Dictionary is not needed.
Old-fashioned parsing can do more, with less executable code, the same amount of compiled data, and less processing:
public string MyPath1;
public string MyPath2;
...
public void ReadConfig(string sConfigFile)
{
MyPath1 = MyPath2 = ""; // Clear the external values (in case the file does not set every parameter).
using (StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(sConfigFile)) // Open the file for reading (and auto-close).
{
while (!sr.EndOfStream)
{
string sLine = sr.ReadLine().Trim(); // Read the next line. Trim leading and trailing whitespace.
// Treat lines with NO "=" as comments (ignore; no syntax checking).
// Treat lines with "=" as the first character as comments too.
// Treat lines with "=" as the 2nd character or after as parameter lines.
// Side-benefit: Values containing "=" are processed correctly.
int i = sLine.IndexOf("="); // Find the first "=" in the line.
if (i <= 0) // IF the first "=" in the line is the first character (or not present),
continue; // the line is not a parameter line. Ignore it. (Iterate the while.)
string sParameter = sLine.Remove(i).TrimEnd(); // All before the "=" is the parameter name. Trim whitespace.
string sValue = sLine.Substring(i + 1).TrimStart(); // All after the "=" is the value. Trim whitespace.
// Extra characters before a parameter name are usually intended to comment it out. Here, we keep them (with or without whitespace between). That makes an unrecognized parameter name, which is ignored (acts as a comment, as intended).
// Extra characters after a value are usually intended as comments. Here, we trim them only if whitespace separates. (Parsing contiguous comments is too complex: need delimiter(s) and then a way to escape delimiters (when needed) within values.) Side-drawback: Values cannot contain " ".
i = sValue.IndexOfAny(new char[] {' ', '\t'}); // Find the first " " or tab in the value.
if (i > 1) // IF the first " " or tab is the second character or after,
sValue = sValue.Remove(i); // All before the " " or tab is the parameter. (Discard the rest.)
// IF a desired parameter is specified, collect it:
// (Could detect here if any parameter is set more than once.)
if (sParameter == "MyPathOne")
MyPath1 = sValue;
else if (sParameter == "MyPathTwo")
MyPath2 = sValue;
// (Could detect here if an invalid parameter name is specified.)
// (Could exit the loop here if every parameter has been set.)
} // end while
// (Could detect here if the config file set neither parameter or only one parameter.)
} // end using
}