[Tutor] conventions for establishing and saving default values forvariables

[Alan Gauld]

"Pete O'Connell" <pedrooconnell at gmail.com> wrote

> Hi I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight as to the 
> best way
> to get and save variables from a user the first time a script is 
> opened. For
> example if the script prompts something like "What is the path to 
> the
> folder?" and the result is held in a variable called thePath, what 
> is the
> best way to have that variable saved for all subsequent uses of the 
> script
> by the same user.

Others have mentioned ini files on Windows and resource files
in *nix as well as other options.

Another option depending on the purpose might be an
environment variable. But that would normally only be
used to, for example, set a path to where the ini file was
located - especially if it wasn't in the default location,
maybe being shared by a user group, say. So it
depends on the function of your variable too.

Personally I'd go with an ini/resource file in the users home 
directory
as being the most consistent and simplest solution.

-- 
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/