I want to use an ini file I generated using the WinSCP GUI as a template customizable for other people. Since the ini file is a text file, it can be customized directly with a text editor or by using a utility like sed.
For a lot of what interests me, I can tell which variable in the ini file is doing what and I need help with some others. I have not been able to locate the answers in the documentation; I appreciate any help I can get.
The WinSCP version I have is 6.5.2 (Build 16354 2025-06-18). The ini file is listed at the bottom and I have the following questions:
[Configuration\Interface]
RandomSeedFile=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5Cwinscp.rnd
PuttyRegistryStorageKey=Software%5CSimonTatham%5CPuTTY
ConfirmOverwriting=1
ConfirmResume=1
AutoReadDirectoryAfterOp=1
SessionReopenAuto=5000
SessionReopenBackground=2000
SessionReopenTimeout=0
SessionReopenAutoStall=60000
TunnelLocalPortNumberLow=50000
TunnelLocalPortNumberHigh=50099
CacheDirectoryChangesMaxSize=100
ShowFtpWelcomeMessage=0
ExternalIpAddress=
LocalPortNumberMin=0
LocalPortNumberMax=0
TryFtpWhenSshFails=1
ParallelDurationThreshold=10
MimeTypes=
DontReloadMoreThanSessions=1000
ScriptProgressFileNameLimit=25
QueueTransfersLimit=2
ParallelTransferThreshold=-1
KeyVersion=0
SshHostCAsFromPuTTY=0
HttpsCertificateValidation=0
SynchronizationChecksumAlgs=
CollectUsage=1
CertificateStorage=
AWSAPI=
ContinueOnError=0
ConfirmCommandSession=1
SynchronizeParams=66
SynchronizeOptions=5
SynchronizeModeAuto=-1
SynchronizeMode=0
MaxWatchDirectories=500
QueueBootstrap=0
QueueKeepDoneItems=1
QueueKeepDoneItemsFor=15
QueueAutoPopup=1
QueueRememberPassword=1
PuttySession=WinSCP%20temporary%20session
PuttyPath=
UsePuttyPwFile=2
PuttyPassword=0
TelnetForFtpInPutty=1
IgnoreCancelBeforeFinish=DFBC9A785634023F
BeepOnFinish=0
BeepOnFinishAfter=176CC1166CC1363F
BeepSound=SystemDefault
KeepUpToDateChangeDelay=500
ChecksumAlg=sha1
SessionReopenAutoIdle=9000
Interface=1
ConfirmExitOnCompletion=1
SynchronizeSummary=1
SessionColors=
FontColors=
CopyShortCutHintShown=0
HttpForWebDAV=0
DefaultFixedWidthFontName=
DefaultFixedWidthFontSize=0
CopyOnDoubleClick=2
CopyOnDoubleClickConfirmation=0
AlwaysRespectDoubleClickAction=0
DDDisableMove=0
DDTransferConfirmation2=2
DDTemporaryDirectory=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5C
DDDrives=
DDWarnLackOfTempSpace=1
DDWarnLackOfTempSpaceRatio=9A9999999999F13F
DeleteToRecycleBin=1
DimmHiddenFiles=1
RenameWholeName=0
SelectDirectories=0
SelectMask=*.*
ShowHiddenFiles=0
FormatSizeBytes=1
PanelSearch=0
ShowInaccesibleDirectories=1
ConfirmTransferring=1
ConfirmDeleting=1
ConfirmRecycling=1
ConfirmClosingSession=1
AutoStartSession=
UseLocationProfiles=0
UseSharedBookmarks=0
LocaleSafe=0
DDFakeFile=1
DDExtTimeout=1000
DefaultDirIsHome=1
TemporaryDirectoryAppendSession=0
TemporaryDirectoryAppendPath=1
TemporaryDirectoryDeterministic=0
TemporaryDirectoryCleanup=1
ConfirmTemporaryDirectoryCleanup=1
PreservePanelState=1
DarkTheme=2
