Location of program's default settings

[PSRumbagh]

Most windows programs, e.g. Word, Excel, Adobe Reader, Nero Wave Editor, etc.
have many default settings for things like font size, margins, default
directory, etc. Some applications allow the user to change some of the
settings usually under an "Options" tab, while others do not. In general,
where are the default values stored? For example a separate file (extension
name?), a dll, the application itself, a HKEY_xxxx, etc.?

 

[Don Phillipson]

Most windows programs, e.g. Word, Excel, Adobe Reader, Nero Wave Editor, etc.
have many default settings for things like font size, margins, default
directory, etc. Some applications allow the user to change some of the
settings usually under an "Options" tab, while others do not. In general,
where are the default values stored? For example a separate file (extension
name?), a dll, the application itself, a HKEY_xxxx, etc.?

No rules (of Bill Gates or anyone else) governs this uniformly.
The user must search for himself to find which set defaults in
an INI file, which in a file of some other type, which in Registry etc.

 

[Nil]

In general, where are the default values
stored? For example a separate file (extension name?), a dll, the
application itself, a HKEY_xxxx, etc.?

There are many ways for a program to store its settings - in a
template, in an INI file, in various parts of the registry, etc. there
is no universal method.

 

[John John - MVP]

Most windows programs, e.g. Word, Excel, Adobe Reader, Nero Wave Editor, etc.
have many default settings for things like font size, margins, default
directory, etc. Some applications allow the user to change some of the
settings usually under an "Options" tab, while others do not. In general,
where are the default values stored? For example a separate file (extension
name?), a dll, the application itself, a HKEY_xxxx, etc.?

These are "User" settings, they would usually be in the User's registry
hive (HKCU) or in his profile directory. The settings could be in
either (or in both) locations, different programs might handle this
differently, it depends only on what the programmer decided to do with
the settings.

John