EnvironmentVariableTarget Enum

Definition

Namespace:

System

Assembly:

System.Runtime.dll

Specifies the location where an environment variable is stored or retrieved in a set or get operation.

public enum class EnvironmentVariableTarget

public enum EnvironmentVariableTarget

type EnvironmentVariableTarget = 

Public Enum EnvironmentVariableTarget

Inheritance

Object

ValueType

Enum

EnvironmentVariableTarget

Fields

Name	Value	Description
Process	0	The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the environment block associated with the current process.
User	1	The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment key in the Windows operating system registry. This value should be used on .NET implementations running on Windows systems only.
Machine	2	The environment variable is stored or retrieved from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment key in the Windows operating system registry. This value should be used on .NET implementations running on Windows systems only.

Examples

The following example uses the EnvironmentVariableTarget enumeration in methods that create, retrieve, and delete environment variables. The output from the example shows that environmnent variables stored and retrieved without specifying a EnvironmentVariableTarget value are stored in the environment block associated with the current process (EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process). The example output from Unix-based systems also shows that attempts to define an environment variable with a value other than EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process is ignored.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using Microsoft.Win32;

class Sample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Environment variable names for default, process, user, and machine targets.
        string defaultEnvVar = nameof(defaultEnvVar);
        string processEnvVar = nameof(processEnvVar);
        string userEnvVar = nameof(userEnvVar);
        string machineEnvVar = nameof(machineEnvVar);

        string dft = nameof(dft);
        string process = nameof(process);
        string user = nameof(user);
        string machine = nameof(machine);

        // Set the environment variable for each target.
        Console.WriteLine("Setting environment variables for each target...\n");
        // The default target (the current process).
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, dft);
        // The current process.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, process,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process);
        // The current user.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, user,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.User);
        // The local machine.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, machine,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine);

        // Define an array of environment variables.
        string[] envVars = { defaultEnvVar,processEnvVar, userEnvVar, machineEnvVar };

        // Try to get the environment variables from each target.
        // The default (no specified target).
        Console.WriteLine("Retrieving environment variables from the default target:");
        foreach (var envVar in envVars)
        {
          var value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar) ?? "(none)";
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}");
        }
        // The process block.
        Console.WriteLine("\nRetrieving environment variables from the Process target:");
        foreach (var envVar in envVars)
        {
          var value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) ?? "(none)";
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}");
        }
        // The user block.
        Console.WriteLine("\nRetrieving environment variables from the User target:");
        foreach (var envVar in envVars)
        {
          var value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) ?? "(none)";
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}");
        }
        // The machine block.
        Console.WriteLine("\nRetrieving environment variables from the Machine target:");
        foreach (var envVar in envVars)
        {
          var value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) ?? "(none)";
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}");
        }

        // Delete the environment variable for each target.
        Console.WriteLine("\nDeleting environment variables for each target...\n");
        // The default target (the current process).
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, null);
        // The current process.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, null,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process);
        // The current user.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, null,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.User);
        // The local machine.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, null,
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine);
    }
}
// The example displays the following output if run on a Windows system:
//      Setting environment variables for each target...
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: machine
//
//      Deleting environment variables for each target...
//
// The example displays the following output if run on a Unix-based system:
//
//      Setting environment variables for each target...
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Deleting environment variables for each target...

module Sample

open System

// Environment variable names for default, process, user, and machine targets.
let rec defaultEnvVar = nameof defaultEnvVar
let rec processEnvVar = nameof processEnvVar
let rec userEnvVar = nameof userEnvVar
let rec machineEnvVar = nameof machineEnvVar

let rec dft = nameof dft
let rec proc = nameof proc
let rec user = nameof user
let rec machine = nameof machine

// Set the environment variable for each target.
printfn "Setting environment variables for each target...\n"
// The default target (the current process).
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, dft)
// The current process.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, proc, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process)
// The current user.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, user, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User)
// The local machine.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, machine, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)

// Define a list of environment variables.
let envVars = [ defaultEnvVar; processEnvVar; userEnvVar; machineEnvVar ]

// Try to get the environment variables from each target.
// The default (no specified target).
printfn "Retrieving environment variables from the default target:"
for envVar in envVars do
    let value = 
        match Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable envVar with
        | null -> "(none)"
        | v -> v
    printfn $"   {envVar}: {value}"

// The process block.
printfn "\nRetrieving environment variables from the Process target:"
for envVar in envVars do
    let value = 
        match Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process) with
        | null -> "(none)"
        | v -> v
    printfn $"   {envVar}: {value}"

// The user block.
printfn "\nRetrieving environment variables from the User target:"
for envVar in envVars do
    let value = 
        match Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User) with
        | null -> "(none)"
        | v -> v
    printfn $"   {envVar}: {value}"

// The machine block.
printfn "\nRetrieving environment variables from the Machine target:"
for envVar in envVars do
    let value = 
        match Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine) with
        | null -> "(none)"
        | v -> v
    printfn $"   {envVar}: {value}"

// Delete the environment variable for each target.
printfn "\nDeleting environment variables for each target...\n"
// The default target (the current process).
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, null)
// The current process.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, null, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process)
// The current user.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, null, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User)
// The local machine.
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, null, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)

// The example displays the following output if run on a Windows system:
//      Setting environment variables for each target...
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: user
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: machine
//
//      Deleting environment variables for each target...
//
// The example displays the following output if run on a Unix-based system:
//
//      Setting environment variables for each target...
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
//        defaultEnvVar: dft
//        processEnvVar: process
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
//        defaultEnvVar: (none)
//        processEnvVar: (none)
//        userEnvVar: (none)
//        machineEnvVar: (none)
//
//      Deleting environment variables for each target...