LastStoredSession=test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz
AutoSaveWorkspace=0
AutoSaveWorkspacePasswords=0
AutoWorkspace=My%20Workspace
PathInCaption=0
SessionTabNameFormat=2
MinimizeToTray=0
BalloonNotifications=1
NotificationsTimeout=10
NotificationsStickTime=2
CopyParamAutoSelectNotice=1
LockToolbars=0
SelectiveToolbarText=1
LargerToolbar=1
AutoOpenInPutty=0
RefreshRemotePanel=0
RefreshRemotePanelInterval=176CC1166CC1463F
PanelFontName=
PanelFontSize=0
PanelFontStyle=0
PanelFontCharset=1
NaturalOrderNumericalSorting=1
AlwaysSortDirectoriesByName=0
FullRowSelect=0
OfferedEditorAutoConfig=0
LastMonitor=0
VersionHistory=605020000,stable
EnableQueueByDefault=1
OpenedStoredSessionFolders=
AutoImportedFromPuttyOrFilezilla=0
GenerateUrlComponents=-1
GenerateUrlCodeTarget=0
GenerateUrlScriptFormat=0
GenerateUrlAssemblyLanguage=0
ExternalSessionInExistingInstance=1
ShowLoginWhenNoSession=1
KeepOpenWhenNoSession=1
DefaultToNewRemoteTab=1
LocalIconsByExt=0
FlashTaskbar=1
MaxSessions=100
BidiModeOverride=0
FlipChildrenOverride=0
ShowTips=1
TipsSeen=
TipsShown=AC176A3F9461E640
FileColors=
RunsSinceLastTip=23
HonorDrivePolicy=1
UseABDrives=1
LastMachineInstallations=2
ExtensionsDeleted=
ExtensionsOrder=
ExtensionsShortCuts=
TimeoutShellOperations=1
TimeoutShellIconRetrieval=0
UseIconUpdateThread=1
AllowWindowPrint=0
StoreTransition=1
QueueTransferLimitMax=9
HiContrast=0
EditorCheckNotModified=0
SessionTabCaptionTruncation=1
LoadingTooLongLimit=15
RemoteThumbnailMask=
RemoteThumbnailSizeLimit=51200
FirstRun=2025-06-28
[Configuration\Logging]
Logging=1
LogFileName=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5CWinSCP.log
LogFileAppend=1
LogSensitive=0
LogMaxSize=10485760
LogMaxCount=5
LogProtocol=2
LogActions=0
ActionsLogFileName=%25TEMP%25%5C!S.xml
[Configuration\Usage\Values]
FirstUse=2025-06-25T02:44:46.035Z
FirstVersion=605020000
LastReport=2025-06-28T22:54:02.314Z
AnyBetaUsed=0
Installed=2025-06-25T02:44:46.303Z
CurrentVersion=605020000
WindowsVersion=10.0.19045
WindowsProductName=Windows%2010%20Home
WindowsProductType=101
Windows64=1
UWP=0
DefaultLocale=0409
Locale=0409
EncodingMultiByteAnsi=0
PixelsPerInch=96
PixelsPerInchMonitorsDiffer=0
WorkAreaWidth=1920
WorkAreaHeight=1160
ColorDepth=32
MonitorCount=1
NotUseThemes=0
ThemeDefaultFontSize=9
ThemeIconFontSize=9
SysColorWindow=FFFFFF
SysColorBtnFace=F0F0F0
SysColorWindowText=000000
InProgramFiles=0
IsInstalled=1
IsInstalledMsi=0
Wine=0
NetFrameworkVersion=4.8.09037
NetCoreVersion=0
PowerShellVersion=5.1.19041.1
PwshVersion=0
MsXmlInstalled=1
ConfigurationIniFile=1
ConfigurationIniFileCustom=1
Unofficial=0
StoredSessionsCountSCP=0
StoredSessionsCountSFTP=1
StoredSessionsCountFTP=0
StoredSessionsCountFTPS=0
StoredSessionsCountWebDAV=0
StoredSessionsCountWebDAVS=0
StoredSessionsCountS3=0
StoredSessionsCountPassword=0
StoredSessionsCountColor=0
StoredSessionsCountNote=0
StoredSessionsCountAdvanced=1
StoredSessionsCountTunnel=0
UsingDefaultStoredSession=0
