Record Mode

X-Setup features a nice feature that is especially useful for Network Administrators: Record Mode. If this mode is activated, X-Setup will record nearly all changes from a plug-in or wizard to a REG file. This file can then be transported to a different machine and added to the registry by simply double-clicking this file.

How it works

If you apply the changes of a plug-in by clicking on the "Apply changes", all changes the plug-in makes are monitored and saved to an internal buffer. For example, if you start the "Super ACME Plug-in", activate "Fast Gate A20 Option" and click apply, the plug-in writes "FastGate=1" to the registry. Because record mode is currently activated, X-Setup will write "FastGate=1" to its internal buffer.

As soon as you stop recording, X-Setup asks for a filename where to save this buffer.   Note: X-Setup will generate the file with the extension *.TXT to indicate that should have a look at this file before using it. After renaming it to *.REG it is ready to use.

Benefits

One of the big befits this mode has is, if you need to configure many machines, it will save you a lot of time. For example, you want to set a special setting on all the PCs in your network that you have seen in a plug-in.

Normally, this would take a lot of time but with X-Setup it's easy: Simply start recording from the "File" menu, activate and apply the plug-ins and stop recording again. The generated REG file can either be send via Email to your users or automatically set through a batch file.

Drawbacks

Although this is a real powerful feature, it has some drawbacks

• Only Registry changes and additions can be recorded - all other changes (INI file writing, file changes etc.) are not supported. To inform you about this, X-Setup will inform you at the beginning of the file if any unsupported function was invoked. Which function was invoked and what it has changed is noted later in the file.
  
• Deleting a value or a path in the registry can't be recorded because this commands are not supported by REG files. X-Setup will also note this.
  
• If a X-Setup plug-in error occurs, the REG file might be damaged. To make absolutely sure that your REG file is not damaged, cancel the recording as soon as an error is displayed. If you have some experience with REG files, you can also ignore the error and remove the invalid command later by hand.
  
• X-Setup will write every change to the file, regardless if the command is already in the REG file or not. For example if you press "Apply changes" twice in a plug-in, all commands will be doubled in the REG file. Although this will not lead to an error, please keep this in mind.

Applying the REG file

To apply the generated REG file to a machine, do the following:

• rename the file from .REG.TXT to .REG (be sure to have a look at the file before!)
• copy the file to a location where the target computer(s) can access it
• either simply double-click the file or execute the command
  
  regedit /S <file>
  e.g.
  regedit /S y:\soft\mysett.REG
  
  Because Regedit has some problems with long filenames (LFN), you should keep the name of your REG file in 8+3 form.