Command window not seeing new system env. variables

[chiph]

I'm trying to set a new system variable via a console application. It's working -- I'm seeing the new variable appear in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

But immediately after running my program when I issue a SET command, it's not there. If I close the Cmd window and reopen it, it is there. It's like the current Cmd window isn't responding to the WM_SETTINGCHANGE message.

Here's the code I'm using:

bool AddUpdateSystemEnvironmentVar(LPCTSTR VarName, LPCTSTR Value)
{
	LONG rc;
	HKEY hNewKey;
	DWORD dwDisposition;
	size_t Len;
	DWORD dwResult;
	LRESULT lr;

	rc = RegCreateKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, 
						_T("System\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\Environment"),
						(DWORD)0,
						NULL,
						REG_OPTION_NON_VOLATILE,
						KEY_ALL_ACCESS,
						(DWORD)0,
						&hNewKey,
						&dwDisposition);
	if (rc != ERROR_SUCCESS)
		return false;

	SUCCEEDED(StringCbLength(Value, 255 * sizeof(TCHAR), &Len));

	rc = RegSetValueEx(hNewKey,
					   VarName,
					   (DWORD)0,
					   REG_SZ,
					   (LPBYTE)Value,
					   (DWORD)(Len + 1));

	rc = RegFlushKey(hNewKey);

	RegCloseKey(hNewKey);

	// let all top-level windows know of the change
	lr = SendMessageTimeout(HWND_BROADCAST,
							WM_SETTINGCHANGE,
							0,
							(LPARAM)_T("Environment"),
							SMTO_ABORTIFHUNG,
							5000,
							&dwResult);

	return true;
}

Thanks in advance.
Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[strongm]

About the only window already open that actually bothers noticing that system envronment variables have been modified when receiving a WM_SETTINGCHANGE message is the shell (and it passes it's changed environement block on to any new applications that are opened from that point onwards).

 

[chiph]

After some late-night searching in the newsgroups, I've come to that conclusion too. Cmd.exe just doesn't pay attention to the WM_SETTINGCHANGE message.

Thanks for the reply.

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first