UsingStoredSessionsFolders=0
UsingWorkspaces=0
CopyParamsCount=0
Beta=0
Interface=1
ThemeDark=1
CustomCommandsCount=0
UsingLocationProfiles=0
UsingMasterPassword=0
UsingAutoSaveWorkspace=1
TreeVisible=1
MinimizeToTray=0
AnyHiddenToolbarButtons=1
LargerToolbar=1
FileColors=0
DragDropDrives=0
ShowingTips=1
KeepingOpenWhenNoSession=1
ShowingLoginWhenNoSession=1
DefaultingToNewRemoteTab=1
TipsCount=0
TipsSeen=0
CommanderNortonLikeMode=2
CommanderExplorerKeyboardShortcuts=0
ExplorerViewStyle=0
LastMonitor=0
ExternalEditors=notepad
ExtensionsPortableCount=0
ExtensionsInstalledCount=9
ExtensionsUserCount=0
ExtensionsDeleted=0
ThemeMessageFontSize=9
ThemeMainInstructionFontSize=12
TypicalInstallation=0
InstallationParentProcess=explorer
LastInstallationAutomaticUpgrade=0
ParentProcesses=explorer,powershell,winscp
PixelsPerInchMainWindow=96
StartupSeconds1=0
StartupSecondsLast=0
StartupSecondsLastReal=0
StartupSequenceLast=M:0,T:0,S:0,X:0,C:0,G:1,N:0,B:0,A:0,F:1,E:3,R:0,D:0,W:0,U:0,O:0,J:0,I:0
OpenedSessionsFailedLastDate=2025-06-29
StartupSeconds2=0
StoredSessionsAdvancedSettings=PingType,UpdateDirectories
[Configuration\Usage\PeriodCounters]
MaxOpenedSessions=1
OpenedSessionsAdvanced=5
OpenedSessionsFailed=2
OpenedSessionsFailedRecovered=2
OpenedSessionsLogToFile2=13
OpenedSessionsPrivateKey2=11
OpenedSessionsSFTP=13
OpenedSessionsSFTP3=11
OpenedSessionsSSH2=11
OpenedSessionsSSHCipherAES=11
OpenedSessionsSSHOpenSSH=11
Runs=21
RunsNormal=21
RunsWithoutSession=15
SessionOpens=13
UpdateChecksSucceeded=1
[Configuration\Usage\LifetimeCounters]
CommandLineDesktop=2
CommandLineSession2=1
ConsoleExternal=5
InstallationsCustomComponents=1
InstallationsCustomDir=1
InstallationsCustomInterface=1
InstallationsFirstCustom=1
InstallationsGettingStarted=1
InstallationsLaunch=1
InstallationsMachine=2
InstallationsUser=1
MaxOpenedSessions=1
OpenedSessionsAdvanced=5
OpenedSessionsFailed=5
OpenedSessionsFailedAfterCancel=1
OpenedSessionsFailedRecovered=2
OpenedSessionsLogToFile2=13
OpenedSessionsPrivateKey2=11
OpenedSessionsSFTP=16
OpenedSessionsSFTP3=11
OpenedSessionsSSH2=11
OpenedSessionsSSHCipherAES=11
OpenedSessionsSSHOpenSSH=11
Runs=46
RunsNormal=36
RunsWithoutSession=28
SessionOpens=17
UpdateChecksSucceeded=3
[Configuration\Interface\CopyParam]
AddXToDirectories=1
Masks=*.*html;%20*.htm;%20*.txt;%20*.php;%20*.php3;%20*.cgi;%20*.c;%20*.cpp;%20*.h;%20*.pas;%20*.bas;%20*.tex;%20*.pl;%20*.js;%20.htaccess;%20*.xtml;%20*.css;%20*.cfg;%20*.ini;%20*.sh;%20*.xml
FileNameCase=0
PreserveReadOnly=0
PreserveTime=1
PreserveTimeDirs=0
PreserveRights=0
IgnorePermErrors=0
Text=rw-r--r--
TransferMode=0
ResumeSupport=0
ResumeThreshold=102400
ReplaceInvalidChars=1
LocalInvalidChars=/%5C:*%3F"<>|
CalculateSize=1
IncludeFileMask=
ClearArchive=0
RemoveCtrlZ=0
RemoveBOM=0
CPSLimit=0
NewerOnly=0
EncryptNewFiles=1
ExcludeHiddenFiles=0
ExcludeEmptyDirectories=0
Queue=0
QueueNoConfirmation=1
QueueParallel=1
CopyParamList=-1
[Configuration\Interface\NewDirectory2]
Valid=00