Imports System.Collections
Imports Microsoft.Win32

Module Sample 
    Public Sub Main() 
        ' Environment variable names for default, process, user, and machine targets.
        Dim defaultEnvVar As String = NameOf(defaultEnvVar)
        Dim processEnvVar As String = NameOf(processEnvVar)
        Dim userEnvVar As String = NameOf(userEnvVar)
        Dim machineEnvVar As String = NameOf(machineEnvVar)

        Dim dft As String = NameOf(dft)
        Dim process As String = NameOf(process)
        Dim user As String = NameOf(user)
        Dim machine As String = NameOf(machine)

        ' Set the environment variable for each target.
        Console.WriteLine("Setting environment variables for each target...")
        ' The default target (the current process).
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, dft)
        ' The current process.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, process, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process)
        ' The current user.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, user, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.User)
        ' The local machine.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, machine, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)
        Console.WriteLine()

        ' Define an array of environment variables.
        Dim envVars As String() = { defaultEnvVar, processEnvVar, userEnvVar, machineEnvVar }
        
        ' Try to get the environment variables from each target.
        ' The default (no specified target).
        Console.WriteLine("Retrieving environment variables from the default target:")
        For Each envVar in envVars
          Dim value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar)
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {If(value IsNot Nothing, value, "(none)")}")
        Next
        Console.WriteLine()
        ' The process block.
        Console.WriteLine("Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:")
        For Each envVar in envVars
          Dim value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process)
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {If(value IsNot Nothing, value, "(none)")}")
        Next
        Console.WriteLine()
        ' The user block.
        Console.WriteLine("Retrieving environment variables from the User target:")
        For Each envVar in envVars
          Dim value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.User)
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}")
        Next
        Console.WriteLine()
        ' The machine block.
        Console.WriteLine("Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:")
        For Each envVar in envVars
          Dim value = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(envVar, EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)
          Console.WriteLine($"   {envVar}: {value}")
        Next
        Console.WriteLine()

        ' Delete the environment variable for each target.
        Console.WriteLine("Deleting environment variables for each target...")
        ' The default target (the current process).
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(defaultEnvVar, Nothing)
        ' The current process.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(processEnvVar, Nothing, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process)
        ' The current user.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(userEnvVar, Nothing, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.User)
        ' The local machine.
        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable(machineEnvVar, Nothing, 
                                           EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)
    End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output if run on a Windows system:
'      Setting environment variables for each target...
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
'        defaultEnvVar: dft
'        processEnvVar: process
'        userEnvVar: user
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
'        defaultEnvVar: dft
'        processEnvVar: process
'        userEnvVar: user
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
'        defaultEnvVar: (none)
'        processEnvVar: (none)
'        userEnvVar: user
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
'        defaultEnvVar: (none)
'        processEnvVar: (none)
'        userEnvVar: (none)
'        machineEnvVar: machine
'
'      Deleting environment variables for each target...
'
' The example displays the following output if run on a Unix-based system:
'
'      Setting environment variables for each target...
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the default target:
'        defaultEnvVar: dft
'        processEnvVar: process
'        userEnvVar: (none)
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the Process target:
'        defaultEnvVar: dft
'        processEnvVar: process
'        userEnvVar: (none)
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the User target:
'        defaultEnvVar: (none)
'        processEnvVar: (none)
'        userEnvVar: (none)
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Retrieving environment variables from the Machine target:
'        defaultEnvVar: (none)
'        processEnvVar: (none)
'        userEnvVar: (none)
'        machineEnvVar: (none)
'
'      Deleting environment variables for each target...

Remarks

The EnvironmentVariableTarget enumeration is used by certain overloads of the Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable, Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable, and Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables methods to specify the location, or target, where the name and value of an environment variable is stored or retrieved.

The target can be one of three locations:

• The environment block associated with the current process (EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process).

  The user creates the environment variable in a set operation. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process.

• The Windows operating system registry key reserved for environment variables associated with the current user (EnvironmentVariableTarget.User).

  On Windows systems, when the user creates the environment variable in a set operation, the operating system stores the environment variable in the system registry, but not in the current process. If the user starts a new process, the operating system copies the environment variable from the registry to that process. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process. However, the environment variable in the registry persists until the user removes it programmatically or by means of an operating system tool.

  On Unix-based systems, an attempt to create an enviroment variable with EnvironmentVariable.User has no effect, and an attempt to retrieve an enviroment variable using EnvironmentVariable.User returns null (in C#) or Nothing (in Visual Basic).

• The registry key reserved for environment variables associated with all users on the local machine (EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine).

  When a user creates the environment variable in a set operation, the operating system stores the environment variable in the system registry, but not in the current process. If any user on the local machine starts a new process, the operating system copies the environment variable from the registry to that process. When the process terminates, the operating system destroys the environment variable in that process. However, the environment variable in the registry persists until a user removes it programmatically or by means of an operating system tool.

  On Unix-based systems, an attempt to create an enviroment variable with EnvironmentVariable.Machine has no effect, and an attempt to retrieve an enviroment variable using EnvironmentVariable.Machine returns null (in C#) or Nothing (in Visual Basic).