (either by explicitly calling RegQueryValueA or by not defining UNICODE before including the WINDOWS.H file), this function converts the stored Unicode string to an ANSI string before copying it to the buffer specified by the lpValue parameter.

QuickInfo

  Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
  Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
  Windows CE: Unsupported.
  Header: Declared in winreg.h.
  Import Library: Use advapi32.lib.
  Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT.

See Also

Registry Overview, Registry Functions, RegEnumKey, RegEnumKeyEx, RegEnumValue, RegQueryInfoKey, RegQueryValueEx, RegSetValue, RegSetValueEx