[Configuration\Interface\SynchronizeChecklist]
WindowParams=0;-1;-1;1090;700;0;96
ListParams=1;1|150,1;100,1;80,1;130,1;25,1;100,1;80,1;130,1;@96|0;1;2;3;4;5;6;7
[Configuration\Interface\FindFile]
WindowParams=646,481,96
ListParams=1;1|125,1;181,1;80,1;122,1;@96|0;1;2;3|/1
[Configuration\Interface\ConsoleWin]
WindowSize=570,430,96
[Configuration\Interface\LoginDialog]
WindowSize=660,430,96
SiteSearch=1
[Configuration\History\PuttyPath]
0=%25ProgramFiles%25%5CPuTTY%5Cputty.exe
1=%25ProgramFiles%25%5CPuTTY%5Cputty.exe%20-t%20-m%20"%25TEMP%25%5Cputty.txt"%20!`cmd.exe%20/c%20echo%20cd%20'!/'%20;%20/bin/bash%20-login%20>%20"%25TEMP%25%5Cputty.txt"`
2=kitty.exe
3=kitty.exe%20-cmd%20"cd%20'!/'"%20!U@!@%20-P%20!#%20-title%20"!N"
4=%25SystemRoot%25%5CSysnative%5COpenSSH%5Cssh.exe%20!U@!@%20-p%20!#
5=%25SystemRoot%25%5CSysnative%5COpenSSH%5Cssh.exe%20!U@!@%20-p%20!#%20-t%20"cd%20!/%20;%20/bin/bash"
[Configuration\History\SpeedLimit]
0=Unlimited
1=8192
2=4096
3=2048
4=1024
5=512
6=256
7=128
8=64
9=32
10=16
11=8
[Configuration\Interface\Editor]
FontName2=Consolas
FontSize=11
FontStyle=0
FontCharset=1
FontColor=0
BackgroundColor=0
WordWrap=0
FindText=
ReplaceText=
FindMatchCase=0
FindWholeWord=0
FindDown=1
TabSize=8
MaxEditors=500
EarlyClose=2
SDIShellEditor=0
WindowParams=
Encoding=0
WarnOnEncodingFallback=1
WarnOrLargeFileSize=1
AutoFont=1
DisableSmoothScroll=0
[Configuration\Interface\QueueView]
Height=140
HeightPixelsPerInch=96
Layout=70,250,250,80,80,80,100,;96
Show=1
LastHideShow=1
ToolBar=1
Label=1
FileList=0
FileListHeight=90
FileListHeightPixelsPerInch=96
[Configuration\Interface\Updates]
Period=0
LastCheck=E55D6B339561E640
HaveResults=1
ShownResults=0
BetaVersions=2
ShowOnStartup=1
AuthenticationEmail=
Mode=
ConnectionType=1
ProxyHost=
ProxyPort=8080
ForVersion=605020000
Version=0
Message=
Critical=0
Release=
Disabled=0
Url=
UrlButton=
NewsUrl=
NewsWidth=0
NewsHeight=0
DownloadUrl=
DownloadSize=0
DownloadSha256=
AuthenticationError=
OpenGettingStarted=0
DownloadingUrl=
TipsWidth=0
TipsHeight=0
TipsUrl=
Tips=
TipsIntervalDays=7
TipsIntervalRuns=5
DotNetVersion=
ConsoleVersion=
[Configuration\Interface\Explorer]
ToolbarsLayout2=Queue=1::0+-1,Menu=1:TopDock:0+0,Buttons=1:TopDock:2+0,Selection=0:TopDock:3+0,Session=0:TopDock:6+0,Preferences=1:TopDock:4+0,Sort=0:TopDock:5+0,Address=1:TopDock:1+0,Updates=1:TopDock:4+393,Transfer=1:TopDock:4+171,CustomCommands=0:TopDock:7+0,PixelsPerInch=96
ToolbarsButtons=Reconnect=ReconnectSession:0
DirViewParams=0;1|150,1;70,1;150,1;79,1;62,1;55,0;20,0;150,0;125,0;@96|6;7;8;5;0;1;2;3;4
LastLocalTargetDirectory=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDocuments
SessionsTabs=1
StatusBar=1
WindowParams=102;189;1062;909;0;96
ViewStyle=0
ShowFullAddress=1
DriveView=1
DriveViewWidth=180
DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96
[Configuration\Interface\Commander]
