Show hint only when the application starts for the first time

Question

I have a desktop application that is a bit complicated, so I thought I’d help the user by generating images (Hints) to help on the way.

But I know how boring this is, so I would like to know if it is possible that this happens only when the application is first run.

I could try to do something like Don’t show this tip again, but I’m not using database... It is possible to do this without using a database?

Answer 1

Yes, da para fazer sem usar o Banco de Dados, basta gravar essa informação no Registro do Windows como mencionado no comentário do amigo @Paruba, podemos gravar na pasta do Registro HKEY_CURRENT_USER, we will create a Folder inside this folder with the name of our system, and inside this folder we will create a record with the desired information!

Function for Reading Record:

function frmteste.LerRegistro: Boolean;
const
  vRaiz: String = 'Nome_Seu_Sistema';
var
  Registro: TRegistry;
begin
  Result := False;
  //Chama o construtor do objeto
  Registro := TRegistry.Create;
  with Registro do
  begin
    // Somente abre se a chave existir
    if OpenKey(vRaiz, False) then
    begin
      //Validando se ja abriu ou não...
      if ValueExists('Hint_Inicial') then
      begin
        if (ReadInteger('Hint_Inicial') = 1) then
          Result := True;
      end;
      // Fecha a chave e o objeto
      Registro.CloseKey;
      Registro.Free;
    end;
  end;
End;

With this function, you can know if you have ever opened the System or if it is the first execution, because in Create we will implement the recording of this information:

procedure frmTeste.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
const
  vRaiz: String = 'Nome_Seu_Sistema';
var
  Registro: TRegistry;
begin
  {Se não encontrou o Registro, Cria o Registro informando...
  ...que ja mostrou o Hint Inicial}
  if (LerRegistro = False) then
  begin
    //Chama o construtor do objeto
    Registro := TRegistry.Create;
    { Abre a chave (se o 2°. Parâmetro for True, ele cria a chave caso ela ainda não exista.}
    Registro.OpenKey(vRaiz, True);
    //Aqui passamos 1 como parâmetro, 0 = nunca abriu 1 = ja abriu
    Registro.WriteInteger('Hint_Inicial', 1);
    //Fecha a chave e o objeto
    Registro.CloseKey;
    Registro.Free;
  end;
end;

Now on the Show of the Main Form you implement the reading of the Record:

procedure frmTeste.FormShow(Sender: TObject);
begin
  if LerRegistro = False then
  begin
    {Aqui você chama o procedimento do Hint Inicial
    Chamada da função ou procedimento responsável pelo Hint Inicial.}
  end;
end;

In the given example, the registry folder would be with the following structure:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Nome_Seu_sistema\Hint_Inicial

Edit:

It is still possible to Read and Write to a text file at the root of your system, just use a Tstringlist at the time of Show form using its properties: LoadFromFile or SaveToFile. But the Best and Most Professional Option is to use the method I reported above, write to the Windows Registry!

Important Note: Whenever you save a value in the Windows Registry, the Uninstall your system don’t forget to remove that entry! So does not get junk in User Registration!

I await the Feedback!