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c#.netwinformsconfigurationmanager

What is the best way to handle Multi-instance Properties.Settings.Default.Save()

I have a C# Winforms application that uses app.config to save 3 simple settings.

  • Last selected path as string
  • Window state as bool
  • Updated as bool

This is a multi-instance application and when a user has more then one instance open and closes the application group, they are met with

System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException: Failed to save settings: The configuration file has been changed by another program.

What is the best way to manage this?

I know I can catch the error and return out of application-exit method but this seems improper. It would seem to me that there should be a way to check if another instance is working in the file before calling Properties.Settings.Default.Save(); and then return out of the method.

Solution

  • Catch the exception and call Properties.Settings.Default.Reload() then attempt to save again.