ToolbarsLayout2=Queue=1::0+-1,Menu=1:TopDock:0+0,Preferences=1:TopDock:1+228,Session=0:TopDock:1+602,Sort=0:TopDock:2+0,Commands=1:TopDock:1+0,Updates=1:TopDock:1+596,Transfer=1:TopDock:1+341,CustomCommands=0:TopDock:3+0,RemoteHistory=1:RemoteTopDock:0+172,RemoteNavigation=1:RemoteTopDock:0+252,RemotePath=1:RemoteTopDock:0+0,RemoteFile=1:RemoteTopDock:1+0,RemoteSelection=1:RemoteTopDock:1+345,LocalHistory=1:LocalTopDock:0+207,LocalNavigation=1:LocalTopDock:0+287,LocalPath=1:LocalTopDock:0+0,LocalFile=1:LocalTopDock:1+0,LocalSelection=1:LocalTopDock:1+329,Toolbar2=0:BottomDock:1+0,CommandLine=0:BottomDock:0+0,PixelsPerInch=96
ToolbarsButtons=
CurrentPanel=0
LocalPanelWidth=000000000000E03F
SwappedPanels=0
SessionsTabs=1
StatusBar=1
WindowParams=-1;-1;1090;700;0;96
ExplorerStyleSelection=2
PreserveLocalDirectory=0
CompareByTime=1
CompareBySize=0
TreeOnLeft=0
ExplorerKeyboardShortcuts=0
SystemContextMenu=0
[Configuration\Interface\Commander\LocalPanel]
DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;120,1;150,1;55,0;55,0;@96|5;0;1;2;3;4
ViewStyle=3
StatusBar=1
DriveView=0
DriveViewHeight=100
DriveViewHeightPixelsPerInch=96
DriveViewWidth=100
DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96
LastPath=
[Configuration\Interface\Commander\RemotePanel]
DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;150,1;79,1;62,1;55,0;20,0;150,0;125,0;@96|6;7;8;0;1;2;3;4;5
ViewStyle=3
StatusBar=1
DriveView=0
DriveViewHeight=100
DriveViewHeightPixelsPerInch=96
DriveViewWidth=100
DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96
LastPath=
[Configuration\Interface\Commander\OtherLocalPanel]
DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;120,1;150,1;55,0;55,0;@96|5;0;1;2;3;4
ViewStyle=3
LastPath=
[Configuration\Security]
UseMasterPassword=0
MasterPasswordVerifier=
[Configuration\Interface\Editor\0]
FileMask=*.*
Editor=0
ExternalEditor=
ExternalEditorText=0
SDIExternalEditor=1
DetectMDIExternalEditor=0
[Configuration\Interface\Editor\1]
FileMask=*.*
Editor=1
ExternalEditor=notepad.exe
ExternalEditorText=0
SDIExternalEditor=1
DetectMDIExternalEditor=0
[Sessions\test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz]
HostName=www.xxx.yyy.zzz
UserName=test1
PublicKeyFile=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5C.ssh%5Cid_ed25519_me.ppk
PingType=1
UpdateDirectories=0
[Configuration]
JumpList=test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz
JumpListWorkspaces=
[SshHostKeys]
ssh-ed25519@22:www.xxx.yyy.zzz=0x38b5e50d44215a82a816c15bbf0c441dedac8e60aac57e539a3cf1c2bfae5865,0xb8675226d18fb32a77d417398a96ddc78c96ac449015945cb866347b60666f
[Configuration\LastFingerprints]
www.xxx.yyy.zzz:22:ssh=ssh-ed25519%20255%20LNz4OlkJrcd+XmLU9zsp1GvbfCzHjCJAKTQJE7+16Vk
[Configuration\CDCache]
test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz=412F3D2F2F0D0A2F666F72743D2F2F0D0A2F61646D696E3D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F69645374616D704469723D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F64696763686B4469722F696E4469723D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F64696763686B4469723D2F2F0D0A