ConfigurationManager.AppSettings in returning null

Question

I am using ConfigurationManager.AppSettings[myKey] to read a value from the app.config file in my windows application, but the value returned is always null, even though the key exists and it has a value, Deas any one know why?

Thanks

Answer 1

One, perhaps easier, alternative is to use a Settings file. This encapsulates the creation and maintenance of App.config values in a designer GUI and generates code for accessing the values.

To add a Settings file, right click your project in VS and click 'Add -> New Item', select 'Settings file' and give it a meaningful name, e.g. MainSettings.settings. You can then add an item, e.g. Foo, specify whether it is application or user-wide, define it's type and a assign it a value. In your code you can retreive the value by simple writing MainSettings.Default.Foo.

After compilation, you can change the value by editing the config file. The setting will appear as follows:-

<applicationSettings>
    <YourNamespace.MainSettings>
        <setting name="Foo" serializeAs="String">
            <value>Bar</value>
        </setting>
    </YourNamespace.MainSettings>
</applicationSettings>

Answer 2

Hard to say from what you've provided here:

1. Check your spelling of the value in myKey
2. Ensure you are looking at the right app.config - if this call is in a referenced library and you're expecting a value to come from the calling project's app.config, but your library has an app.config for some reason it may be causing your problem.