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Environment variables in a store app

Question
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Hi
I´ve been trying to write my first Windows store app but can´t find any documentation on how I would go about printing the current OS Environment variables and their values within a text field. As far as I understand it using regular c# I access the information using System.Enviroment.getEnvironmentVariables()
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1h5xxewc(v=vs.110).aspx?cs-save-lang=1&cs-lang=csharp#code-snippet-2
but when I try to compile the hello World tutorial app on the msdn website replacing the greetings.outputText with the environment contents I get an error saying System.Environment does not contain a definition for getEnvironmentVariables.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh986965.aspx?cs-save-lang=1&cs-lang=csharp#code-snippet-8
I found one more post stating the feature is not actually implemented and a series of helper functions can be used instead, but unfortunately those don't provide a way to check the whole environment for stray or new variables.
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsapps/en-US/87cbf2c0-32fd-471b-b5b3-fd4f13802b2d/environment-variables-query?forum=winappswithnativecode
Now, if the above is correct then I guess the only way to access the environment on my running Windows 8 is to retrieve the keys from the local registry. Does anyone have tips on how to iterate over registry environment variables using visual c# or an otherwise simpler way to display on screen the current environment context of a running app?
Monday, September 1, 2014 9:19 PM
Answers
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Hi Ævar Guðmundsson,
The API you found not work with Windows Store App, as you can see from the version information:
.NET Framework
Supported in: 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0
.NET Framework Client Profile
Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
If the API is workable for Windows Store App we should be able to see something different, for instance Exception Class:
.NET Framework
Supported in: 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0
.NET Framework Client Profile
Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
Portable Class Library
Supported in: Portable Class Library
.NET for Windows Store apps
Supported in: Windows 8
.NET for Windows Phone apps
Supported in: Windows Phone 8.1, Windows Phone 8, Silverlight 8.1As we know that Windows Store App runs in a sandbox mode, we cannot get the system information unless system provide us API, but unfortunately the answer is no.
--James
<THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED>
Thanks
MSDN Community Support
Please remember to "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue. It is a common way to recognize those who have helped you, and makes it easier for other visitors to find the resolution later.- Marked as answer by Jamles HezModerator Tuesday, September 9, 2014 7:33 AM
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 5:18 AMModerator
All replies
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Hi Ævar Guðmundsson,
The API you found not work with Windows Store App, as you can see from the version information:
.NET Framework
Supported in: 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0
.NET Framework Client Profile
Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
If the API is workable for Windows Store App we should be able to see something different, for instance Exception Class:
.NET Framework
Supported in: 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0
.NET Framework Client Profile
Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
Portable Class Library
Supported in: Portable Class Library
.NET for Windows Store apps
Supported in: Windows 8
.NET for Windows Phone apps
Supported in: Windows Phone 8.1, Windows Phone 8, Silverlight 8.1As we know that Windows Store App runs in a sandbox mode, we cannot get the system information unless system provide us API, but unfortunately the answer is no.
--James
<THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED>
Thanks
MSDN Community Support
Please remember to "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue. It is a common way to recognize those who have helped you, and makes it easier for other visitors to find the resolution later.- Marked as answer by Jamles HezModerator Tuesday, September 9, 2014 7:33 AM
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 5:18 AMModerator -
I'm in the exact same boat. This might help: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/windows.storage.applicationdata.aspx
There are APIs here that will get you to certain system folders if you're looking for say something like %localappdata% like I was.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014 10:47 AM