Unicode Values in Registry (Inno Setup 5) - unicode

Question

I need to be able to store certain Unicode characters in a few of my registry keys, but am unable to find the syntax to do this in an .iss file. I am using the Unicode version of Inno Setup
The Inno Setup site says this about Unicode values:
you can for example instead use encoded Unicode characters to build Unicode strings (like S := #$0100 + #$0101 + 'Aa';), or load the string from a file using LoadStringsFromFile, or use a {cm:...} constant.
For example one of the one's I want to enter is the degrees Fahrenheit symbol (℉) which is #$2109.
I can't put #$2109 directly into the value string because that just prints out that text.
I tried to create a #define constant but it doesn't recognize the # and $ characters.
So I want:
[Registry]
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "MyPath"; ValueType string; ValueName: "MyName; \
ValueData: "Temperature [℉]"
but obviously I cannot put it in directly.
How do I get Unicode characters into the registry section, either directly or via some variable/constant, I'm fairly new to Inno Setup.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Just make sure your .iss file is UTF-8 encoded with BOM.
Then you can use UTF-8 strings directly in it (with Unicode version of Inno Setup), as the documentation says:
Unicode Inno Setup supports UTF-8 encoded .iss files (but not UTF-16).
[Registry]
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "MyPath"; ValueType: string; ValueName: "MyName"; \
ValueData: "Temperature [℉]"
(note that the entry syntax in your question is wrong, you are missing a colon and a quote)
An easy way to save the file in UTF-8 with BOM:
Open the .iss file in Inno Setup Compiler GUI.
Go to File > Save Encoding and select UTF-8.
Save the file.
You need to do this before inserting your UTF-8 string. Also note that the Inno Setup Compiler editor cannot display the ℉, but it will still work ok, when compiled.
Another way is:
Open the .iss file in Windows Notepad.
Go to File > Save As.
Select UTF-8 in Encoding drop down box.
Click Save.
Windows Notepad can display the ℉ (with an appropriate font, like the default Consolas or Lucida Console).

Answer 2

An easy way is to write what you need into Notepad++
e.g. : Temperature + (ALT+2109) //
Set the encode to UTF-8 without BOM
select the whole line and (Ctrl+C) copy
paste to the ValueData the copied line "Temperature [?]"
[Registry]
Root: ... ValueType: string; ValueName: "AString"; ValueData: "Temperature [?]"
That's all
Another solution we use a constant and a function :
FHcnst1 = #$2109#$20#$54#$65#$6D#$70; // ℉ Temp
and we add together (℉ Temperature Const)
℉ Temp
erature Const
... ValueType: string; ValueName: "AConst"; ValueData: "{code:SetTemperature|1}erature Const"
The function "SetTemperature"
[Code]
var
UserPage: TInputQueryWizardPage;
UsagePage: TInputOptionWizardPage;
DataDirPage: TInputDirWizardPage;
const
FHcnst1 = #$2109#$20#$54#$65#$6D#$70; // ℉ Temp
FHcnst2 = #$2109#$20;
...
function SetTemperature(Param: String): String;
begin
if Param = '1' then Result := FHcnst1;
if Param = '2' then Result := FHcnst2;
end;
The Result :
The Hack:
You must write to the registry three bytes.
Only the Unicode #$2109 will not work.
A good one is #$20 space (because invisible)
FHcnst2 = #$2109#$20;