Registry Search + Replace Tutorial

The General page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog is where you specify the high-level components of your search profile.

Search For	Specifies the string you are searching for in the registry
Log	Optionally log all aspects of the search to a specified file
Show Matches (default)	Show a dialog when a match occurs.
Match Whole Words	Only match if the candidate string is completely matched by the search string
Case Sensitive Matches	Only match if case is equivalent between two strings
No Replacement (default)	Only the registry search operation is performed
Prompted Replacement	On a match, the user is prompted for the replacement string. NOTE: implies that Show Matches is on.
Specified Replacement	The user specifies a string to be used as the replacement string for all matches. If Show Matches is off, the replacement is automatic (ie: no confirmation)

The Advanced page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog is where you specify the low-level components of your search profile.

Search for Values	Searches for key values instead of key data (ie: HIVE\KEY\Value = Data).
Search for Data (default)	Searches for key data instead of key values (ie: HIVE\KEY\Value = Data).
Datatype REG_SZ	Search for normal string data. NOTE: does not apply when searching values.
Datatype REG_EXPAND_SZ	Search for expandable string data (eg: %SystemRoot%) NOTE: does not apply when searching values.
Datatype REG_MULTI_SZ	Search for multi-line string data. NOTE: does not apply when searching values.
Hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (default)	Search this hive of the registry. NOTE: implies HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
Hive HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	Search this hive of the registry. NOTE: does not apply when searching a remote registry.
HIve HKEY_USERS	Search this hive of the registry. NOTE: implies HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Hive HKEY_CURRENT_USER (default)	Search this hive of the registry. NOTE: does not apply when searching a remote registry.
Local Registry (default)	Search the local registry.
Remote Registry	Search a remote registry as specified by the computer name in the form "\\COMPUTERNAME". Please see the FAQ for more information about remote registry searching.

The Profiles page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog is where you manage the saving and restoring of a search profile. By default, when RegSearch is started without any command line parameters, it looks for the file Default.RSP in the RegSearch directory. By saving a search profile to this filename, you can modify the defaults RegSearch uses. You can create other RSP files as well with different search configurations. Some example profiles are provided for you in the distribution archive.

Current Profile	Lists the pathname of the currently open profile. A profile is always open (Default.RSP is used if no profile is specified).
AutoStart	If checked when a profile is saved, the next time this profile is opened, the search + replace operation will begin immediately. This is useful if you are performing the same operation frequently.
Open	Opens a new search profile via the standard file open common dialog.
Save	Saves modifications to the currently open search profile.
Save As	Saves modifications to the currently open search profile, prompting for a new name via the standard file save common dialog.

The Progress page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog becomes active when you press the Search button to initiate a search + replace operation. This page shows you what is currently being searched, the progress of the search, and some statistics for the search.

Progress	The full text of the current value/data being searched is displayed here. When searching a local machine, two progress meters are displayed: one to show the progress of keys in the search set, one to show the overall progress in relating to all keys in the registry. When searching a remote machine, accurate progress meters cannot be displayed so a Windows 95'ish animation is shown.
Number Searched	The number of keys in the search set that have been examined. The search set when searching values is all keys. The search set when searching data is all string keys that meet the selected datatype criteria (ie: REG_SZ, etc.).
Number Processed	The number of keys that have been traversed during the search. This number will equal the total number of keys in your registry when the search completes, and is always greater than or equal to the Number Searched.
Number Matched	The number of times the search criteria has been matched.
Number Replaced	The number of times a match has been replaced.

When a match is found and Show Matches is on, the Registry Tree dialog is displayed. Here you are shown the registry tree where the match was found.

Registry Tree	The expanded registry hierarchical tree showing where the match was found.
Replace	When in prompted or specified replace mode, this button is shown allowing you to confirm the replace operation. In prompted replace mode, pressing this button leads to the dialog shown below.
Skip/Continue	When in a replace mode, the Skip button is shown to skip over replacing the current match. When not in replace mode, the Continue button allows you to continue on searching.
Abort	Allows you to abort the current search operation. Any replace operations done prior to an abort are saved to the registry.
Show Matches	This checkbox is an extension of the Show Matches setting on the General page. If you want to avoid further confirmation on matches (and replaces), uncheck this box and the search will continue in an automated state.

When in Prompted Replace mode, selecting Replace from the Registry Tree dialog brings up this dialog where you can specify what to replace the matched string with.

Replacement Text	Edit the matched text as you desire.
OK	Commit the replacement.
Upper Case	Change the text in the edit to upper case.
Lower Case	Change the text in the edit to lower case.
Cancel	Do not commit the replacement.

The About page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog shows you the current version, copyright information, support contact information, and the registration information for the program.

The Registration page of the Registry Search + Replace tabbed dialog informs the unregistered user the state of the usage count and details on how to register the program. Once registered, this page does not appear.

Usage Count

In order to evaluate Registry Search + Replace, you are allowed to execute it 25 times. During this evaluation period, the first page selected will be this Registration page showing you the current usage count. Functionality is not impaired in any other way during the evaluation period! After the evaluation period is over, this page will show that the usage count has been exceeded. The Search button will never become enabled when the usage count has been exceeded.

Register

After registering the program with Steven J. Hoek Software Development by either of the means listed on this page, you will receive a registration code. Press this button bring up a dialog where this code can be entered (see below). If the code is valid, RegSearch instantly becomes registered and completely useable!

The Registration Information dialog is where you enter the registration code you receive after you register the program with Steven J. Hoek Software Development. Once registered, this information appears on the About page.

User Name	The name used when registering the program. This must match exactly the name you gave when requesting your registration code!
User Information	The additional information (ie: company name) used when registering the program. This must match exactly the information you gave when requesting your registration code!
Registration Code	This code is given to you by Steven J. Hoek Software Development upon receipt of your registration request and payment. You must enter this code exactly as it appears on your registration confirmation letter (e-mail)! Please keep this registration code to yourself. If your registration code is found to be misused, your registration will be revoked!