Using Null-Delimited Strings

InstallShield 2020

Project:This information applies to InstallScript projects.

Note the following when using a null-delimited, double-null-terminated string (for example, abc\0def\0ghi\0\0; such strings are also sometimes referred to as multiple null-delimited strings or multiple null-terminated strings):

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When declaring a variable that will be set to a null-delimited string value, explicitly size the variable; for example:

STRING szString[1024];

Do not use autosizing; the installation engine expects autosized strings to not include null characters within the string.

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Do not try to create arrays of null-delimited strings; since array elements must always be autosized, string arrays do not currently support this type of string.

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The specified size of a null-delimited string should be at least the number of characters to be stored plus two for the two terminating null characters.

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Since strings are automatically initialized to all null characters, you do not need to explicitly set the second-to-last character to null (though this will not cause any adverse effects) unless you have previously set the second-to-last character to something other than null.

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The best way to determine the length of a null-delimited string is to call the CharReplace function to replace the null characters and then call the StrLengthChars function to determine the size of the resulting string.

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The StrGetTokens and StrPutTokens functions may be useful when working with null-delimited strings.

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Most InstallScript functions other than the ones noted above do not work with multiple null-delimited strings. If you want to use a multiple null-delimited string with a built-in function, use the CharReplace function first to replace the null characters with another character, such as an underscore (_).